California Drivers Reap the Fiscal Benefits of Environmental Awareness with Hybrid Cars

California Drivers Reap the Fiscal Benefits of Environmental Awareness with Hybrid Cars

The 2010 Honda Insight

There's nothing like the exorbitant cost of filling up your gas tank to make you wish you were six again, cruising your battery operated Hot Wheels car around the neighborhood. Hybrid cars are giving you the chance to take some of that freedom back, cutting back on the amount of green gas emissions your vehicle's pumping into the ozone and, if you're a resident of California, putting big bucks back in your pocket.

And we're not just talking about saving at the pump.

What are Hybrid Cars?

The New Ford Escape

If you've been deliberately avoiding the evening news and have no idea what hybrid cars are, much less what they're doing to help the environment, picture a car with a battery operated super-blaster stuck on the back. The car goes faster and has more power, but it never needs more gas. Just stick the battery in a charger overnight and you're ready to take on the highways.

Now imagine taking that blaster, sticking it in a shrink ray and integrating it into your engine and you've got the basic concept behind hybrid cars. When your car accelerates, rather than burning more fuel the electric powered battery gives it the kick it needs. Voila! Less fuel used, less nasty "stuff" emitted into the atmosphere, better gas mileage and the satisfaction of being able to brag that you're as environmentally conscientious inside your vehicle as you are out of it.

What the Golden State's Doing for Green Drivers

In 2008 California was leading the field in the sales of hybrid vehicles, and it's not just because state legislators are cracking down. In an effort to minimize the ozone damage (and smog issues) that plague major cities throughout the Golden State various businesses and government figureheads are offering hybrid drivers perks that other drivers can only dream about.

• In major California cities owners of hybrid cars and vehicles that get more than 45 miles to the gallon are able to park for free, a major bonus for many commuters. Some parking areas also contain (or plan to contain) electrical outlets for hybrids to charge while waiting for their owners to return, allowing drivers to travel longer distances without having to worry about their batteries dying before they get back home.
• Until now, designated parking at area businesses has been left to handicapped drivers. Now, drivers of hybrid cars are enjoying those same perks.
• In some parts of Los Angeles vehicles sporting the California Clean Air Vehicle decal are parking fee free.
• Car insurance providers throughout California are doing their part, offering to knock up to 10% off annual insurance premiums just for purchasing qualifying hybrid vehicles rather than their gas guzzling cousins. (Of course, it doesn't hurt that drivers of hybrid cars statistically spend less time on the roads and have fewer accidents than the average highway warrior.)

The 3rd Generation Toyota Prius

Global warming, air pollution and a hundred other disasters that environmentalists have been warning us about for years are becoming a reality California drivers aren't going to be able to ignore for much longer. Acting now by driving a hybrid car lets you enjoy the smug satisfaction of being a leader in the environmental crusade and the multitude of perks that go along with it.