Continuing our Green Theme:
                  Let's Talk Hybrid Cars!

By: Nicola Pioppi

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to drive a hybrid
vehicle. Hybrid cars are more energy efficient “Hybrid vehicle” is an
umbrella term for a car that uses two or more of a number of alternative
power sources. This can include an onboard rechargeable energy storage
system (RESS) and a fueled power source (like the common internal
combustible engine), air and internal combustion engines, and internal
combustion engines and electric motors.  

There are also vehicles which rely solely on batteries charged from an
external source, basically a car that needs to be plugged in at night. The
most common type of hybrid car is the RESS, and the most common
combustible engines used are gasoline powered, although a few use diesel
engines.  It’s also possible to mix gasoline with alternative fuels like
ethanol, but recent research has shown that ethanol isn’t as eco-friendly
as it is sometimes portrayed.

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to drive a hybrid
vehicle.  Hybrid cars are more energy efficient: their hybrid quality
means that a lot of energy that is normally waste in a single energy source
car gets recaptured, either by converting the energy or by storing it in a
battery, and by conserving the energy from the gasoline engine.  These
cars also typically require less gasoline, meaning that they are less of a
draw on our natural resources, and on your wallet.

If you’re looking to buy a hybrid car, you aren’t restricted to one or two
manufacturers; Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan,
and Toyota all offer hybrid models.  Make sure you ask about fuel
efficiency: some cars are designed so that the hybrid system gives
vehicles a power boost, rather than improving the fuel efficiency of the
vehicle.  You should also be aware that some hybrids will shut off when
idling; you don’t have to manually restart it, but it can be disconcerting if
you’re used to a rattling car at stoplights.

Another great option these days is a shared car.  Zipcar is a company
which offers communal cars to members, and some of these cars just
happen to be Prius hybrids. Zipcar members pay a monthly membership
fee plus a daily rate for days they actually use the car.  In exchange, they
have access to a variety of cars in a number of locations on an as-needed
basis.  It’s a great option for college students, who don’t really need to
take a car to school with them, but might want to be able to go to the
grocery store without worrying about carrying a gallon of milk back to the
dorms.  Zipcar is located in most major cities, and seems to be well
received.  You can go to the website www.zipcar.com to check the rates
and availability in your area.  There are even discounted memberships
available for employees of partner companies; you can check to see if
your employer is one of them on the website.

If you already have a car and you want to make your hand-me-down
Plymouth more earth-friendly, it is possible to convert cars to hybrid
vehicles.  Netgain Motors Inc. at www.go-ev.com sells a simple converter
kit through authorized dealers, and WaterCarsPro at www.watercarpro.
com offers converting kits as well.  This can be pricey and time-
consuming though, and requires some experience working with cars.  You
could alternatively look into mixing gasoline and ethanol fuels, but again,
this requires a knowledge and understanding of the products you are
using and the way you are using them.  You definitely need to know what
you are doing before you do it.

With all the talk about global warming and depleted resources, we are all
looking for ways to help the environment.  What better way than by
changing your daily habits, right down to driving?  Even if you can’t
change the kind of car you drive, you can change how you drive.  Speedy
driving might be fun, but driving over 65 mph uses fuel inefficiently, and
it makes more sense to coast to a stop sign than to move your foot from
the gas pedal to the brake pedal.  Try to carpool to school and the mall,
and if you live in an area with a large public transportation system,
consider riding the bus once in a while.  Students often get discounted bus
fare, or even ride for free!  Just remember that every little bit helps.