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Hybrid vehicles are continuously gaining popularity in the general public. With the
growing societal concerns about green revolution and also achieving significant
reduction in fuel consumption, hybrid vehicles are considered satisfactory in
performance. They have become so popular that certain tax incentives have been
offered by the government on hybrid vehicles. Due to their better performance compared
with gas powered vehicles, we present the thesis of our paper as follows:
Thesis statement: it is hypothesized that compared with the gas powered vehicles,
hybrids offer more benefits in maintenance, are cost-effective, and most importantly
environmental-friendly.
A steam-powered motor carriage was used in France in the eighteenth century. In the
next century, a car with electric motor was assembled in England. By the end of
nineteenth century, hundreds of electric cars were being used in the United States. A
significant development occurred when Porsche- a German- invented a hybrid when he
used an internal combustion engine and then combined it with an electric motor. This is
recorded as the first hybrid car in the history. Later, in the start of twentieth century,
Henry Ford- father of automobile industry- developed the first assembly line
manufacturing plant to facilitate the production of gas-powered car. (Anderson 134-45)
Major developments in hybrid cars were recorded when General Motors conducted
experiments to produce hybrid cars on commercial basis. They tested by using electricity
at 13 mpg and then utilized gas engine reaching up to 40 mpg. The 1973 energy crisis
necessitated the introduction of alternative ways relying less on oil and gas. After
continuous research and development; GM, Ford, Chrysler, and the Department of
Energy entered into a contract to initiate a program to produce 'Hybrid Electric Vehicle'
(HEV). Objective of this joint venture was to create efficient as well as cost-effective
vehicles that are safe to use and also address environmental concerns. After the failure
of electric cars, car-manufacturers concentrated more on using HEV program to produce
vehicles. The first hybrid vehicle was marketed in the United States in the year 2000 by
Toyota- the Japanese automobile giant- named as 'Pirus'. (Anderson 134-45)
One of the major benefits of a hybrid vehicle is the strength of two engines used in it.
Gas motor is useful for charging batteries while it is running, however it has to be
charged through an outlet. Hybrid, on the other hand, does not need an outlet for
charging purpose. It is pertinent to mention that hybrids are the most gasoline-effective
of all vehicles with owners saving more costs by using hybrid vehicles compared with
vehicles running on gas. (Yost 77-91)
As mentioned above, hybrid vehicles use two or more distinctive technologies, mostly
merging electric and gas power. Currently, automobile companies have started using
technology of gas powered or commonly known as 'internal combustion'. At slow speed
the vehicle utilizes electric power only reducing usage of gas and avoiding toxic
emissions from the internal combustion engine. It means that hybrid vehicles offer more
benefits just than saving fuels. It is helpful in the cause of 'going green' reducing impact
of pollution as a low quantity of gas emissions are produced by the hybrid car specifically
driving in the cities in traffic jams, at a low speed. (Leitman, 230-232)
The regenerative braking in hybrid vehicles support brake pads to survive more
compared with other vehicles. Maintenance is also normal as required in other cars and
batteries as well as motors also survive for a longer period. Therefore, the main features
of hybrid vehicles include tax incentives- although up to 2010- its low gas emissions, and
significant reduction in costs, and its regenerative braking system. Honda and Toyota are
the market leaders for producing hybrid vehicles. United States have recently started
producing hybrid vehicles. The largest selling hybrid vehicles are Japanese- Pirus and
Insight. General Motors have introduced hybrid with the brand name as 'Mercury
Mariner'. Ford has achieved significant success in its hybrid vehicle: "Escape SUV". The
main tactics adopted by the hybrid vehicle marketers- Japanese or Americans- are
based on its 'green' image and cost-effectiveness being an innovative technology. (Yost
77-91)
It is pertinent to highlight that millions of barrels of oil are used by the vehicles in the
United States. United States have to import almost half of its oil requirement mainly from
Persian-Gulf nations with petroleum products catering most of the transportation needs
of the nation. Extraction of oil itself has numerous harmful effects on quality of air and
environment. Then there are problems of oil-spills and underground storage of fuel.
Since United States is the larges producer of CO2, it is beneficial to rely more on using
it. Due to high environmental concerns about gas emissions, technology of HEV is used
by the hybrid vehicle manufacturers reducing gas emissions from CO2 by almost half to
one-third. (Yost 77-91)
Due to above-mentioned reasons, a hybrid vehicle helps save environment from gas
emissions creating pollution and breaking ozone layer. Especially driving in the cities
during rush hours and traffic jams, hybrid vehicles with low gas emissions work better
and effectively compared with the gas cars, one of the main reasons for the increasing
popularity of hybrid vehicles. Expert drivers adapting to the new technology by modifying
their driving techniques are in a better position to benefit from this innovative technology-
driven vehicles. Japanese made Pirus and Insight are comparatively smaller cars being
used mostly in large cities having more traffic rush and traffic jams. The environmental
factor alone is the predictor of hybrid vehicles as currently it is being bought by the upper
social class with high income, however, with the improvements in technology it is
expected that the future of hybrid cars is bright. (Yost 77-91)
It is pertinent to highlight different ways of reducing gas emission and promoting green
environment. Hybrid vehicles such as public transport can support in the cause of going
green. Small but efficient cars can also prove to be useful particularly in large cities. In
other words, hybrid vehicles can be labeled as 'environment-friendly' because of
combining electric motor with internal combustion engine which is helpful in reducing
dangerous effects of emission noxious gasoline combustion products.
In addition to remitting less gas than gas powered vehicles, hybrids also provide the
benefit of effective braking system. Hybrid vehicles run exclusively on electric motor at a
low speed. Gas vehicles procures CO2 adding to pollution in the environment. The fact
is that no regulation exists in United States restricting emission of carbon dioxide. As
such gas powered vehicles contributes to the factor of global warming. Hybrid vehicle is
the solution to this grave problem. (Nerad, 201-205)
In addition to environmental-friendly vehicles, they offer better fuel efficiency. They are
just similar to other normal vehicles with enough space for everyone including people
and pets. The fuel efficiency in hybrid vehicle compared with the gas powered vehicle is
accomplished through technological advancements in the areas of weight reduction and
aero dynamics. This will eventually results in reduction of gas engine meaning more
mileage. A significant benefit of hybrid is the cost-effectiveness. Although the initial price
of vehicle is comparatively high, yet there are specific benefits in the consumption stage
that counterbalance its initial high cost, rather proves to be more cost-effective in the
long-run. (Nerad, 201-205)
Hybrid vehicles offer benefits of advance fuel cells as well as wind and solar power.
Some of the companies have started using lithium technology that support in producing
plug-in hybrid vehicles. The conversion of hybrid to pug-in hybrid makes the vehicle run
only on electricity at lower speed- up to forty miles per hour- at a full-charged battery.
Moreover, plug-in hybrids have also proved to be more fuel-efficient. (Boschert 114-121)
Another significant benefit of hybrid vehicles compared with gas powered vehicle is the
maintenance cost factor. It is easy to maintain similar to other normal vehicles. Success
of any vehicle is mainly dependent on wide availability and easy handling by the
mechanics. In other areas like oil changing, hybrid vehicles are also cost effective
requiring oil change after a longer period than other vehicles. Batteries and motors are
comparatively more efficient in the overall life of the vehicle. As claimed by the
automobile companies, hybrid vehicles require less maintenance in the long run
compared with other gas powered vehicles. Due to its regenerative braking, the brake
pads have relatively long life than gas powered vehicles. (Yost 77-91)
Safety and security is yet another critical issue that is tackled more effectively in hybrid
vehicles compared with gas powered vehicles. As already discussed, hybrid vehicles
provides a delicate, yet the best combination of normal car with electric cars. Hybrid
electric vehicles are as safe as other vehicles, offer more reliability and comfort.
Spending just extra money at the time of purchase stage means more cost saving at the
post-purchase stage supported with high standards of performance and more
importantly safety. (Nerad, 201-205)
Conclusion
Efforts have been made in the paper to make a comparative analysis between benefits
provided by hybrid against gas powered vehicles. A hybrid is a fuel efficient vehicle
having two motors- one a gasoline powered motor and the other electric motor. It is
evident from the analysis made in the paper that hybrid vehicles offer more benefits in
maintenance, are cost-effective, and most importantly environmental-friendly.
Teknologi hibrida semakin populer di dunia sekarang ini. Teknologi ini terutama
diterapkan pada mobil dan kendaraan bermotor lainnya. Kendaraan hybrid
adalah kendaraan yang menggunakan setidaknya dua sumber tenaga untuk
propulsi: tenaga bensin dan tenaga listrik dalam bentuk mesin pembakaran
internal dan baterai.
Porsche adalah mobil hibrida pertama di tahun 1900 ketika diuji dan dijalankan
dengan menggunakan listrik dan didukung oleh mesin pembakaran. Sejak saat
itu, mobil listrik telah diproduksi sebagai kendaraan lestari, meski dalam jumlah
terbatas. Namun, mesin pembakaran internal masih dianggap sebagai sistem
tenaga terbaik yang tersedia karena kandungan energinya tinggi. Selain itu,
lebih mudah untuk menggunakan dan lebih murah daripada baterai karena
bahan bakar minyak bumi lebih mudah didapat.
Esai teknologi hibrida ini mengakui fakta bahwa mobil listrik membuat sesuatu
yang cerdas dalam bentuk kendaraan hibrida. Hibrida menjadi populer karena
semakin banyak produsen dan konsumen mengkhawatirkan efisiensi bahan
bakar dan melestarikan lingkungan. Untungnya, jenis kendaraan ini telah
mengurangi emisi karbon dan sangat berkelanjutan.
Dua jenis mobil hybrid yang saat ini tersedia di pasaran adalah Honda Insight
dan Toyota Prius. Prius memiliki motor listrik dan mesin bensin. Sumber daya
dapat digunakan secara terpisah karena kondisi memerlukan, meskipun mungkin
juga digunakan bersamaan. Prius dikembangkan sebagai jawaban atas
permintaan mobil hemat bahan bakar di Jepang pada tahun 1997. Ini
diperkenalkan ke pasar AS tiga tahun kemudian.
Di sisi lain, Honda memperkenalkan Insight pada tahun 1999. Produsen lain
seperti General Motors, Woods Motor Company, dan Audi telah memperkenalkan
kendaraan hibrida eksperimental dan pengembangan mereka masih terus
berlanjut.