With constant rising fuel prices, the cost of driving the kids to school, parties and anywhere else they need to go – is taking up an increasing part of the family budget. So it’s unsurprising that many parents of young children looking for the
When they first came on the market, hybrid cars tended to be two-seaters and not suitable for families. Now however, the main hybrid car manufacturers offer a number of family-friendly models. Examples include the Toyota Prius, which can achieve 72 mpg on its combined fuel economy cycle and the Honda Insight SE.
As well as saving money, eco motoring can help save the environment, too. Hybrid cars work on a dual power source basis – with an electric motor and a diesel or petrol engine. The car runs in electric mode while driving under a certain threshold speed – about 42 mph, at which point the engine kicks in to protect the transmission system. They get their best fuel efficiency when driven below the threshold speed, so make great sense for those short trips around town when you’re being taxi driver for your children.
Although hybrids are still more expensive than traditional fuel cars to buy, there are more and more options to buy a hybrid second hand, thus lowering your initial outlay. Hybrids save you money through their fuel economy, but in other ways as well. In Britain, 13% of carbon emissions are caused through motoring. If you live or drive in central London, there’s an incentive to be driving a hybrid which produces lower emissions as you won’t need to pay congestion zone charges.
You can earn brownie points with the kids, too. It’s good to know when Mum or Dad takes you to your ballet lesson that the car you’re sitting in is doing less harm to the planet.