Hybrid Vehicles and Their Effect on the Environment Essay

Three quarters of emissions in 2004 were coming from road traffic (Woodcock, p.1930, 2009). Emissions used from transportation are forecasted to increase from the year 2007-2030 by about 80% according to studies done by James Woodcock who is currently studying climate change and health from car fuels (Woodcock, p.1930, 2009). This is due to the fact that the emissions from vehicles are increasing significantly and are higher than any other energy fragment (Woodcock, p.1930, 2009). The only way to lower this percentage is to decrease the number of individual automobiles on the road and increase the number of public transit systems, starting long distance walking to work or school, carpooling or even biking to destinations. These principles would

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and poisonous gas. CNESST reported that 4 workers died at work of CO poisoning in the last 5 years. (25) CO could be fatal at certain concentration. Its effects can occur well before being aware enough of its presence. In Canada, more than 50 person lose their life each year from CO poisoning, of which an average of 11 deaths in Ontario. Every year significant number are suffering from CO poisoning, many of whom are permanently disabled. In Canada between 2000 and 2009, 380 accidental deaths were documented by CO. (27) Headache, nausea, burning eyes, fainting, confusion, and drowsiness are such alarm that you are exposed to CO. (28) Exposure to CO may be particularly dangerous for elderly,

As the gas price is rising up to 140 cents per litre in Canada, many people switch their vehicle to gasoline-electric hybrid car to gain savings from the better fuel efficiency. Many potential consumers for hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle owners think that the hybrid system is worth the extra penny due to better fuel economy. However, the realistic is that it has higher maintenance despite of its outstanding fuel economy figures. In fact, the hybrids cause more environmental damage than conventional petro powered vehicles and there are better alternatives. Therefore, hybrids should not be on consumers’ shopping list due to a numerous negative facts that consumers are unaware of.

The burning of gasoline by automobiles releases carbon dioxide and other types of air pollution

There has been lots of controversy on whether hybrid vehicles are environmentally better than gas vehicles. In this new age of technology and vast growth of human population, there would have to be ways to make driving environmentally healthy considering the fact that millions of people drive(Goffman, “Electric Car Batteries Could Provide Energy for the Smart Grid”). Hybrid cars use clean electric , while gas powered cars use harmful polluting fossil fuels. For the most part, to make sure that this world becomes cleaner, hybrid cars will definitely need to be used in the future. Hybrid cars are environmentally better than gas cars.

Air pollution is the type of pollution that is the most dangerous of them all. The major cause of pollution is by the emissions of smoke from automobiles that especially emit suplur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. These gases can play a role in creating acid rain and smog. Sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases which are warming up the planet .Air pollution leads to people getting sick such as getting increasing the risk of lung cancer and other types of cancers, asthma, and allergies, getting headaches, respiratory diseases cardio vascular problems, and neurobehavioral disorders.

The most widespread pollutant in the U.S. is ozone which is also one of the most dangerous. The ozone layer found high in the stratosphere shields us from a lot of the sun’s UV rays. When Ozone pollution (or smog) is at ground level where we can breathe it, it causes serious health problems; it’s dangerous to breathe, it aggressively attacks lung tissue by reacting chemically with it, it may also cause premature birth, premature death, infant mortality, and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

In recent years, major cities across the globe have developed innovative new methods of transportation that could revolutionize the way humans travel and ultimately replace automobiles throughout the industrialized world. Many supporters of this movement believe restricting the use of cars will have a positive impact on society as a whole. Some people believe that taking away automobiles is preposterous given the gravity of which citizens depend on them; although true, replacing cars would have significant benefits throughout society that would outweigh this consequence and ultimately create a new global social order. Restricting cars in cities and encouraging alternate methods of transportation would reduce humans’ carbon footprint, make cities

Carbon monoxide is harmful when it is inhaled, because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and vital organs of oxgyen causing

“The cars we drive say a lot about us.” –Alexandra Paul Transportation is a large concern in todays modern world. Most individuals have opted to buy vehicles for their personal use. Most of these vehicles consume gasoline and a smaller proportion is hybrid based. These two types of vehicles have many similarities.

1. A Mild-Parallel hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine that is equipped with an electric motor, both in parallel configuration, meaning they both provide propulsion to move the vehicle forward. This configuration allows the gasoline engine to be shut off while coasting, braking or being at a complete stop yet will restart with minimal delay.

Transportation is the number one thing we consumers do that harms the environment. Transportation causes the highest amount of environmental damage overall - nearly half of the toxic air pollution and more than a quarter of the greenhouse gases traceable to household consumption. Over time, however, sales of trucks, vans and SUV's went from 16% market share to over 50%. One big auto manufacturer even shelved their work of the last three years, spent updating their most popular selling economy car, so they could spend the money getting SUVs to market faster.

These cars operate from a rechargeable battery and gasoline. The engines are smaller so that they will be able to accommodate the 99% of time when the car is not going uphill or accelerating quickly. The battery is used to give extra acceleration power if needed. When the car is stopped, hybrid gasoline motors can shut off and run off their electric motor and battery. These cars are aerodynamic and the tires are often stiffer and inflated higher to reduce dragging.

Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been an increased presence of pollutants and carcinogens in the environment, specif-ically in urban areas.1 The presence of airborne pollutants can lead to an increase in allergic reactions and asthma rates. A common airborne pollutant is carbon monoxide (CO), which is commonly found in diesel exhaust. It is an odorless gas produced from me-thane and non-methane hydrocarbon oxidation.2 The toxic gas eliminates and takes the place of oxygen in the form of carboxy-hemoglobin when it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells. It also affects the binding sites of heme groups, which complicates the transfer of oxygen to tissues.3 The majority of deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning is brought on from car exhaust.4 Between the years 1979 and 1988, 57% of deaths from carbon monoxide poi-soning were brought from car exhaust. There tend to be higher rates of carbon monoxide poisoning from car exhaust in northern regions, where temperatures are relatively low (Figure 1). 5

 There is a serious problem facing the world right now.  It is air pollution.  The number one contributor to this epidemic is automobile emissions.  We have all heard of the issues that are involved with air pollution including the depletion of the o-zone layer, the green house effect, and acid rain.  The problem has been scoped from every imaginable angle, and now it is time to solve the problem.  I propose that each of the ‘Big Three’ (Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) car manufacturers be required to have 10% of their product line as EV’s By the year 2010.  I propose this because it will be the start of cleaner air, EV advancement, and awareness of EV’s and how they work.