Hybrids
A hybrid by definition is a combination of two separate things — in the case of automobiles, an engine and a motor. A hybrid car uses both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Both the engine and motor have favorable and less savory qualities, but when working together they bring out the best in each other.
Cars that are strictly electric have to be recharged at regular intervals, and without the horses under the hood, they're not always good at high speeds. But electric cars do well at lower speeds and produce few or no emissions — a great benefit. Gasoline-powered cars have the pickup most drivers are accustomed to and they can be conveniently fueled.
However, gasoline isn't the cleanest fuel. Producing it isn't good for the environment and neither is burning it. Gasoline combustion engines produce a host of contaminants such as volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The United States consumes approximately 25 percent of all the oil used worldwide on any given day — 20.8 million gallons. The Cambridge Energy Research Association estimates that in 2005 American drivers burned about 703 gallons that year, up 41 percent from 25 years earlier.
In hybrid vehicles, the electric and gasoline systems work together, utilizing each other's best aspects. The gas engine can charge the batteries. Hybrids capture the energy produced during braking, so they don't have to be plugged in to recharge their batteries. Because gasoline motors are so inefficient at low speeds, the electric motors kick in during stop-and-go traffic, significantly reducing the amount of fuel burned and emissions produced.
For skeptics who are concerned that hybrid-car batteries are too expensive to replace and dispose of, rest assured. Ford, Honda, and Toyota claim that the batteries in their hybrids will last the life of the vehicle. When it comes to disposal, the batteries can be recycled just like any other car battery.
Hybrids, when compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts, get about 20 to 35 percent better gas mileage, but the improved fuel efficiency may not make up for the increased sticker price. For example, look at a side-by-side comparison of the 2007 models of Honda's Civic Hybrid sedan and its traditional Civic sedan.
According to Honda, its Civic Hybrid gets 49 miles to the gallon in city driving and 51 miles to the gallon on the highway, averaging out to 50 miles to the gallon. The base price is $22,600. The 2007 Civic Hybrid may be eligible for a federal tax credit of as much as $2,100, and individual states may offer additional tax incentives. The hybrid's sibling, the gas-powered Civic sedan, gets an average of 35 miles to the gallon and has a base price of $15,010.
The EPA is arming consumers with more accurate information when it comes to fuel efficiency. It seems consumers weren't getting accurate mileage information, in part because driving patterns have changed since the testing protocols were developed in the early 1970s, so the EPA is devising better ways to determine accurate fuel efficiency that mimic realistic driving conditions. The new values are required to be used in 2008 models.
Taking the maximum federal tax credit for the hybrid into account, the difference in price between the two cars is $5,490. The hybrid will need to refuel less often, which will save its owner money, but the amount of time it will take to close the $5,490 price gap depends on the cost of gas and how often the tank needs to be refilled.
A rough estimate: If the price of gas averages $3.25 per gallon (adjusted for inflation), and the cars are each driven 15,000 miles per year, the hybrid will take a little more than 13 years to earn its higher price tag back. The website fueleconomy.gov, run by the Department of Energy and the EPA, allows browsers to do their own comparisons and view emissions statistics. The price of a hybrid might be higher, but it also includes the cost of developing new technology.
But the fuel efficiency and price of the car aren't the only things to consider when buying a greener car. Hybrids produce much fewer emissions than cars that run strictly on gasoline. According to the fuel economy website, the Honda Civic will produce about 5.5 tons per year of greenhouse gases, or carbon dioxide equivalents, while the Honda Civic Hybrid will produce 3.7 tons per year.
A side-by-side comparison can't be made on the first mass-produced and dominant hybrid on the market, the Toyota Prius, because there is no gas-powered version. In 2001, Toyota sold about 5,600 Prius models, and that number continued to rise until 2005, when it hit 108,000. In the first half of 2006, Prius sales accounted for nearly half of all hybrid purchases in the United States. By the end of the year, overall sales figures for the Prius were down slightly from the previous year, partially because Toyota introduced a hybrid model of its popular Camry in May.
How much of the American auto market is driven by hybrid sales?
According to auto website Edmunds.com, sales in the hybrid market increased 2,200 percent between 2000 and 2006, although they still account for only one percent of the entire auto market.
Honda and Toyota were two of the first automakers to get into the hybrid market, but other companies are marketing hybrids. On either end of the pricing scale, Lexus and Saturn each offer cars and midsize SUVs. GM rolled out two truck hybrids, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, that boast the same power as their non-hybrid counterparts with 10 to 15 percent better fuel efficiency.
Auto companies anticipate unveiling even more new hybrid vehicles in the coming years. Environmentally friendly cars have become such the rage that the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show included not only hybrids and biodiesel hybrids but cars made from completely recycled material, too.
