The car industry has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years as vehicles have become more technologically advanced. One of the greatest developments in the motor vehicle industry that has continued into the 21st century is the growth of the hybrid car.
The hybrid motor vehicle fulfils many briefs as far as car manufacturers are concerned. Environmental issues are at the top of the agenda for many companies and it is no different for motor vehicle producers. This is due to global warming and environmental sustainability being pushed to the front of the political agenda. Consequently, car manufacturers have spent more time and money researching and developing alternative sources of power for cars than ever before.
One car company that has focused a lot of its efforts on developing hybrid cars is Honda. The Japanese manufacturer has been pushing the boundaries as far as hybrid cars are concerned and it has the accolade of producing the world's first car to be powered by a fuel cell. Since then however, Honda has gone on to produce a range of hybrid cars.
The Insight Hybrid is one vehicle in Honda's range that features its Integrated Motor Assist system (IMA). IMA is the technology the Japanese company puts in its hybrid vehicles, which uses an electric motor that can be activated while the car is coasting.
The main advantage of the hybrid engine is the use of clean fuel. Cars such as the Insight are far more fuel efficient than vehicles powered by just petrol engines and as a result they release fewer emissions and cause less pollution.
This helps to make the family car more economical, which has many advantages. Not only will driving the Insight to the shops and back cause less harm to the environment, but it will also save you the driver a fair amount of money in the long run.
The Honda Insight has an incredibly low fuel consumption of 64.2 miles per gallon, which compares well to other hybrid cars on the market. Like the majority of hybrid vehicles the Insight is in the B VED tax band, which will save the owner money every year on road tax.
The 21st century is a time when car drivers have plenty of technological aids to assist them and this is no different when it comes to the Insight. The vehicle features an Eco Assist system that lets you know if you are driving efficiently and indicators on the dashboard inform you on how to improve fuel efficiency.
You can even put the car into econ mode to make sure that you make the most of every drop of fuel. This will control the car's air conditioning and increase recharging when you brake, helping you to use less fuel and in the process save pounds at the pump.
Another of Honda's hybrid vehicles is the CR-Z Hybrid, a sportier vehicle than the Insight family car and the coupe offers motorists great performance, innovative design and high fuel economy.
At the heart of the CR-Z is a drive system that allows motorists to choose their driving style. The three modes - sport, econ and norm - vary between placing emphasis on enjoyment and economy. You can also have a mixture of both and equally enjoy high performance and fuel efficiency.
The drive system alters many of the car's features depending on the mode you select. The response of the throttle, steering, climate control and the level of support from the IMA are all adjusted accordingly and all that is left for you to do is select the driving mode that suits your particular mood or environment.
The Global Hybrid Co-operation (GHC) is another important technology in motor vehicle manufacturing. This technology was jointly developed by General Motors and Chrysler and more recently BMW has contributed to its development. Named as Technology of the Year in 2007 by Automobile Magazine, GHC like Honda's efforts has had a large impact in the hybrid market.
Hybrid technologies are being used in cars more and more and there is now an increasing trend for mass market cars to feature a hybrid engine. This option is available on many popular and high selling cars and allows drivers to enjoy their favourite cars as well as benefit from improved fuel efficiency.
The Honda Civic is a good example of a popular petrol and diesel engine car that is now available with a hybrid engine as well. The Civic hybrid uses IMA in the same way as the Insight and as a result the 1.4-litre petrol engine switches to the electric motor when not accelerating.
The Honda Civic is not the only small family car to be made available to customers with a hybrid engine. German manufacturer Volkswagen is also planning to manufacture a hybrid version of its Golf and American car company Ford is still developing an alternative fuel to be used in the Focus.
Hybrid technology has become the main focus for many car companies and this looks set to continue in the future as environmental concerns remain at the forefront of many people's minds when buying a car. Honda has made its contribution to the hybrid market with the Insight, CR-Z and Civic hybrids, all of which offer customers a slightly different option, and the range of hybrid cars offered by Honda is only likely to grow in the coming years, especially as the UK moves towards a low carbon economy.
Studies have shown that personal motoring is responsible for 13 per cent of Britain's greenhouse gas emissions, and hybrid vehicles represent an ideal opportunity for motorists to make a more informed, environmentally-friendly choice in terms of the car they drive.
Cars such as the CR-Z and Insight emit between 25 and 35 per cent less carbon dioxide than conventional vehicles, so if you want to benefit from exceptional fuel economy while doing your bit for the environment, a hybrid car represents the perfect option.