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Triangle Commute Solution: Cleaner Automobiles
&nbSp; How much does your vehicle pollute? You have cleaner choices, to find out what they are check out the following web sites www.epa.gov/greenvehicles www.fueleconomy.gov www.greenercars.com ACEEE Green Book Does not give free online access to all listings, but does list “greenest” and “meanest. What is all this talk about Hybrid Vehicles? One of the most exciting environmental advances in automobile technology is the hybrid-electric car. These cars combine a traditional gasoline-fueled internalcombustion engine with an electric battery-powered motor to reduce gas consumption and air pollution. Here are a few common questions and answers about these cars. Do you have to plug them in? NO! The battery is automatically charged during regular driving by energy created by braking, and/or from the on-board generator. Many people ask, “How far can you drive on a charge?” The answer is “forever” - as long as you remember to put gas in the tank! What hybrid cars are available? Honda and Toyota are the only automakers currently offering hybrid vehicles for sale. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid are compact sedans, seating 4 to 5 people with cargo space. The Honda Insight is a 2-seater sports car. Do they cost more than other cars? Hybrid-electric cars are more expensive than some other cars of similar size. However, you will save money on gas; how much you save will depend on how much you drive and the price of gasoline. If you buy a hybrid-electric car before December 31, 2003, you can claim up to a $2000 deduction on your Federal income tax. This one-time deduction is an adjustment to income and you do not have to itemize deductions to claim it. After 2003, the maximum allowable deduction decreases by 25% every year, and is eliminated after December 31, 2006. How do they perform, compared to “regular” cars? They perform just fine. Air Awareness staff members frequently drive hybrid autos owned by the North Carolina State Government motor fleet, and we have been very happy with their performance. Hybrid cars are actually very pleasant to drive, because they tend to run very quietly, even when the gas engine is running. Their power and acceleration are comparable to other cars of similar size, and sometimes better, because the electric motor assists the engine during acceleration. I’ve heard they shut off at traffic lights. Is that a problem? The gas engine sometimes shuts off automatically when the car is standing still, for example at traffic lights or in drive-through lanes. This saves on both gas and polluting emissions. The gas engine starts up automatically and seamlessly when the driver presses the gas pedal. There is no inconvenience and no delay in starting, and this feature does not cause extra engine wear. Mileage and cost of currently available hybrid-electric vehicles Honda Insight 2003 / 5-speed Manual, 61/68¹, $19,080² Honda Insight 2003 / Automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), 57/56¹, $21,280² Honda Insight 2003 / 5-speed Manual, 46/51¹, $19,550² Honda Insight 2003 / Automatic CVT, 48/47¹, $20,550² Honda FCX Fuel Cell Automobile Toyota Prius 2003** / Automatic CVT 52/45¹, $20,480² ¹EPA estimated city / highway mileage. ²Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). For more information, contact a Toyota or Honda dealer, or contact N.C. Air Awareness at 1-888-RU4NCAIR or email Air.Awareness@ncmail.net. To compare pollutant emissions of these and other cars, visit: www.epa.gov/greenvehicles and www.fueleconomy.gov. Also see www.environmentaldefense.org; choose “Air Quality” from the “Select an Issue” dialog box, then find “Tailpipe Tally” in the “Toolbox” section.

Triangle Commute Solution: Cleaner Automobiles

&nbSp;

How much does your vehicle pollute?
You have cleaner choices, to find out what they are check out the following web sites

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles

www.fueleconomy.gov

www.greenercars.com

**ACEEE Green Book
Does not give free online access to all listings, but does list “greenest” and “meanest.

What is all this talk about Hybrid Vehicles?
One of the most exciting environmental advances in automobile technology is the hybrid-electric car. These cars combine a traditional gasoline-fueled internalcombustion engine with an electric battery-powered motor to reduce gas consumption and air pollution. Here are a few common questions and answers about these cars.

Do you have to plug them in?
NO! The battery is automatically charged during regular driving by energy created by braking, and/or from the on-board generator. Many people ask, “How far can you drive on a charge?” The answer is “forever” - as long as you remember to put gas in the tank!

What hybrid cars are available?
Honda and Toyota are the only automakers currently offering hybrid vehicles for sale. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid are compact sedans, seating 4 to 5 people with cargo space. The Honda Insight is a 2-seater sports car.

Do they cost more than other cars?
Hybrid-electric cars are more expensive than some other cars of similar size. However, you will save money on gas; how much you save will depend on how much you drive and the price of gasoline. If you buy a hybrid-electric car before December 31, 2003, you can claim up to a $2000 deduction on your Federal income tax. This one-time deduction is an adjustment to income and you do not have to itemize deductions to claim it. After 2003, the maximum allowable deduction decreases by 25% every year, and is eliminated after December 31, 2006.

How do they perform, compared to “regular” cars?
They perform just fine. Air Awareness staff members frequently drive hybrid autos owned by the North Carolina State Government motor fleet, and we have been very happy with their performance. Hybrid cars are actually very pleasant to drive, because they tend to run very quietly, even when the gas engine is running. Their power and acceleration are comparable to other cars of similar size, and sometimes better, because the electric motor assists the engine during acceleration.

I’ve heard they shut off at traffic lights. Is that a problem?
The gas engine sometimes shuts off automatically when the car is standing still, for example at traffic lights or in drive-through lanes. This saves on both gas and polluting emissions. The gas engine starts up automatically and seamlessly when the driver presses the gas pedal. There is no inconvenience and no delay in starting, and this feature does not cause extra engine wear.

Mileage and cost of currently available hybrid-electric vehicles

Honda Insight 2003 / 5-speed Manual, 61/68¹, $19,080²

Honda Insight 2003 / Automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), 57/56¹, $21,280²

Honda Insight 2003 / 5-speed Manual, 46/51¹, $19,550²

Honda Insight 2003 / Automatic CVT, 48/47¹, $20,550²

Honda FCX Fuel Cell Automobile

Toyota Prius 2003 / Automatic CVT 52/45¹, $20,480²

¹EPA estimated city / highway mileage.
²Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

For more information, contact a Toyota or Honda dealer, or contact N.C. Air Awareness at 1-888-RU4NCAIR or email Air.Awareness@ncmail.net. To compare pollutant emissions of these and other cars, visit: www.epa.gov/greenvehicles and www.fueleconomy.gov. Also see www.environmentaldefense.org; choose “Air Quality” from the “Select an Issue” dialog box, then find “Tailpipe Tally” in the “Toolbox” section.