(Spoiler alert; they’ll save you money).
Whether you spend your weekends drag racing or tying yourself to trees to stop clear cutting, we can all do something to help lessen our carbon footprint. Maybe you are one of the brave souls who are in the market for an electric or hybrid vehicle but you don’t know which one is best for you — and that is where the crew at Kentwood Ford comes in. Read on our following blog post on electric and hybrid vehicles in Edmonton, and find out what the buzz is all about.
The first step any time you buy a new vehicle should always be determining what kind of vehicle best suits your lifestyle. Does your commute take you from the ‘burbs to downtown, through bumper to bumper traffic and a seemingly never ending string of red lights? Or do you regularly trek through bumpy, off road terrain on your way to the job site? Once you have an idea as to what your needs are, the fun can begin. And make no mistake, electrics and hybrids can be a lot of fun (and maybe best of all, save you a lot of money).
Do They Take Double, or Triple A Batteries?
For those uninitiated to the hybrid and electric movement, allow us to break down how they work. Electric cars are powered solely by a battery that you charge at a charging station. No gas and no oil means no lineups at the pump and no oil changes, which means more money in your pocket for shopping at Whole Foods. Whereas hybrid engines utilize a battery to start the car from a full stop, and the combustion gas engine kicks in at a certain speed, which improves your fuel economy by only getting to work when it takes less effort, and less gas. This is part of the appeal, especially for those who drive in heavier, city traffic; you will use substantially less fuel for all the stop and start driving you do. That doesn’t mean you can’t put the pedal to the metal though, as hybrids will combine the electric and combustion portions of the engine during heavy acceleration.
Save, While Saving the Environment
There are a number of advantages to choosing an electric or hybrid model, including having less negative impact on the environment. Which is of course why you are considering it. But as an added bonus, there are a number of benefits for your wallet as well. Charging a car, depending on where you are, costs about an eighth of filling an equivalent gas-only vehicle. Also, many provinces have great tax credit and rebate options for purchasing an electric vehicle or charging station. Of course, improved gas mileage is one of the strongest draws for electric and hybrid vehicles in Edmonton. Be blissfully aware of any strife in oil producing countries, and focus your morning newspaper time on the funny pages.
As of right now, the lineup of Ford electrics and hybrids is relegated to smaller cars and sedans, but there are some major plans underway to release a hybrid SUV, hybrid F-150, and even a hybrid Mustang (if you want to be fast as lightning), by 2020. If you can’t wait that long for a new Ford, or you need something a bit larger, there are a number of crossovers, SUVs, and other models that utilize Ford’s EcoBoost engine for better fuel economy and a lessened carbon footprint. So make sure you stop by Kentwood Ford today and chat with us about our hybrid and electric vehicles in Edmonton — with the way the world is going you don’t want to miss this train before it leaves the (charging) station.
