10. Pictures (in order of appearance) motherearthnews.com/…/car%20pollution.jpg Hybridsuvblog.blogspot.com/…/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg theblogofrecord.com/…/senator-george-p-wetmore-rhode-island-in-a-krieger-electric-landaulet.jpg goodcleantech.com/…/BMW-vs-Prius.jpg ecoautoninja.com/…/bmw-hybrids.jpg rsportscars.com/…/detroit-auto-show-dodge-circuit-ev-concept-windmills.jpg thegreenasia.com/…/Hydrogen-Powered-Cars.jpg autoblog.com/…/nissan-leaf_lo_630.jpg inhabitat.com/…/chevy-volt3.jpg
Editor's Notes
Good morning. My name is Sarah Carpenter, and my 8th Grade Project is Hybrid Cars: Worth the Cost?
Since global warming has become a growing concern, cars are now a major topic of controversy. Some argue that vehicles, even those with high miles per gallon, are destroying the environment by dumping CO2 into the air. Car companies now produce cars with higher miles per gallon, resulting in less emissions. Others say that vehicle emissions are not significant enough to be a major contributor to global warming.
When hybrids were first developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, they were not popular with the public. There was little to no incentive to buy hybrids over the competition. By the mid 1900’s, a new motor, now operating with electric or gas-electric engines, increased the popularity of these vehicles significantly.
The Toyota Prius is a classic example of a hybrid, while the BMW 5 Series is a well-known example of a fuel-efficient non-hybrid. Car companies utilize the hybrid label to emphasize that hybrids are better than non-hybrids in regards to miles per gallon and emission. The Prius may have a higher mpg, reaching the mid-fifties compared to the BMW’s low-forties, but the impact of high efficiency on the environment is uncertain. Buyers must weigh the potential environmental benefits when deciding to purchase a higher-cost Prius compared to the less expensive, relatively-similar BMW 5 Series.
Many companies are producing different types of environmentally-friendly cars like plug-in vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt (bottom right), pure electric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf (bottom left), and the relatively new hydrogen-powered vehicle (top left). Although less practical for the average car owner, these cars are becoming more and more a reality. These vehicles are intended to be fuel-efficient, produce zero emissions, and be reasonably priced. With time and advances in technology, similar cars could become the norm just as hybrids are beginning to be today.
Hybrids have many perks compared to fuel-efficient non-hybrids. First, hybrids emit upwards of ninety-seven percent less pollution than non-hybrids. This is due, in part, to their relatively high average miles per gallon, around forty-eight for the standard hybrid, and their gas-electric engine. Additionally, unlike fuel-efficient non-hybrids, these vehicles enjoy governmental instituted benefits such as tax breaks and HOV lane use.
Despite the initial cost of a hybrid, the benefits of owning a hybrid outnumber it’s weaknesses. With the current state of our economy, some feel anxious to spend more for a hybrid car. However, the thought of fewer trips to the local gas station is beginning to put their mind at ease. When gas prices are down and our economy is doing well, they seem like an unnecessary purchase. However, with our current economic conditions and environmental awareness, they seem to be the ideal car. The concept of environmentally-friendly cars may have been around for some time, but the future of these vehicles is just beginning.
