Hybrid cars continue to rise in popularity across the nation. Because of their reputation as fuel-efficient, easy to drive vehicles, hybrid car rental availability has also gone up every year. But are these cars really a better option than conventional cars? The truth is that when all the benefits of a hybrid are weighed against those of a conventional car, the answer is “not necessarily.” Here are a few reasons to not rent a hybrid car.

Increased Fuel Economy?

One of the biggest reasons travelers cite to renting a hybrid car is to save on fuel costs. Because hybrids get more out of each gallon of gas than conventional cars do, one may be led to believe that the slightly greater daily cost will be outweighed by the savings in gasoline. But this is, in fact, not true in many cases. Because most people tend to drive less than a hundred miles per day with a rental car, the savings from using a hybrid are minimal. Really, the only time hybrid cars provide significant savings is if you drive the car in extended stop-and-go urban environment, or on long trips.

Hybrid Rental Rates Remain High

Hybrid cars do cost more per day in rental fees. Because they are more expensive to purchase in the first place, car rental companies have to charge more for those who want to rent them. Even with competition driving down dealer prices for new hybrid cars, hybrid rental rates remain high in the premium range. So without the savings in fuel making up for the difference, renting a hybrid car could mean paying extra money to drive on your next trip.

Learning to Drive a Hybrid in an Unfamiliar City

Additionally, hybrid cars drive very differently than normal cars. For drivers who are already experienced in driving a hybrid, this is not a problem. But to first-timers, hybrid rental cars will seem to have lighter weight, have different controls, and have their own quirks. One such “quirk” is a idle-top feature that are built into many modern hybrids. Idle-stop allows the car engine to shut down at a stoplight or stop sign (whenever the car is at a stop,) thereby cutting down on fuel consumption. This is well and good, but a small problem with this is that hybrid car renters often find themselves in a new location they have never been to before. And while trying out a new car in a familiar area may work out fine, driving a new hybrid in a new city can be challenging for many people. The last thing you want when trying to fumble over maps is to have a car shut off unexpectedly or to  brake differently.

In fact, this instability could lead to unsafe situations. The easiest way to get into an accident is to combine a lack of direction with confusion from driving a new car. And once you put yourself in harm’s way on the road, you are not only risking your own well-being, but also the well-being of others. Stick to what you are comfortable with and stay safe. It’s more important than saving a few bucks on gas, if any.

Non-Hybrid, High MPG Alternatives Are Available

All carmakers now manufacture smaller, highly efficient, non-hybrid car models as well, and car rental companies are making them available for rent, without the premium rental rates. Modern smaller cars, including the economy and compact sizes, are safe, efficient and very reliable. They also come with all the expected amenities such air conditioning, automatic transmission, stereo radio with CD player, many with ABS and airbags. Additionally, companies like Enterprise and Hertz have Carbon Offset programs so that, no matter what a traveler selects to rent, he/she can still participate in helping the environment.

In summary, hybrid cars are the creation of a movement to stop global warming and improve the environment as a whole. As an idea, they are terrific and are the first of hopefully many steps in creating cars that are not dependent on fossil fuels. But as a rental option, they can be cumbersome and a bad choice for many people at least until hybrids are becoming more mainstream. Higher costs, a steep learning curve, and use in unfamiliar territories can lead to unwanted situations. So if you think you’re not ready to rent a hybrid rental car, you’re probably not.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Reasons Why You Should Not Rent a Hybrid Car During Your Travel

Corporations big and small send employees all over the world to conduct business everyday. There is a single common business tool that all these employees use while on their business trips. No I’m not talking about their mobile phones or laptops or any of the other portable electronic gadgets. I’m talking about their rental cars.

Most business men and women rent cars at their destinations and drive very short distances and pretty much in stop-and-go traffic. Guess what? Those are perfect driving conditions to take advantage of hybrid cars. That’s the pro. The con about hybrid rental cars, at least for now, is that they cost more to rent per day than their conventional counterparts. So from the traveler’s, or in this case the company’s point of view, it makes no sense to spend more on transportation than necessary regardless of your corporate “go green” rhetoric.

If corporations can put in place a corporate hybrid car rental policy, the impact would be enormous. Here are the 3 points discussed by  CleanCarTalk in a recent post about “The Greening of the Corporations – Saving Money or Saving the Environment.”

New corporate hybrid car rental policies can do the following:

• Directly support their corporate policies in “going green.” Many companies are already going green, from simple things like using less papers, encouraging employee carpooling, implementing recycling programs and teaching employees ways to save electricity, to complex things like converting operations to run on solar power, or putting into action various processes and equipment to operate more efficiently, utilize renewable power, and invest in carbon offset projects. A new corporate hybrid car rental policy just fits right in.
• Directly communicate to car rental companies (and car manufacturers) that there is a demand for hybrid, electric and fuel efficient cars. Fleets buy their cars in large numbers at a time, which is a perfect way to say to car makers that, yes, make more of these and we’ll buy them. Maybe the stimulus package should also set aside a good chunk for this sort of program. Compare to individual tax breaks that the stimulus plan provides, I think this program will make much bigger impact much sooner.
• Directly educate consumers (employees are consumers too) that hybrid, electric and fuel efficient cars is the way to go. The consumers’ dollars drive the economy, and for a car industry trying to pick itself up while promoting a new technology at the same time, this is “killing two birds with one stone.” Consumers will have a chance to “test drive” these new cars on an extended period of time as they go about their business or personal trips, which surely beats going into a dealer for a 5-minute test drive. I don’t know about you, but to me, an educated consumer is a good buyer.

There are so many benefits resulting from this single corporate policy act. I wonder why not many companies are doing it. Or better yet, as suggested, maybe a part of the stimulus package should go to promote programs like this.

What’s your company doing to go green and stay green? Share your viewpoints with us by leaving a comment below.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Corporations Wanting to Go Green – How About a Corporate Hybrid Car Rental Policy?

Hybrid rental cars have grown in popularity especially in recent years. Once hard to find at airports and rental companies, hybrid cars are now readily available in most major cities. Public awareness and hybrid rental car availability are both improving. But even with better availability, travelers still are unsure about what to make of these fuel-efficient automobiles. Many wonder what the advantages and disadvantages to renting a hybrid are compared to a conventional car. Others feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the new technology and possibly new way of driving. Here are some pros and cons of renting hybrid cars on your next trip.

Fuel Efficiency Issue

The most obvious difference between hybrid and conventional cars is fuel efficiency. Hybrid cars were created to get more mileage out of every gallon of gasoline and, as such, emit much less carbon dioxide into the air. This means that less pollution is produced by these cars than the conventional cars that use strictly just fossil fuel for propulsion. For the environmentally-conscious, it is clear that hybrids are the better choice.

Rental Cost Issue

But for most people, the main deciding factor in renting a car is cost in the form of rental fees and fuel cost. Renting a car while on travel can add a huge dollar amount to the total trip expense. Hybrid cars normally command premium rental rates over conventional cars, especially for the daily rates which can exceed $150 per day including surcharges and fees. Weekend and all-week rental rates seem a little better, dropping to around $70 to $80 per day average. Of course, your rental rates can be slightly offset by the lower fuel costs expected when operating a hybrid, and possible discounts offered in certain travel destinations, such as California, for choosing a hybrid. For the most part, however, conventional cars will cost less for all but those who plan on logging heavy miles during their rental period.

Drivability Issue

An important consideration for many drivers is how safe the cars are and how simple they are to operate. This issue has less to do with the hybrid rental car than with the driver himself or herself. Driving an unfamiliar car can be an undaunted experience for many drivers in a strange locale, especially if the interior controls of the car and the way the car behaves (as in the case of a hybrid) is different than a person is used to. Between finding their ways around a foreign city and dealing with a new way to drive a hybrid, travelers are strongly advised to be fully prepared before they start driving. Here are some differences.

A hybrid car employs a conventional engine to charge up its battery packs, which in turn powers an electric motor to propel the car forward. In addition, many hybrid car models such as the Toyota Prius have an idle-off feature, which automatically shuts off the engine when a car is braked at a red light. This may be a shock to someone not expecting it, but is really a feature to help save additional energy. Once the car is put back into drive, the engine will restart. Another way to save energy is to recoup energy during slow-down and braking, called regen or regenerative braking. So while the car is in motion, as soon as the driver lifts his/her foot from the accelerator pedal, the hybrid car’s regen system kicks in to help slow the vehicle down as it charges up its battery packs.

So if you’ve never driven a hybrid car before, and are looking to rent a hybrid on your next trip, be sure to get help and guidance from the rental attendant at check out. He/she will be glad to walk you through the features and operation of your hybrid rental car. Have a safe and green trip!

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

The Pros and Cons of Renting a Hybrid Car Versus Conventional Car