You have probably heard quite a bit about hybrid and electric cars that have entered the market in recent years. If fuel consumption is important to you then you should research these alternative fuel vehicles. As fuel efficiency has become more imperative to car buyers, auto makers are now producing cars that are more efficient. Hybrid cars are one example. Hybrid cars have been manufactured to use both conventional fuel and electric energy. You might have seen these before.

Hybrid cars are more environmentally friendly because of their lower fuel consumption. Hybrids actually have two engines. They have both a gas and an electric engine.

This generally leads one to question, "How much better can it be, if it still uses a gasoline based engine?" In this type of vehicle, gas is only used to start and stop the car. Once you reach a certain velocity, the electrical engine starts to run the car. While driving the vehicle, the electric engine is utilized. The electric engine battery is charged by the gasoline engine. The gasoline engine and the electric engine work together, but never simultaneously.

There was a common worry about driving long trips with hybrid cars, until the parallels became available. This form of hybrid uses both gas and electric engines when starting and stopping. However, when the hybrid needs an additional boost of power, it utilizes its electric engine. This certain type of hybrid has been designed for people who travel extensive distances. Due to the materials used to build the car, hybrids are considerably lightweight.

Therefore, they require less energy for the vehicle to move, which saves on fuel. To help with fuel efficiency, the tires on hybrid vehicles have a higher pressure. How much gasoline does a hybrid consume? Hybrids consume 50-60% less than the gasoline that regular cars burn. Hybrids may be costly, depending on where you purchase them, but the price is always coming down. More and more consumers are finding them to be within their price range. Trust your own judgment when figuring out what type of hybrid would be the best fit for you.

Be sure to take a test drive of the various types of hybrid to help determine which one suits your needs and personal taste. You need to take the same precautions when buying a used hybrid as when buying any other used car. Initially, it is very important to get a history report of the hybrid from the person who is selling it. By securing the vehicle history, you can verify the prior ownership record.

Be cautious if a car has had many owners in a short amount of time. You may have a friend who is a hybrid owner. Ask them about their experience with their hybrid. They can tell you the advantages and disadvantages of owning a hybrid. The opinion of a hybrid owner carries more weight than that of someone else.

The owner knows how it works as he drives it everyday. Since they learn about their vehicle as they drive it, they become experts about their vehicle's strengths and weaknesses.

Jake Newbury is a salesman for NuStar Motors, a used trucks California dealer. Jake knows firsthand that taking a few precautionary steps before buying used car for sale Sacramento or used cars can save you money in the long run, and he recommends a CARFAX report to all used car buyers.