Final Expert Article

Going Hybrid

Tired of paying too much for gas? What can be done to conserve fuel usage? Some options are to drive less, take the bus, or purchase a hybrid automobile. Choosing the option of purchasing a hybrid vehicle allows the driver to save money at the pump and increase their fuel economy, compared to a conventional automobile.

Hybrids began gaining traction in the 1990’s. With modern technology, the vehicles have become more popular and have gripped the attention of many drivers on the road. The vehicles are environmental friendly, leaving a positive footprint on the earth by reducing pollution, and offer a wide range of benefits for the driver. While great results can be seen from switching to a hybrid vehicle, there are also some high costs that come with a hybrid ownership. In this article, I will go into detail about how a hybrid vehicle works and what makes it different from conventional cars.

How a Hybrid Vehicle Works

Hybrid vehicles use a combination of two different engines. The first engine is a conventional engine that uses either petrol or disel. The second engine is an electric motor than runs on electricity, which is powered by the car battery. A hybrid vehicle uses its electric motor when it is operating at lower speeds and uses the conventional engine to get the car going at higher speeds. The combination of both motors allows the automobile to run in an efficient and effective manner. Hybrid vehicles offer a regenerative braking system, meaning that when a driver brakes, the electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain and “in return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor” (Fuel Economy). Hybrids also automatically shutdown when the car comes to a stop. It starts again when the accelator is being pushed on. This allows the car to reduce emissions when idling and saves gas when the car is not in motion.

Eco-Friendly

There has been much speculation about global warming affecting the state of our planet. The large amount of carbon in the earth’s atmosphere is changing our weather patterns and causing polar ice caps to melt rapidly. These eco-friendly cars release a low amount of carbon and sulfur, reducing the amount of toxic emissons into the air. “For every gallon of gasoline burned, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide and other green house gas enter the atmopshere,” but the use of hybrid vehicles can help minimize the negative impact of toxic emissions (Ariskan). The amount of smog and pollution will be greatly reduced. Sustainability has become a huge topic and companies have responded by pushing more environmental friendly products to preserve the earth for future generations.

Fuel Economy

One of the biggest factors that pull customers to purchase a hybrid vehicle is the great fuel economy it offers. On average, a hybrid vehicle can reach up to fifty miles per gallon (mpg) and a tank of gas costs between twenty to thirty dollars.  The “battery provides an electric assist to the gas-powered engine, achieving 20–35 percent better gas mileage than conventional cars” (Green American). For example, a 2015 Toyota Prius has a combined mpg of fifty, whereas a Toyota Corolla can get thirty-two mpg. The mpg difference between the two vehicles is significant. With gas prices fluctuating every month, drivers do not want to pay a premium for gas. Drivers can save money and have a higher fuel economy if they switch to a hybrid automobile.

Benefits

            The purchase of a hybrid vehicle benefits the environment, while also offering different types of perks for the owner. Many insurance companies instantly offer discounts for any hybrid vehicle owners. “Travelers Insurance even have a dedicated hybrid car insurance division which provides discounts of up to 10 percent simply based on the vehicle” and on top of this deduction, drivers can still get other typical discounts that come with insurance companies (Dunn). The second advantage is that most hybrid vehicles have a high resale value. Even if you decide to sell your automobile in the future, you will be able to retain a larger amount compared to a conventional vehicle. In addition, consumers may worry that hybrids will not be able to accelerate to high speeds because the car uses less fuel. However, that is false. Hybrids actually have a large amount of torque – they can accelerate to high speeds quickly.

Disadvantages

            A disadvantage of hybrid vehicles is their higher price tag. Hybrids tend to cost more because of the research and development done to create the vehicle. Another factor that may affect a consumer’s decision to purchase a hybrid is the high maintenance cost: “Hybrid vehicles also cost more to repair because of the complexity of the dual compulsion system used in most hybrid vehicles” (Cars Direct). Finding experienced mechanics to maintain hybrids can be quite expensive since not many mechanics have yet to specialize in this.

Conclusion

            We have discussed the benefits and drawbacks of owning a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid may have a higher price tag and higher maintenance cost, but the pros outweigh the cons. Hybrids are environmental friendly and offer a great solution to help reduce smog from our atmosphere. They do not emit as much toxic gases into our air. On top of that, hybrids can achieve a higher fuel economy compared to conventional automobiles. Owning a hybrid also allows you to obtain cheaper auto insurance, and the vehicle retains its resale value in the future. Now that you have knowledge on hybrid vehicles, it is your decision to go out and purchase one.

Works Cited

Ariskan, Sandra. "Hybrid Car Technology | Ecofriendly Planet." Ecofriendly Planet RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

Dunn, Alan. "5 Reasons to Buy a Hybrid Car." U.S. News. N.p., 24 Mar. 2011. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

"How Hybrids Work." How Hybrids Work. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

Novey, Joelle. "GREEN AMERICAN." Green America: Living Green: The Money-Saving Perks of a Hybrid Car. N.p., 2009. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

"The Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars." CarsDirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.