We have been fed the idea that hybrid cars are the wave of the future. These cars are the solution to all of our gas use problems and air quality problems. However, I think people have been a little mislead. Sure the idea of a hybrid car is in fact a start, we need to look compare and contrast a few things.
1.) Hybrid SUVS???? Sure it is better then the 12 mpg SUV but, a hybrid 14 mpg SUV compared to the conventional 40 mpg Honda Civic whats really better for the enviornment. What makes this even more maddening is states such as California have given tax breaks and special parking spots to those driving hybrids, when some don't even get the best gas mileage as some conventional cars.
2.) Where do you drive? If your anything like me the only time I drive my car is when I make the truck home from school. All interstate. However, due to the way hybrids are set up is they have two engines, one battery operated and the other gas. The computers in these hybrids shut off the battery operated engine and go strictly off the gas one once the speed of the car has reached a given speed, because if the car were to run off the battery engine at these speeds it would exhaust the batteries. Hybrids are ideal for city driving.
I'm not saying hybrids are bad, but I really think that when people buy these more expensive cars because they think they are making a difference and bettering their enviornment, they should really consider the two major factors about a hybrid.
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I agree. Hybrids really are battery powered for city driving and gas powered on highways. But still, doesn't it help?? I don't think I know what I'm saying, actually...
you need to do more hybrid homework.... my new accord uses the electric motor to "assist" the gas engine. its gas engine is always in use except however at stop signs or stop lights when the engine stops.
We all seem to have to get more information about hybrids. We don't need hybrids we need the ELECTRICALLY POWERED CONCEPT CAR! whoa hoo...
Cars need to be made to be independent of gas and oil. Solar concept car will work too. And who cares if you can't got 90 miles per hour... we don't need to. We need to travel at safe speeds and leave your house a little early.
thats my 2 cents...
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These hybrids will save some pollution but i agree with needing an independent electric vehicle! I dunno how and what to do about it but thats it plain and simple! :-( Gas power=air pollution and money $$$
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I agree that the car needs to be revamped in order to get rid of fossil fuels completely; however a completely electric car is entirely unfeasible for that purpose. Electricity is generated using mostly coal-powered energy plants and some nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is an unacceptable alternative because we are creating incredibly harmful nuclear waste that we don't even know what to DO with. Only about 10% of the US's electricity comes from renewable energy sources like dams, solar panels, and windmills. We need more research to be done on *hydrogen*-powered cars and ways to produce hydrogen without electricity in order to get independence from fossil fuels!
---"In reality as in dreams, nothing is as it seems."---
I would like to say that the only way that we can get off our dependancy on fossil fuels is to harness cold fusion it is much much more safer. In accidents there wouldn't be exposions because it isn't flammable but we are years and years behind from finding the system for cold fusion.
I would totally buy one if they weren't so expencive
1895 Miles and 43.1 MPG
My wife and I drove our 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid from Southern California to Albuquerque, NM. One way was 770 miles. The total for the trip was 1895 miles. That included driving around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We got 43.1 Miles Per Gallon.
Our average speed was between 72 and 76 miles an hour. We did slow down to 65 miles per hour on the long hills between Needles and Barstow CA. Much of the trip out we drove through high winds, rain, sleet and snow in the Flagstaff AZ area. The weather was nice on the way back.
The Ford Escape gets around 20 MPG while the Ford Escape Hybrid gets about 35 MPG. I say that is progress. We need to try to appreciate the positive and move on. For some nothing will ever be good enough so I say let them whine.
Hybrids are a step in the right direction.
Unless you are willing to allow nuclear power plants than the Electrical Car will be nothing more than a environmentalist wet dream. You have to face the facts that to charge the batteries power must be produced. The power production capacity need to generated power for electric cars does not exist
I forgot to add the most important part about owning a hybrid and that they produce 1/10 of the emissions that a average automobile would. The point of the hybrid is not the high MPGs but the low emissions.
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