There are many disadvantages of hybrid electric vehicles. First of all, hybrid electric vehicles are not all-electric vehicles. They do require gasoline to drive.

Hybrid electric vehicles use regenerative braking to get their electricity. The gas energy is captured off of the brakes and stored as electricity. All electric vehicles are a much better alternative in terms of cutting down smog. There are several available today.

Hybrid electric vehicles are also inferior to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Many automotive companies are working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in production now. Very soon Chevy will come out with a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

While hybrid electric vehicles are low smog emission vehicles, they do produce emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles produce water as their emission, making them far superior to hybrid electric vehicles. Or better yet take public transportation in a city that uses hydrogen fuel cell buses.

Although hybrid electric vehicles are readily available, they are a large investment. There are sometimes $10,000 difference in between a hybrid car and a subcompact although the mile per gallon difference could be only a few miles freeway miles. This is an investment that might not be immediately recaptured in gas savings.

Of course, hybrid vehicles are not ideal for freeway drivers. The reason is because hybrid electric vehicles use regenerative breaking. If most of the miles put on the car are on the freeway, there is less braking involved and less regeneration of electricity involved.

Another disadvantage of hybrid electric vehicles is some models are very difficult to obtain. They are heavily advertised and there is a heavy demand. But many automotive manufacturers are using a showroom car to lure customers into the showroom to see a hybrid that there is a long waiting list for. Customers needing a car now and not six months from now end up buying a gas guzzling SUV because the hybrid SUV is not yet readily available.

A large disadvantage of hybrid electric vehicles is they give auto manufacturers a chance to tell the state and federal governments that they are doing something to lower vehicle emissions. Then car manufacturers insist that the government has no reason to bully the manufacturers to make cars with reasonable miles per gallon rates of say 100 miles per gallon. Hybrid cars are a smoke screen for the car manufacturers to pretend they care about the environment.

Finally, hybrid electric vehicles are available only to the most elite car buyers creating a disparity between rich communities and poor communities. Poor cities have drivers creating lots of emissions in old eight cylinder cars while rich cities have rich citizens driving expensive hybrid electric vehicles with low emissions. Probably the biggest disadvantage of hybrid electric vehicles is that they are cost prohibitive to the poor.

While the vast majority of Americans opt to travel by car or SUV, many others prefer the feel of the wind in their hair, the exciting roar of a powerful engine and the feeling of wild abandon that they experience when riding a motorcycle. For those motorcycle owners, nothing less will do. Once you’ve had a chance to consider the benefits and advantages of motorcycle ownership; however, you may come around to their way of thinking.

One of the major benefits of riding a motorcycle is the cost savings over operating a car. The initial purchase of the motorcycle almost always offers a cost savings over a car purchase, unless you choose to buy a top-of-the-line bike. Motorcycles are also considerably lighter than most cars and use substantially less gas, resulting in reduced financial output for their owners. Motorcycles often get double the per-gallon gas mileage that cars do. The fact that motorcycles produce less pollution makes them a green choice that pleases those concerned with protecting the environment.

Motorcycles also present a cost savings for their owners when it comes to repairs. With an engine that’s easily accessible and that requires fewer parts, most common repairs are not enough to break the bank. The ease of working on a motorcycle often allows owners to make repairs themselves, rather than necessitating a costly trip to a professional mechanic.

Many new motorcycle owners are pleasantly surprised when they contact their insurance company for a quote. Insurance for motorcycles is often less than half that of the cost to insure a car or SUV, making them appealing options for that reason alone.

For those who’ve never quite mastered the art of parallel parking on city streets, a motorcycle can be a godsend. The ability to squeeze a motorcycle into the smallest spaces is a major benefit to those who live in highly-populated areas. The ability to pull over easily also adds to the motorcycle’s appeal when you want to snap a picture of a mesmerizing sunset or answer an impromptu call on your cell phone.

While people often perceive motorcycles as unsafe due to danger from car drivers, motorcycles do have safety advantages to offer their owners. For one thing, motorcycles are free of the blind spots that cars present, allowing riders to see oncoming vehicles easily. Motorcycles are also easier to maneuver than cars, allowing riders to more easily avoid crashes. Motorcycle drivers are also less likely to be distracted by conversations with passengers, rambunctious children in the backseat or attending to personal grooming while riding, unlike car drivers.

Aside from the practical benefits of motorcycle ownership, there are several intangible ones as well. Motorcycles allow independent riders to travel alone, but provide riders who are more social the opportunity to travel in groups. It’s not at all uncommon to see two or more riders traveling together as they enjoy a day out on their bikes. Motorcycles make it easy to join forces with other bike enthusiast for a trip across town or across the country.

Motorcycles also provide their owners with the perfect excuse to wear head-to-toe leather. While your office colleagues may raise a few eyebrows if you show up at work in leather gear, no one will blink at the sight of a motorcycle rider decked out in leather. Whether you just think it’s a cool look, or wear it to protect yourself in the event of a spill, is completely your business.