A long, long time ago…in an era far, far away…gas prices were not considered a burden on our pockets. Of course, that’s all changed now. With the prices soaring on a continuous basis, car owners have now felt the pain of having to spend more of their hard-earned money on gas. So given the constant increase in price, what can one do to save on gas money? While some opt to just commute, walk or ride a bike, another option - if you have the additional cash to spare – is to shift to a hybrid.

Because of its fuel economy and ability to emit lower emissions, car manufacturers have started to increase the production of this type of vehicle. The hybrid is able to do all this by recapturing used energy (i.e. during braking); by having additional battery storage capacity to store used energy; by shutting down the gasoline engine when the vehicle isn’t moving or coasting; and by relying on both its engine and electric motors for its power.

Now how efficient are these hybrids in saving fuel? Well, one of the cars used as an example by KickingTires is the 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. Compared to its non-hybrid counterpart, the Ford Escape hybrid can make you save $839 in gas expenses in a year (assuming that the price remains fixed at $3.94). And according them, in five years, that’s going to net you $4,195 in savings. Now that’s huge.

So, if you’re thinking of getting a new car now or anytime in the near future, try getting a hybrid. Just imagine the savings you can get from it on a yearly basis.

Sources: Kicking Tires, Wikipedia