Going Green Essay

Many people buy hybrid cars because they have been told that hybrids are much more eco-friendly than any other vehicles out on the market and they feel proud for supporting the Mother Nature. Surprisingly, it is a fact that a recent report announced that the Toyota Prius has a higher life time energy cost than Hummer H1 SUV (kentlaw.edu). It also states, “There are, however, environmental costs to mining and smelting (in Canada) 1,000 tons a year of zinc for the battery-powered second motor, and the shipping of the zinc 10,000 miles - trailing a cloud of carbon - to Wales for refining and then to China for turning it into the component that goes to a battery factory in Japan” (kentlaw.edu). In other words, the hybrids emit less carbon dioxide and other gases but it releases far more energies and toxic gases into atmosphere at production and disposal stage.

The author first explains what a hybrid is, stating “A hybrid is a cross between two established varieties of plant, animal… or technology.” She introduces the hybrid vehicle, a new form of technology that stands as a possible answer for a vehicle that is both energy preserving and safer for the environment. Before she dives into details of how the vehicle works, she enlightens the reader on what the article is about and the objective of the hybrid vehicle. Students enrolling in an engineering course in a post-secondary institution will be more

Finally, hybrid cars can travel vast distances without needing to be recharged. For instance, the Tesla Model S can travel 260 miles without needing a recharge(Howard, “Gas vs. Diesel vs.Hybrid”). For gas cars, every mile they travel can exhale many gallons of harmful pollution(Durbin, “Investment in Solar Panels can Pay off…”). Since the hybrid car produces 0% harmful emissions, one hybrid would make a severe impact on the environment, saving tons of pollution from entering the atmosphere. While a hybrid car is driving, it also produces less sound pollution than a normal gas car while in

Hybrid cars are built on the advantages of both combustion engine cars and battery-powered electric motor cars, and the hybrid cars will be an alternative to combustion engine cars until next step technologies such as fully electric vehicles or fuel-cell powered vehicles will take over. This article supports the ideas shown in the main source through hybrid vehicle technology.

Hybrid is a term used to describe a combination of two or more distinctive things, aiming to accomplish a common objective. A hybrid vehicle is a fuel efficient vehicle having two motors- one a gasoline powered motor and the other electric motor. The reason for combining two motors is using their strengths and reducing deficiencies. Electric motor is used at low speed wile gas motors perform better at high speed generating extra power for a particular motor weight. During rush hours, when vehicles are continuously stopping and running, performance of electric motor is appreciative. Gas motor supports higher speed supporting driving at the highways. (Anderson 134-45)

II. Most hybrids only use gasoline when needed. The electric motor, powered by a stack of rechargeable batteries, is the primary workhorse for propulsion under low-speed driving.

The article “The Gas-Electric Hybrid Demystified” by Sara R. Howerth, gives the reader some insight on the new developed technology of hybrid cars. The author uses the difference between four engine models; Gas-Engine, Battery Powered Electric, Hybrid model #1 and Hybrid model #2 – to show just how far technology has come and to say that this is only just the beginning. The engine will keep evolving as long as our natural resources continue to diminish and our need for them increases.

This paper is not intended to condemn hybrid engines, as they can be good engines and a practical means for vehicle manufactures to power their products or meet emissions. This is to present the idea that gasoline hybrid engines are inferior to Diesel engines. I concede that a Diesel hybrid engine would be more beneficial in some applications. Ideally, we need to come up with better road systems and better road surfaces. If the roads are better maintained, we could use harder material tires without sacrificing comfort and thus gaining in fuel economy due to decreased rolling resistance. If the roads were maintained as well as railroads, then we could really get the economy of a locomotive in

In order to these environmental and economic issues, a more progressive version of the automobile, one that does not rely solely on petroleum gas, has been adopted: the hybrid. This car combines energy from standard gasoline combustion as well as electrical energy to power the vehicle. In terms of mechanical design, hybrid cars typically have a normal gas engine as well as an electric motor. The addition of a generator and a battery is equipped for power storage and controls the vehicles accessories. But to understand the science behind what makes hybrid cars work as excellent substitutes for gas powered automobiles, one must first understand the dynamics behind these individual components and how they work together

Hybrid cars are better than traditional cars because they more efficient. Automotive technicians explains that hybrid cars are getting a minimum of energy to be used on them. John Kelly says “This teamwork results in hybrids that get close to 50 miles per gallon, a 25-percent improvement over gasoline-only vehicles.” Basically, John Kelly is saying hybrid cars get up to 50 miles per gallon, they increased the amount of regular cars. This means they use less in gas at low speeds and at high speeds than the engine kicks in and gives that satisfy the customer needs for speed. Automotive technicians indicates that when the car is not moving then the gasoline engine shuts off to not waste gas. John Kelly says “The battery provides energy for the

Now, in a hybrid car, there is a battery assisting, so that the cylinders have to do less work, and consequently use less fuel. A Prius has only 84 horsepower without its electric battery, and wouldn’t even be able to start! (Regular Car Reviews, Youtube) But this battery isn’t all good, which brings us to the first problem with these hybrid cars.

The main component of a car would be the power that actually puts the car in motion. To be solely dependent on one power source is not a very good idea as it is not eco-friendly and at the same time not suitable. By 2040, half of all the new cars being sold will be hybrids, according to Exxon Mobile. Hybrid Cars are the cars that uses more than one power sources to run the car. It is usually referred to the Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) which has both the internal combustion engine and electric motors that generates power. One of the main problem with these hybrid cars is that their batteries are extremely heavy and takes up a large amount of space in the car. The concept of Hybrid cars can be a good thing to the environment, but definitely not for the car manufacturer or the customer. Hybrid cars have a convincing amount of weight due to their batteries, even with the existence of lithium-ion batteries. As a solution, Energy Storing Body Panels are used.

Electric motor - The electric motor on a hybrid car is very sophisticated. Advanced electronics allow it to act as a motor as well as a generator. For example, when it needs to, it can draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car. But acting as a generator, it can slow the car down and return energy to the batteries.

The purpose for this research report is so that students can familiarize themselves with hybrid electric vehicles and their features that make them unique in contrast to other vehicles. This report will educate the reader on the “BMW i8’s” vital components such as the engine, battery, and other elements related to electric vehicles. To put into perspective the significant advantage hybrid electric vehicles have over vehicles

Figures of different hybrid models will also be included as well as a table comparing the costs of various hybrids to traditionally fuelled cars. This will help the audience get a sense of the price ranges for hybrid vehicles before they go out and decide to buy one. Finally, a table dealing with the performance specs of hybrids will be added to emphasize certain limitations with these models.