You only have to take a quick trip out onto the highway to know that automobiles have a significant place in our lives. However, it's also important to understand that these same automobiles produced a significantly negative impact on our environment and our futures. In making our home or more greener place many people are turning to public transportation, bicycling and carpooling. But for now, most of us love our cars and can't imagine that life without them.

As many attempt to find ways to leave less of a carbon footprint on our environment the sale of hybrid cars continues to rocket. In the past decade they've gone from mere curiosities to mainstream objects. Most people associate the term "hybrid" with better gas mileage and lower emissions. However, while it's true that most are better for the environment not all function the same way.

By definition, a vehicle is a hybrid when it uses more than one source of power to move forward. At the moment all commercially available hybrid cars are a gasoline electric mix. However, there are different types of cars that range from the full hybrid to the assist hybrid and even a mild hybrid. The full hybrid will run on either gasoline or just the electric motor and in some instances can run on a combination of both. The Toyota Prius and Nissan Ultima are examples of full hybrids.

The assist hybrid cannot run on the electric motor alone. This electric motor is used to boost the gasoline engine. The Honda Civic and Saturn Aura are examples of the assist hybrid. The mild hybrid, such as the Chevy Silverado, have drivetrains that are similar to regular cars and better starter motors.

When considering a hybrid car there are a couple of things you need to remember in order to get the best bang for your buck. You must educate yourself about the various types of cars and the reason you want for owning a car. Your goal is to match the type of hybrid car with your needs and goals.

Be sure you understand any local and national policies for owning hybrid vehicles. Some companies also offer preferred parking for hybrids, employee rebates or federal and local tax incentives. These additions can help make up the added cost of the hybrid car itself much more quickly than just the savings and gas.

Just because you own a hybrid car doesn't mean you'll automatically get the gas mileage that's been advertised on the sticker. In the first place, those numbers have been placed there as a means for comparison. This means that using your driving style you should get better gas mileage in a hybrid car than you would in a traditional gas engine. However, you will not get the exact number of bits on the sticker for the estimated gas mileage unless you drive the car exactly the way the tester drives it.

By adjusting some of your habits and using any onboard computers in the hybrid car you can monitor your current and past fuel economy and learn how to be a more efficient driver. All of the things that make driving a traditional car more efficient will also apply to driving a hybrid car. Things like, driving at a relatively constant speed, combining trips, coasting to decelerate, keeping your tires properly inflated, removing unnecessary weight from the car, reducing drag on the car, and avoid excessive idling can all help to minimize your footprint and maximize your fuel efficiency.

When considering the purchase of a hybrid car remember that you'll pay approximately 20% more for hybrid then you will for a traditional automobile. Driving efficiently, most hybrids will take approximately 2 to three years to recoup the purchase price associated with them through the savings in gas mileage.

While there are some tax credits available for purchase of a hybrid car, remember that these credits can disappear after manufacturer has sold 60,000 of their vehicles. So for instance, the Toyota Prius has already crossed the threshold and new owners are not eligible for the tax credit. Also, buying a hybrid used will not qualify you for the tax credit.