Changes

A '''hybrid electric vehicle''' is any car that uses an [[electric motor]], [[battery (electrical)|battery]] and [[internal combustion engine]] as power sources. Hybrids have been around almost as long as cars, but have only recently become common. Buyers were initially given a federal tax break, but these ended on December 31, 2010.<ref>[http://www.hybridcars.com/federal-incentives.html Hybrid Car Tax Credits: Incentives Fade into Memory] Hybridcars.com, February 7, 2011, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> A federal transportation bill in August 2005 allowed individual states to issue permits to owners of hybrid cars to travel in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes with only one person in the vehicle.<ref>[http://www.hybridcars.com/local-incentives/carpool-hov-lanes.html Carpool HOV Lanes] Hybridcars.com, July 8, 2010, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> This political move occurred even though the hybrid cars' gas mileage reduces during steady speed driving.  Hybrids are usually popular with [[Hollywood]] celebrities, [[homosexuals]] and [[liberals]], but can also be popular with [[conservatives]]. The most popular hybrid is the [[Toyota Prius]]. Historically, sales of hybrid cars in the United States tend to increase when gas prices are above three dollars a gallon.<ref name="Prius">[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/business/worldbusiness/04iht-hybrid.4.6491389.html Toyota's hybrid car more than a mixed success] Maynard, Micheline, July 4, 2007, The ''New York Times'', retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

A '''hybrid electric vehicle''' is any car that uses an [[electric motor]], [[battery (electrical)|battery]] and [[internal combustion engine]] as power sources. Hybrids have been around almost as long as cars, but have only recently become common. Buyers were initially given a federal tax break, but these ended on December 31, 2010.<ref>[http://www.hybridcars.com/federal-incentives.html Hybrid Car Tax Credits: Incentives Fade into Memory] Hybridcars.com, February 7, 2011, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> A federal transportation bill in August 2005 allowed individual states to issue permits to owners of hybrid cars to travel in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes with only one person in the vehicle.<ref>[http://www.hybridcars.com/local-incentives/carpool-hov-lanes.html Carpool HOV Lanes] Hybridcars.com, July 8, 2010, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> This political move occurred even though the hybrid cars' gas mileage reduces during steady speed driving.  Hybrids are very popular with [[Hollywood]] celebrities, [[homosexuals]] and [[liberals]]. The most popular hybrid is the [[Toyota Prius]]. Historically, sales of hybrid cars in the United States tend to increase when gas prices are above 3 dollars a gallon.<ref name="Prius">[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/business/worldbusiness/04iht-hybrid.4.6491389.html Toyota's hybrid car more than a mixed success] Maynard, Micheline, July 4, 2007, The ''New York Times'', retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

==How they work==

==How they work==

==Pros==

==Pros==

*Use less fuel in slower-speed situations, i.e. stop and go traffic.<ref name="phys">[http://www.physorg.com/news10031.html Hybrid Cars - Pros and Cons] Physorg.com, January 26, 2006, retrieved August  20, 2011</ref>

*Use less fuel in slower-speed situations, i.e. stop and go traffic.<ref name="phys">[http://www.physorg.com/news10031.html Hybrid Cars - Pros and Cons] Physorg.com, January 26, 2006, retrieved August  20, 2011</ref>

*Cuts CO2 emissions by 25% to 35% over the most fuel-efficient gas powered vehicles.

*Cuts CO2 emissions by 25% to 35% over the most fuel-efficient gas powered vehicles.<ref name="phys"/> (Meaningless because global warming is a myth)

==Cons==

==Cons==

*Can cause electrocution after accidents, or routine maintenance if the mechanic does not take basic precautions.<ref>[http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/vehicles/electric-car-shock1.htm Will I get shocked if I drive an electric car through a big puddle? - Electric Power] Howstuffworks.com, Grabianowski, Ed, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

*Can cause electrocution after accidents, or routine maintenance if the mechanic does not take basic precautions.<ref>[http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/vehicles/electric-car-shock1.htm Will I get shocked if I drive an electric car through a big puddle? - Electric Power] Howstuffworks.com, Grabianowski, Ed, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

*Release electromagnetic radiation which may increase the risks of developing cancer.<ref name="motoring>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/automobiles/27EMF.html?pagewanted=all Motoring - Fear, but Few Facts, on Hybrid risk] Montavalli, Jim, April 27, 2008, The ''New York Times'', retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

*Release electromagnetic radiation which may increase the risks of developing cancer.<ref name="motoring>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/automobiles/27EMF.html?pagewanted=all Motoring - Fear, but Few Facts, on Hybrid risk] Montavalli, Jim, April 27, 2008, The ''New York Times'', retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

*More complex and potentially unreliable.  Manufacturers usually offer longer warranties on the hybrid components, but after that the customer is on their own when they need to replace the battery. However, vehicles such as Prii and Escape Hybrids went well above 300,000 miles in the NYC Taxi fleet without needing new batteries.  

*More complex and potentially unreliable.  Manufacturers usually offer longer warranties on the hybrid components, but after that the customer is on their own when they need to replace the battery.

*Very quiet at low speed when the gas engine is off, increasing the chances of pedestrian accidents because people cannot hear them coming.

*Very quiet at low speed when the gas engine is off, increasing the chances of pedestrian accidents because people cannot hear them coming.

*Higher repair bills.<ref name="phys"/>

*Higher repair bills.<ref name="phys"/>