Q: Can I buy an HEV yet?

A: Yes. There are several HEVs available for purchase and more are on the way! DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Subaru and Toyota either have vehicles available now, or are developing HEVs that will be available soon.

Q: How do HEVs perform and compare to conventional vehicles in terms of mileage, fuel use, safety, greenhouse gas emissions, etc?

A: Because HEV development has been driven by the market, not by mandates, the debut HEVs are meeting or exceeding conventional vehicle performance characteristics. Hybrids perform similarly to gasoline vehicles.

The Fuel Economy Web site is a comprehensive resource for all automobiles, including the Insight and Prius. Click on "Find a Car" and use the pull-down menus to select the automobile you are interested in. It gives complete information on annual fuel costs, mileage, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, safety studies, and more.

Q: What tax incentives or rebates are available to me for purchasing an HEV?

A: There are Federal and State tax incentives available. To learn more about these incentives and how to file for the tax deduction, please go to the HEV Tax Incentives page.

Q: Is an HEV simply a transition vehicle between a conventional vehicle and a pure EV?

A: No. Most experts agree that the car of the future will be an HEV of some kind. Because the energy density of electric batteries will never equal that of liquid or gaseous fuels, these fuels will likely need to continue to be a part of future vehicles. Even fuel cells, which are a promising long-term technology for personal transportation, will most likely still be put into an HEV configuration with a high-power energy-storage/buffer device on board. With further development, we might get to the point where we can select the propulsion system on our HEV in the same way we select a 4-cylinder engine or a V8 today.

Q: I am interested in retrofitting my standard automobile to an HEV. Do you have information on retrofitting companies or qualified mechanics that can perform this service?

A: Most retrofits are transforming a conventional gasoline vehicle to compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG), or biodiesel fuel. Presently, it is costly to convert a gasoline vehicle to a HEV.

Q: What is the life expectancy of HEV batteries, and what are the costs associated with replacing them?

A: Most warranties for HEV batteries typically cover a driving range from 80,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, costs associated with replacing the battery depend on the warranty and time elapsed. For a new battery not under any warranty, costs can range from $3,000 to $8,000. For specific details check with the HEV manufacturer.

Q: My primary interest in buying an HEV is in doing my part to clean up the air. Can my decision to purchase an HEV now really make a difference?

A: Yes. Conventional vehicles release harmful chemicals, or pollutants, through their tailpipes. These chemicals, such as oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, particulates, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, are produced through the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition to causing "smog," and possibly contributing to global warming, these chemicals have been determined to cause or aggravate human respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma. HEVs, with their increased fuel economy and reduced use of fossil fuels, emit fewer of these pollutants into the air we breathe. And because every little bit helps, your decision to purchase a cleaner vehicle now can have a big impact on the quality of our air in the future.

Q: Can you get Energy Policy Act (EPAct) credit for purchasing an HEV?

A: Not at this time. Although HEVs are fuel efficient and produce low levels of emissions, they do not count as "alternative fuel vehicles" under EPAct. EPAct, which was passed in 1992 to accelerate the use of alternative fuels in the transportation sector, requires that federal, state, and alternative fuel provider fleets ensure that a certain percentage of their new vehicle purchases each year are alternative fuel vehicles. Because the HEVs on the market today do not use alternative fuels (they use gasoline), they can't be considered for credits under EPAct. There's been discussion on including HEVs in the future, but no final decision has been made to date.

Q: What is FreedomCAR all about?

A: The goal of FreedomCAR is fundamental and dramatic—the development of emission- and petroleum-free cars and light trucks. FreedomCAR focuses on the high-risk research needed to develop the necessary technologies, such as fuel cells and advanced hybrid propulsion systems, to provide a full range of affordable cars and light trucks that are free of foreign oil and harmful emissions—and that do not sacrifice freedom of mobility and freedom of vehicle choice.

See the ebook,"Keeping More Cash in Your Pocket at the Gas Pump", for tips on how to save money using the right grade for your car.