Luxuries Even For the Environmentalist
Erin Nix

Imagine,  instead ofbeing stuck in morning rush hour because you drive by yourself,  youget to go in the HOV lanes simply because of the car you drive. This occurs within some states for those who own hybrids. Hybrids are the most practical vehicle for the majority  of America ’s  population because not only are they better for the environment but they  also have almost all the features of luxury cars. Few  individuals think of hybrid vehicles as a practical option when car shopping. With the combinedtechnology of electricity and gasoline,  hybrid vehicles are more environmentally friendly then the standard gasoline  driven car. However, most consumers worry more about  their comforts than their effects on the environment, leading to disagreements  on the best vehicle for the consumer’s needs. They  argue that many luxuries are lost in the hybrids because hybrids are more  expensive to manufacture, and are not as large as some conventional gas cars. This has changed though. Since hybridsbecame available there has been an increase in efficiencies, moreluxuriesand increased driver benefits.

       When  first designed, hybrid vehicles aimed toreduce fuel consumption by half ofalready high gas mileage vehicles. The hybrid’s historystarted off rocky because the electric batteries, generators, and motorshad losses of 15-25 percent in energy, causing it to be more desirable toroute as much of the engine power directly to the wheels (Cheng 114). Doing so, however, was not sufficient for power. Since 1975, five improvements were made that rendered itmore available to the public. These included decrease  in electrical losses down to 2-4%, improved shapes to produce far higher energiesand powers, magnetic bearings, new turbines from other materials to increasethermal efficiencies, and small turbochargers for piston engines (Cheng 114). Together these improvements made the hybrid more aerodynamic,efficient and lower in cost to manufacture. In a recentstudy by W. Chenget al, the hybrid was compared to gas turbine-engine vehicles. Their results showed that the hybrid engine would producevirtually no vehicle pollution during trips less than 30 minutes, and lessthan normal cars when trips were longer. The strongestcharacteristic of the hybrids is the higher gas mileage which allows it tobe more environmentally friendly and cost effective. Gasolinecars average 26 miles per gallon and the new hybrids average 56 miles pergallon, an increase of over 50% (Hybrid Vigor 100).

        Many consumers today buy cars based on luxury packages rather then efficiencyratings. When hybrids were first introduced they lacked such amenities as leatherseats, standard airbags, CD players and other luxuries. Today the hybrids can competewith almost any standard. For example the 2004 Priusfrom Toyota includes electric airconditioning so you can heat or cool thecabin even when the engine is turnedoff (How Far Will You Go). In almost all modelsavailable, standards include dualairbags, side airbags, power windows andseats, increased cup holders, powersteering, remote keyless entry, touch-screennavigation, and cruise control. Even with allthese features, however, the hybrids still lack a leather interior option.

       When the word “hybrid” is mentioned, most people automaticallypicture the space looking design of the Honda Insight. To most, this design isnot only unattractive, but would also seemimpractical for a family of  five. Whatmost people do not know is the large variety ofcars that use the combination of gas and electric. One includes America’s best rated, the Honda Civic. Not only does this vehicle come strictly as gas but it also looks the exact same when turned into a hybrid. General Motors is also making steps to produce a widerange of vehicles that include a hybrid option in minivans, trucks and SUVs(Glover). With different models, amenities will furtherincrease in order to fit the requirements of not just the typical Americanbut the elite aswell.

       Until General Motors markets a hybrid in minivans or SUVs, the large majorityof American car consumers will not make the greener switch. Mostof the hybrids are not equipped for the soccer moms oftoday. Even though the hybrids available cantransport up to fivepeople, minivans can transport up to seven, with plentyof space for cargo.

       Another downfall is the increased cost compared to comparable vehicles ofthe same style and even model. The extra costscan be offset by many added incentives. The federalgovernment gives new buyers a one time tax deduction of $2,000 and individualstates sometimes give even more incentives. Certainstates give exemptions from emission-control inspections, while others allowhybrid owners to cruise through HOV lanes even when solely occupied. Many peopleconsider this the largest trade-off for the increasein price. One woman said, “That saves me time, which is worth more than anything. The gas mileage is just a bonus,” in regards to her experiencewith being able to use the HOV lanes. (It’s flourish or fail for hybrid cars ) So even with their increased price, the incentives equal the difference to make them.

       Many individuals could really care less about the effects their activitieshave on future generations, therefore it is important to address the issueof conservingnatural resources because it would reduce individual costs. If less oil is used, less gasoline will be produced causingthe existing gasoline prices to drop. With increasing  popularity in hybrid vehicles, many who don’t drive hybrids, and thoseof course who do, benefit by saving money at the pumps.

For the majority of America ’s population, purchasing a hybrid will fulfill all their consumerneeds while obtaining increased benefits. Not only can car owners now drive in luxury but they can get to their destinations quicker with more money in their pocket. They contain many features standardin luxury cars with many new features being added in upcoming models. With the hybrids available now, and new models coming out,everyone who drives a car will be able tofind one which fits their needsand their liking. Construction workers will be ableto drive hybrid trucks, and soccer momswill have enough capacity to drivethe soccer team while still living in luxuryand saving money in gasoline.

Annotated Bibliography:

Cheng, W. D.G. Wilson and A.C. Pfahnl. “Analytical efficiency comparison between gas turbine and gas turbine hybrid engines for passengers.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical EngineersPart D. Journal of Automobile Engineering 211.2 (1997): 113-20.

• Cheng et al. analyzed and compared the differences in gas turbine and gas turbine hybrid engines in respect to emissions and performance. It introduced some opposing statistics to why hybridsmight not be the most efficient. Their results showed that hybrids may not be the most efficient for long distancetripsbut are extremely efficient on trips less than 30 miles. Its largest downfall is that it is a little outdated.

Glover, Maurice. “Hybrids beginning to Take Center Stage.” Automotive Engineer 28.2 (2003): 6.

“Greenwashing the Car.” Scientific American 287.4 (2002): 8.

“How Far Will You Go To Save the Planet?About 566 miles per tank.” Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/

• This is a link from the www.toyota.com website being mainly an advertisement to help sell the Prius. It explained briefly how the engine works, car specs,and features that are available buyers.

“Hybrid Cars for a Greener World.” Network For Good http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hybridcars/

“Hybrid Vigor.” Scientific American 283.4 (2000): 99-101.

• This author discusses different types of vehicles along with their pros and cons. Hybrids then become the leading discussion from all possibilities, which the author continues to describe the growing popularity, how they work and the overall results.

” Introducing the Civic Hybrid, a clean and fuel-efficient vehicle for today's world.” AmericanHonda Motor Co., Inc 2003 http://www.hondacars.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Civic+Hybrid&bhcp=1&BrowserDetected=True

“It’s flourish or fail for hybrid cars.” The Associated Press. March 2, 2003. http://www.acadiananow.com/business/html/3D6AAB11-5545-42A9-AE1D-C401BD886B7D.shtml .

· This articleaddressed popular problems that consumers see with buying hybrids as wellas the positives. By following one particular womenwhen she seeked more information on a hybrid, they addressed the issues ofgetting tax breaks from the government, emission exempt, and the ability to drive in HOV lanes when being solely occupied. Thiswas a good interpretation to what consumers think and what sells them onthe idea of purchasing a hybrid vehicle.

Kerwin, Kathleen. “Hybrids: How Detroit Can Gun the Engines.” Business Week 3820 (2003): 80.

• Kerwin addresses the issue of launching new vehicle technology to the public and trying to get it to sell. General Motors tried to launch an electric car but failed, and they are now retrying to launch hybrid models in different types of cars such as the minivans and trucks. Kerwin also explains how to properly sell such vehicles as the hybrid to the public including explaining, aiming to who can afford them, offering visual cues that show they are unique.

Malakoff, David. “ U.S. Supercars: Around the Corner, of Running on Empty.” Science 285.5428 (1999): 680-83

• Malakoff discusses the growing issue of research on new technology of national renewable resources and the problems that arise with consumers, politicians and large manufacturing companies. The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) is a collaboration of many car companies and others who are working ontechnology in vehicles to make them more available to consumers in orderto decrease pollution and conserveoil. Malakoffaddresses the issues that criticshave with the program of PNGV focusingmore on diesel engines ratherthan hydrogen fuel cells and hybrids.

Wouk, Victor. “Hybrid Electric Vehicles.” Scientific American 277.4 (1997): 70-75.