Hybrid Cars, Are they really worth it?

As being “green” becomes more and more important to the nation, people are trying various methods to reduce their global impact on the environment. One method that has been popularized by the media is the shift from conventional cars to hybrids. A hybrid car uses a small gas engine that is supplemented by electric motors. These cars produce very low levels of emissions, and in some situations provide a better alternative than a conventional car. But many hybrid owners are finding out that their cars don’t always live up to the claims and expectations associated with hybrid cars. Claims of increased savings from buying less fuel, better mileage, tax breaks, and other incentives of ownership have been well reported by the media and have gained acceptance and considerable interest with the general public, but as time goes on owners find that they are not seeing the proof to back up those claims.

Hybrid cars work by supplementing their small gas engines with electric motors powered by a battery pack. These electric motors help to supplement the smaller gas engine at times when more power is needed such as passing on the highway or starting from a complete stop. When stopped at a red light or stop sign the car’s electronics automatically shut down the gas engine to reduce pollution from idling, and when the driver begins to move again the electric motors start the car off, and after a certain point the gas engine is brought back online. It is because of this system along with the smaller, lighter, engine and better aerodynamic elements that allow these vehicles to achieve the low emission levels and high gas mileage, which are the main selling points of these cars. To most this sounds like the ideal solution to help lessen pollution and ease our demands for fossil fuels, but in most cases I believe that a conventionally powered car is a better option. When on the interstate or local highways, where a driver rarely needs to stop, a small fuel efficient car is better suited. Contrary to popular belief most of the time the hybrid’s gas engine is providing the power to drive the wheels while the electric drive train is dormant. This makes a hybrid no different than any other comparable car in most driving situations. Hybrids do offer better gas mileage, but normally the difference between a hybrid and a conventional car (often the same model but without the hybrid option) is only around two or three mile per gallon. Since most people commute long distances to and from work a hybrid owner would not get the full benefits that the car offers.

On the other hand, if a person lives in or does a majority of their driving in a city, a hybrid would be the better option. When driving in or near a city the most common driving situation that a person would encounter is stop and go traffic. This is where hybrid cars are in their element. With a conventionally powered car city driving is where drivers see the worst efficiency and the most wear and tear on a vehicle. Unlike a hybrid, a conventional car relies solely on its gas engine to get it moving and it is this cycle of starting and stopping that reduces fuel economy and places a lot of stress and wear on the engine and drive train. . Another disadvantage that plagues conventional cars is when they are idling while in traffic or when stopped. This wastes untold gallons of fuel every year and also contributes to wear and tear on the engine, because if the car is not moving the cooling system is not working as efficiently and prolonged idling can and does lead to serious engine problems as the car gets older. In these driving situations a hybrid is the best option. When in traffic or at a stop light the hybrid’s computer automatically shuts down the gas engine which saves fuel and reduces emissions. When the car resumes motion the electric motor starts the car off and once a certain point is reached the gas engine is brought back online to power the car and recharge the batteries. But all these benefits come at a price.

I feel another issue that plagues hybrid cars is the costs associated with them. Obviously, since hybrid cars have more advanced electronics and a second drive train (the electric drive system) those costs are going to be factored into the sticker price. That is a give in, no matter what the product is the more advanced it is the more it is going to cost. The problem lies in the “premium pricing” that many dealers add to the cost of the car above the sticker price on the windshield. This “premium” pricing is brought about by the low number of hybrids being produced, which is directly related to consumer demand. Once hybrid technology can be better utilized and made affordable to the average consumer the demand for these cars will increase, but until the price for these cars can be brought down to the point where it is actually a viable option for the average driver the full benefits that these cars offer, both environmental and monetary, will not be utilized to their full potential. Another way that I feel many consumers have been misled is in the reported savings from buying less gas. Studies have shown that it often takes years for a hybrid owner to see any long term savings in regards to money spent on gas. This is partly because of the high cost of the car offsets the savings on fuel until the car is paid off, and it is at that point where a hybrid owner can begin to see long term savings.

There is no doubt that hybrid cars offer a great opportunity for a person to help reduce the impact that humanity has on the environment, and one will get no argument from the writer on this issue. But what is in question is the true effect that hybrids can have. In many driving situations a conventionally powered fuel efficient car shows only a slight difference in fuel efficiency when compared to a hybrid (Hybrid). So a new car buyer can get a car that has close to the efficiency of a hybrid, but for thousands less. Hybrids have their strong points and areas that they do in fact, surpass conventional cars. Hybrid technology is only in its second generation and as technology improves these cars will be better suited to the average person, which is what is limiting these cars. As the technology improves and becomes more efficient in more than just city driving these cars will be more widely accepted by consumers. Hybrids are a great alternative for some, but for hybrids to be a real benefit to not only the environment but to the average driver, they need to become a viable option for everyone.

By Adam Wilck