We can only wait until hybrid diesel car technology is more available. Until then, we can wait until diesel fuel can provide the same power as gasoline fuel. Many stories and rumors has circulated in the motor world of different discoveries and concepts that can further revolutionize the hybrid technology in motor vehicles, but many questions have also arisen on why some certain pre-existing technology have not been incorporated with the hybrid innovation. This includes the diesel hybrid concept.

Diesel engines have been vastly popular in Europe and Asia. While North America have not embraced the diesel engine as much as their overseas neighbors, developments have been made in the United States to eliminate the characteristics which have made it a poor choice here. Recent developments have eliminated the excessive smoke generated and the loud rattling noises of the engines. Combining hybrid technology and the new biodiesel fuel seems to be a better solution to our growing problems. Biodiesel is now cleaner and is also cheaper than regular gasoline.

While there have been no serious research and development done on diesel hybrid cars just yet, Ford has released a diesel hybrid concept car at the North Auto American Auto show in Detroit last January 10, 2006. Ford dubbed it as the Reflex sportscar.  This is a car that is infused with a power source that uses a combination of a diesel engine, an electric motor and solar panels. Also, the Ford Reflex is all wheel drive car that Ford claims gets 65 miles to a gallon.

The Reflex, which could be the basis for future diesel hybrid cars operates much the same way as gas/electric hybrid cars. It also has a hybrid battery pack to provide backup power to the car that gets recharged by the engine and the heat generated by braking. The diesel Hybrid car by Ford uses lithium-ion batteries, the same kind used by the latest gadgets today, like cellular phones and portable computers. Most hybrid cars use nickel-metal hydrite batteries because they are far more cheaper, but lithium-ion batteries have far more power capacity.

But the Reflex also extracts power from solar cells located inside the headlamps and taillamps. This is a technology patented by Ford. There are also solar cells placed in the roof of the car that provides power to fans that operates inside the car to cool the interior when it is parked under the hot sun.

Before purchasing a hybrid car, compare first and do your research. Hybrid cars have experienced a sharp increase in sales and more car manufacturers are joining the hybrid vehicle arena with their own versions. For those who are planning to buy a hybrid car, the choices are numerous, that’s why you have to compare hybrid cars with one another to see which one would go perfectly well with your needs.

Two of the top hybrid car manufacturers are the Japanese giant’s Toyota and Honda. They are credited with producing many innovations in the hybrid technology and their hybrid cars are the most acclaimed, most sought after and most awarded hybrid vehicles today.

Here we will compare the hybrid cars they are offering for 2007, these will include the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus GS 450H, Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

Their fuel efficiency can be compared through their average consumption per mile in different situations, like; City Driving – where the traffic is constantly stopping, Highway Driving – where the engine can freely operate at maximum level and their combined average usage.

Miles Per Gallon – Average Miles Used Per gasoline of Fuel

Honda Accord Hybrid – 28 MPG (city), 35 MPG (Highway) and 31 MPG (Combined Average)

Honda Civic - 49 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 50 MPG (Combined Average)

Lexus GS 450H - 25 MPG (city), 28 MPG (Highway) and 26 MPG (Combined Average)

Toyota Camry Hybrid - 40 MPG (city), 38 MPG (Highway) and 39 MPG (Combined Average)

Toyota Prius - 60 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 55 MPG (Combined Average)

But before you just pick out the one with the highest MPG average, you still have to consider and compare a couple of aspects as well. This includes the fuel type. All of these vehicles use regular gasoline except for the Lexus which uses Premium Gasoline that is pricier.

Then you also have to compare the size class of each hybrid car and their engine size and liters. The Accord Hybrid is a midsize car with a 3 liter - 6 cylinder engine. The Civic Hybrid is a compact car with a 1.3 liter – 4 cylinder engine. The Lexus is another compact car with a 3.5 liter – 6 cylinder engine. The Camry Hybrid is a midsize sedan equipped with a 2.4 liter – 4 cylinder engine and the Toyota Prius is a compact car with a 1.5 liter – 4 cylinder engine.

Owning a Hybrid car doesn’t have to mean riding in cramped cars with low engine power. With the unveiling of the BMW hybrid car in the near future, you get sophistication, power, elegance and style while helping clean up our air. BMW said that their Hybrid car would run on both Hydrogen and petroleum and this would be first infused in the 7 series BMW. Already, BMW has some of these cars test driven in different countries. Researchers and engineers are already staging some tests and are getting feedbacks to perfect their first hybrid car release.

Deviating from the usual fuel cells used by other hybrid car manufacturers, BMW decided on using hydrogen-fuel combined with an internal combustion engine. If the engine becomes too hot, the hydrogen may evaporate requiring frequent fill ups. Another quandary is keeping the hydrogen from evaporating while in transit to the engine. But BMW has said that it has found the solution to this problem.

BMW sees hydrogen as the solution, but it would take about two more decades before a car can actually be run by hydrogen only.

BMW claims that for the past thirty years, they have been developing technology that could just lead to the first ever pure hydrogen vehicle. They already have a car that is being powered by water, a car that emits water vapor at the tailpipe, and are to retrieve hydrogen from sunlight.

BMW has been focusing on Hydrogen as a great power source for cars because it is the best solution to the ever-worsening emissions from vehicles that contributes to environmental pollution. This advancement in technology is evident with the BMW 750hl production car showcased at the Expo 2000. Together with some of its partners, BMW may be behind in the mass production of Hybrid cars, but they are the forefront in Hybrid technology.

Toyota and Honda who was the first ones to come up with mass produced hybrid vehicles and has a number of hybrid vehicles in their line up. GM has also come out with their Hybrid vehicles as well as Ford. With the advent of technology and science, more and more gadgets and equipments are being offered today to suit different tastes, styles and preferences.

According to recent researches and surveys, here is the recent list on what is considered the “best” by the consumers.

The Best Sedan Hybrid Car distinction was awarded to the latest Honda Civic Hybrid. Improving significantly over its previous model, it has the sleek and sporty look the conventional Civic has and doesn’t announce its being a hybrid. You still get the high quality and comfort conventional Civics provides, but you go to gas stations to fill up less.

The Best SUV Hybrid award is given to the first ever SUV Hybrid in the market, the Ford Escape Hybrid. Its inception in the Hybrid market was such a huge success that although it already has competitors from Toyota and Lexus, it still reigns supreme.

Voted for Best Hybrid car in terms of economy in pure fuel is the Honda Insight. Combining its distinctive aerodynamic body design and its lightweight finish plus of course its superb hybrid technology, the Insight produces the best figures in fuel economy. Although not as multi awarded nor as comfortable and powerful as its stable mate the Civic Hybrid, the Insight is best if you want fuel economy, and with the oil prices still surging upward, this is not a bad idea after all.

But gaining a lot of nod of approval from the Hybrid enthusiasts is the league leading and multi awarded Toyota Prius. Garnering the largest number of votes as the Hybrid vehicle with over all great value, performance and design, this could most probably be the Hybrid car that most likely deserves to be called as the best hybrid car available today.

Hybrid cars uses lesser fuel and a groundbreaking technology that may avoid possible damages to the environment caused by the usual cars. The hybrid car was created due to the result of the demand and clamor to clean the environment from pollutions and for the need to rely less on fuel. To be able to recharge, plugging the hybrid into an electric outlet is not necessary.They charge themselves by means of power usually lost during coasting and braking and can also be charged by the car’s gasoline engine.

Here is a list of the many advantages hybrid cars offers.

1. Pollution is less promoted

The measure of carbon dioxide emitted by the hybrid vehicle is principally relative to the quantity of fuel it consumes; thus hybrid cars can absolutely be a contributing factor in lessening the advancement of global warming.

With the use of hybrid cars, fewer fuel is consumed because hybrid car do not totally use gas in order to operate, it also makes use of electricity, a power source that doesn’t bring any danger to the environment.

2. More mileage with less fuel consumption

The obvious advantage of hybrid car is that it saves on gas. With the use of hybrid cars, you are able to save gas money because you don’t need to buy gas after every long trip wherein you can go several miles consuming less fuel.

3. Hybrid cars can help lower your taxes

Tax rebates are given to hybrid cars buyers, so if you buy a hybrid car your tax refunds can be withheld from your taxes and will provide you with additional savings.

4. Your money gains more value

A hybrid car can retain a higher resale value. If you ever want to trade or sell a previously owned hybrid car you can be sure that you will get more of what you paid for it.

5. Efficiency and performance are what defines Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars have smaller engines than the regular gasoline cars since the power is obtained form two sources, so the smaller engines are closer to the normal power necessity of engines that will give an efficient performance.

6. “Hybrid car technology” is the greatest solution to today’s increasing problem in car air pollution