Plug-in hybrid cars are the next generation of standard hybrid cars. When standard hybrid cars were successfully marketed, the consumers were overwhelmed with joy. Owning, and maintaining a private car had never been that easy. It soon became the rage of town with its fuel efficiency, and eco-friendly characteristics. Plug-in hybrid cars seem to be breaking all records of success of standard hybrid cars, though they are not marketed yet. The prototypes developed by General Motors, and Toyota Motors have gained immense popularity with their fuel efficiency, and minimum emissions, which cause the green house effect. The consumers have well received these cars so far, but the ground realities shall be unveiled once people get to own, and drive these cars.

These hybrid cars are lot different from conventional cars. A conventional car has one engine whilst a hybrid car contains two engines, backed engine, and electrical power engine. The hybrid cars use gasoline to generate electricity. Metallic standby batteries store the generated electricity. When batteries are fully charged, the engine power is switched automatically from gasoline to electric power. Therefore, the first engine uses gasoline to power it, and second engine generates electric power to propel it. Any 120 Volt electric power outlets can be used to charge Lithium/ Nickel batteries in hybrid cars. Every house has a power source to charge a hybrid car. This is an amazing environment friendly technology.

Fuel efficiency of plug-in hybrid car is a lot better than a standard hybrid car. Standard hybrid car go on 30+ mpg, whilst plug-in hybrid car claim to make 100+ mpg, which really sounds amazing. If plug-in hybrid cars can keep this promise of fuel efficiency, the time is near when the market will be flooded with them, and we could bring greener revolution in the world.

Gasoline is the main source of emission of dangerous gases from a car, and because plug-in hybrid cars rarely use gasoline, we can say that these cars are the next generation cause that will save us from green house effect. On the other hand, a standard hybrid car uses bio-fuels or gasoline, which is very dangerous to the environment.

Standard hybrid cars are cheaper than plug-in hybrid car, because the batteries, which are primary source of powering a plug-in hybrid car, are very expensive.

Plug-in hybrid cars are heavier than the traditional hybrid cars. The reason again is the heavy batteries, which are the basic feature of such cars. Owing to the fact that plug-in hybrids run on cleaner fuel than the standard hybrid cars, their maintenance cost is supposed to be lower than the standard hybrid cars.

As plug-in hybrid car uses less fuel, and goes on longer miles so it does not need to visit fuel station on frequent basis. On the other hand, standard hybrid cars are more than 50% less fuel-efficient, so that makes it a frequent visitor of any fuel station.

Standard hybrid cars are meant for city drive as well as for longer distances, but plug-in hybrids are only designed to commute between home, and office. They can travel up to a maximum of 40 miles in one go.

Discover more about Lexus Hybrid Cars, visit the Lexus website for more information and to book a test drive.