Hybrid Vehicles:Hybrid Vehicles:Friend or Foe?Friend or Foe?

By Lizzie JohnsenBy Lizzie Johnsen

and Julie Samuelsonand Julie Samuelson

What are hybrid vehicles?What are hybrid vehicles?

Type of car that Type of car that uses a combination uses a combination of small gas engine of small gas engine and electric battery and electric battery to power carto power car

History of HybridsHistory of Hybrids

From 1897 to 1907 the Paris Electric From 1897 to 1907 the Paris Electric Car Company produced a series of Car Company produced a series of hybrid and electric carshybrid and electric cars

First hybrid created in United States First hybrid created in United States was by engineer H. Piper on was by engineer H. Piper on November 23, 1905November 23, 1905

From 1890 to 1920 there were more From 1890 to 1920 there were more than 100 different makers of hybrid than 100 different makers of hybrid carscars

How Hybrids WorkHow Hybrids Work

http://www.alternative-energy-http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/news.info/technology/transportation/hybrid-cars/transportation/hybrid-cars/

How Hybrids WorkHow Hybrids Work Use combination of gas Use combination of gas

motor and electric motor and electric batterybattery

At low speeds or At low speeds or coasting, the car runs on coasting, the car runs on electric energyelectric energy

At fast speeds, the car At fast speeds, the car switches to its gas switches to its gas engineengine

If the car is not moving If the car is not moving the engine automatically the engine automatically turns off, using no turns off, using no energyenergy

Hybrid Effect on Hybrid Effect on AtmosphereAtmosphere

Releases fewer emissions into Releases fewer emissions into atmosphereatmosphere– emissions: gases and particles released emissions: gases and particles released

into the air as byproducts of a natural or into the air as byproducts of a natural or man-made process (man-made process (www.mtpc.org))

– Emissions pollute the air and contribute to Emissions pollute the air and contribute to the thinning of the ozone layerthe thinning of the ozone layer

– Fewer emissions are less damaging to Fewer emissions are less damaging to atmosphereatmosphere

Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids

Make us less Make us less dependent on dependent on other countries other countries for oilfor oil– Uses less oilUses less oil– Makes us more Makes us more

self-sufficientself-sufficient

Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids

Reduction in Reduction in gasoline needsgasoline needs- Less of a need for Less of a need for

gasolinegasoline- Saves the owner of Saves the owner of

the car moneythe car money- This is crucial as This is crucial as

gas prices continue gas prices continue to riseto rise

Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids

Battery pack can Battery pack can rechargerecharge– Receives energy Receives energy

from break from break frictionfriction

– Capable of Capable of storing energystoring energy

Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids

More eco-friendlyMore eco-friendly– Does not harm the environment as Does not harm the environment as

badly as traditional gasoline carsbadly as traditional gasoline cars– Releases fewer toxinsReleases fewer toxins– Keeps air cleanerKeeps air cleaner– Much quieter than gas carsMuch quieter than gas cars

Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid

Significantly more Significantly more expensive than expensive than regular carsregular cars

Battery not Battery not included in overall included in overall costcost

Battery is Battery is expensiveexpensive

Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid Batteries still need workBatteries still need work Die about every 3 years, Die about every 3 years,

expensive to replaceexpensive to replace Made with lead and Made with lead and

nickelnickel– This makes the batteries This makes the batteries

toxictoxic– Can be hazardous if they Can be hazardous if they

leakleak– Can cause deformities Can cause deformities

and diseases in peopleand diseases in people– Batteries can take up to Batteries can take up to

10 hours to fully recharge10 hours to fully recharge

Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid

Higher chances of breakdownsHigher chances of breakdowns– Uses new technology that has not been Uses new technology that has not been

mastered yetmastered yet– Sometimes unable to detect errors in Sometimes unable to detect errors in

car until it stops workingcar until it stops working– Hybrids have 2 motors, so the chances Hybrids have 2 motors, so the chances

of one of them not working is doubledof one of them not working is doubled

Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid

Lack of raw materialsLack of raw materials– Many parts would have to be imported Many parts would have to be imported

from Chinafrom China– Increases our dependency on other Increases our dependency on other

nationsnations

Flaws of HybridsFlaws of Hybrids

Technology too Technology too complexcomplex– ““Cutting edge” Cutting edge”

technology is more technology is more advanced than advanced than common peoplecommon people

– Many mechanics Many mechanics don’t understand itdon’t understand it

Hybrids in the MediaHybrids in the Media

Many people are misinformed about Many people are misinformed about their views on hybrid carstheir views on hybrid cars

Car companies use marketing and Car companies use marketing and their credible reputations to persuade their credible reputations to persuade people to buy their carspeople to buy their cars

GM, Ford, and Chrysler recently urged GM, Ford, and Chrysler recently urged President Bush to financially and President Bush to financially and politically support a national politically support a national technological solution involving technological solution involving hybrids hybrids

Are they a realistic future?Are they a realistic future?

Although they are a good solution for Although they are a good solution for right now, hybrid vehicles are not right now, hybrid vehicles are not sustainable in the long runsustainable in the long run

Only a “quick fix”Only a “quick fix” Their technology is too complex and Their technology is too complex and

their cost is too expensive for the their cost is too expensive for the general publicgeneral public

Research shows that they will not be Research shows that they will not be able to be mass produced until 2025able to be mass produced until 2025

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com

http://www.hybridcars.com/http://www.hybridcars.com/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.i

nfo/images/technical/hybrid-car.jpg www.cartoonstock.comwww.cartoonstock.com http://www.eartheasy.com/http://www.eartheasy.com/

live_hybrid_cars.htmlive_hybrid_cars.htm