Here in the Holdraker household we firmly believe in recycling. Obviously, we have leftover newspapers every week, along with household boxes, cans, assorted junk mail, catalogues, milk cartons, etc. It is amazing how much two people can accumulate in a week’s time. We usually have at least two full bins of assorted recyclable materials, if not more.
In addition, the last time I picked out a new car, I chose to go with a hybrid, part electric/part gas powered. I currently get an average of 40 miles per gallon in my hybrid Lincoln MKZ.
The choice of picking a hybrid over a complete gas model was made simple when Lincoln gave the owners a choice. Both cars were equally priced. I gave up none of the luxury I wanted, but still got the hybrid milage.
What I discovered with hybrid cars is that you get constant read-outs on milage and it drastically changes the way you drive.
Wife Patti got a speeding ticket in her vehicle (not a hybrid) a couple of weeks ago and learned a hard lesson. She now prefers driving my vehicle for short runs and has discovered what I have been professing for the last couple of years. If you keep your eye on your speed and your heavy foot, your milage increases drastically, even in her vehicle.
My lease will be up in December and I have already been out shopping for new wheels. I have driven both the Toyota Prius Prime with 54/133 estimated mpg and the new Hyundai Ioniq.
The Hyundai Ioniq hybrid is especially interesting, costing about $22,000, with a 57 mph city and 59 highway for one model. The all electric car (no gas engine and only available in California at this time) has a range of about 124 miles with a 136 mpg fuel efficiency between charges. The charge to 80% takes only 23 minutes
The third model of the Ioniq coming down the line is a plug-in hybrid, similar to the Prius plug-in, with a 27 mile range before the gas engine kicks in.
If you think about it, most trips taken by daily drivers is under the 27 mile range, so you could drive completely electric, but still have the gas engine for back-up. Once you return home, simply plug in and charge your vehicle for the next trip.
The Toyota and Hyundai are only two models and manufacturers in the race for hybrid/electric cars available. There is the current all-electric Nisson Leaf. Chevrolet offers a variety of electric and hybrid vehicles. The Chevy Volt has an estimated 238 miles between charges, but is still on the expensive range of most drivers. Then of course there is the upcoming, expensive Tesla.
The good news is that prices are dropping and more charging stations are being installed across the state/country for longer drives away from home. If you are not ready for a hybrid, please get onboard with home and business recycling. There is NO question that climate change is real and whether you believe our society is to blame, or not, recycling has to be part of your future.
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