The vehicles we use in our daily lives all over the world are damaging to our environment. The air quality in the US does not meet the federal requirements owing to air pollutants. Air and water pollution, global warming as well as ozone layer depletion are the challenges the earth is facing reflecting the consequences of our actions. The cars we use emit harmful exhaust gas that causes acid rain as well as significantly contributing to global warming. Due to ever growing environmental concerns, the government of the US has been trying to address these concerns. One such measure is by use of hybrid cars that utilize lesser energy while emitting smaller exhaust gas. However, the hybrid car comes with its bunch of disadvantages too. Many manufacturers are trying to improve the hybrid vehicles since failure to quit gasoline powered vehicles means that the resources on earth will continue to get destroyed.
The origin of hybrid vehicles concept dates back to 1905 when an American Engineer filed a patent on a car that would utilize an electric motor to improve the power of the ordinary gasoline engine. His idea would fade as the gasoline engines became more improved, primarily because the equipment to start the car with a crank was invented. However, the 1970 oil crisis reignited renewed interests in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles that would see the US and domestic vehicle manufacturers’ rely on less foreign oil since the two vehicle categories would consume less of it (Barnes and Nat. 54). That has become a reality as the hybrid vehicles have become more and more popular today as the manufacturers respond to the existing environmental challenges. Hybrid electrical cars join internal combustion engine of the gas release with both the battery and motor of the electric vehicle. This results in doubling of the fuel economy of the cars that are gasoline powered. The combination offers the extended range and fast fueling that consumers get from conventional vehicles with high energy and environmental advantages of the electric vehicle.
A hybrid car system saves energy because it is manufactured in a manner that it compensates for the short battery life that comes with electric cars. While some batteries only provide for energy enough to serve during short trips, a generator can be carried onboard, and through use of power from the internal combustion engine, it can be installed for use during longer trips. On the contrary, the previous battery- electric powered vehicles, which was provided via wall-plug electricity was perceived as the ultimate efficient and low emission vehicles, although better batteries have been invented. A conclusion had arrived that with better batteries, hybrid vehicles were not relevant.
According to the United States Department of Energy, replacing 22% of all the vehicles in the US with hybrids, the barrels of oils that could be saved daily are about one million. This would be vital at a time when oil production has dropped by 17% as while the consumption has risen by 14%.additionaly, fewer pollutants would be produced as compared to the conventional vehicles. To be specific, department of energy estimates for every 12,000 miles covered annually, carbon emissions will drop by 4,700 pounds of gasoline-powered vehicles (Grzegorz et al. 164). The last two decades have seen hybrid vehicles leading to all vehicles, owing to their efficiency and the poor air quality that has compelled those in authority to require cars that are cleaner. This has seen the consumption of gasoline lowering leading to reduced national average smog quantity, because of lesser usage of smog-forming pollutants that exist in gasoline. Despite the fact that hybrid vehicles will never register a zero emission, their internal combustion engine will help slash the emissions that contribute to global warming pollutants by close to a half with better future prospects that will come with newer models (Barnes and Nat. 54).
Another way in which hybrid vehicles save energy as compared to conventional vehicles that use gasoline is by regenerative breaking potential that reduces energy loss hence replenishing the energy that is used to stop the vehicle. After breaks are applied, the motor starts to work like a generator using the vehicle’s kinetic energy to produce electricity (Chiswell and Mike 87). The generated power can as well be stored in a battery to be used later. This, therefore, shows how time and energy are saved since the need to recharge the battery using an outside source is eliminated. Hybrid vehicles indeed save energy because despite having two power sources, it runs on only one source of power when need be. At red lights, the gas engine can comfortably be turned off, and no other time. Their low resistant tires provide hybrid vehicles with stiff and more inflated tires resulting in less dragging when compared to traditional cars. Moreover, on top of their lesser energy requirements, they are found at a very competitive price. The energy levels they consume is enough to allow them to hold an average load.
An average hybrid vehicle can cover 100 miles using one gallon, and the dependency on fossil fuels is eradicated since they can use other alternative fuels. Further, they are manufactured using lighter materials. These materials include magnesium, aluminum or fires of carbon. The materials ensure that the overall weight of the vehicle is greatly reduced. A vehicle with lightweight requires lesser energy to start. The cost of premiums associated with hybrid vehicles can be countered with the amount of fuel cost saved (Grzegorz et al. 164). As manufacturers of hybrid cars plan to save energy by replacing the gasoline they consume with E85, which is an ethanol-gasoline fuel, they will require refueling more often. E85 has a high energy content, burns cleaner oxygen hence reducing smog formation as well as illnesses of the respiratory system. When compared to gasoline E85 will minimize greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide as well as 39&% to 46% (Graham-Rowe and Duncan 22). Other advantageous properties of E85 include being non-toxic, biodegradable and is water soluble.
Although the consumption of E85 is higher than gasoline, it can also be used as a way of combating gasoline effects. Its usage would positively impact the US economy while transforming it into an energy reliant nation. The ethanol in the E85 can be produced from home-grown crops which see more jobs being created as well as stabilizing of prices. That way, the US will have reduced the energy demands as well as reducing reliance on other countries without entirely forfeiting energy consumption. For the motorists, their vehicle engines will last longer due combustion of cleaner fuel. The vehicles consuming either gasoline or E85 are the improved hybrids.
In conclusion, hybrid cars are a better choice as compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. However, they also come with their set of challenges. Presently, they remain the best solution in fighting the overwhelming effects of global warming exhaust related effects. If the emissions are successfully lowered in addition to the lesser fuel consumption, then the hybrid vehicles will be the ultimate way to travel. On the other hand, their lightweight makes them vulnerable to traffic-related fatalities in addition to their lesser emission. Furthermore, their parts remain relatively expensive and not readily available, but this is bound to change as manufacturers are continually improving hybrids year after year.
Works Cited
Barnes, Nat. “Value Driven.” Business Traveller (UK/Europe Edition), Nov. 2016, pp. 54-57
Chiswell, Mike. “Global Market Review of Mild Hybrids – Forecasts to 2018.” Aroq – Just-Auto,
Sept. 2013, pp. 1-112
Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “Hybrid Cars Are Poised to Give Flywheels a Spin.” New Scientist, vol.
210, no. 2816, 11 June 2011, p. 22
Wielinski, Grzegorz, et al. “Electric and Hybrid Car Use in a Free-Floating Carsharing
System.” International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, vol. 11, no. 3, Mar. 2017, pp. 161-169
