The Hype on Hybrid Cars
by Naomi Friedman
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are the new buzz in the car market, raising the bar on automotive environmental standards, outselling industry expectations, and prompting drivers across the nation to think about their gas tanks and tailpipes.
Why consider a hybrid? If you drive a car, few purchasing decisions will impact the environment as much as your choice of what to drive. Alternative vehicles have the potential to do significantly less damage to the earth than conventional cars on the road. And modern HEVs don't just reduce our oil dependence and our greenhouse gas emissions. Enthusiastic owners say they're also fun to drive!
More Features, Cleaner Technology
While several types of alternative vehicles exist, HEVs are quickly increasing
in popularity. HEVs are powered by both an internal combustion engine and a
battery-operated electric motor. Unlike other alternative fuel vehicles, HEVs
use standard gasoline pumps for refueling. You fill the tank just like a
"normal" car... the gas just lasts a lot longer.
Several other technologies set HEVs apart from conventional cars:
- Unlike all-electric cars, hybrids do not need to be plugged in to recharge the battery. The battery recovers and stores energy normally lost as heat during braking, using a process called regenerative braking. It also gets power from the gas engine.
- Because of the extra power the electric motor provides, gasoline engines in hybrids can be built smaller without compromising the vehicle's peppiness. Reducing the engine's weight further increases fuel efficiency.
- If you've ever had the chance to drive a hybrid, you likely noticed the resounding silence when stopped at a traffic light. No, the car didn't stall, but "idled-off," that is, turned off the gasoline engine when the car was not moving. This allows hybrids to burn less gas in stop-and-go traffic.
- Some hybrids have electric-only drive, powering the car with the battery alone at speeds up to 10 or 15 miles per hour. This provides significant fuel savings, since combustion engines operate least efficiently at low speeds.
Many hybrid drivers have fallen in love with these new technologies. In the
words of Center Board Chair and Prius owner Bob Engelman, "Purchasing a hybrid
that is better for the environment has allowed me to renew my childhood love
affair with the automobile."
More Independence and Convenience
All these features combined account for the exceptionally high fuel economy of
HEVs (up to 150 percent better than comparable cars). HEVs present an easy way
to help wean the United States off of politically fraught foreign oil — a
concern underscored by the war in Iraq and the recent anniversary of the 1973
OPEC oil embargo. Because cars and trucks account for 40 percent of U.S. oil
consumption, increasing vehicle fuel efficiency is one of the most effective
ways to promote U.S. energy independence.
According to David Friedman, Research Director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, and author of A New Road: The Technology and Potential of Hybrid Vehicles, "If every new car and truck in America used [second generation] Prius-like technology, we could more than double the fuel economy of our vehicles and save nearly three times more oil than we currently import from the Persian Gulf by 2020."
Many drivers consider these political implications in their decision to purchase an HEV. Jonathan Karp, a Honda Civic Hybrid owner, expressed it this way: "As I blow by the local pump at 48 miles per gallon, I often think, 'There's another American dollar that's not going to Middle East oil interests.'"
The fuel savings can be significant across all models, even sport utility vehicles. The soon-to-be-released Ford Hybrid Escape SUV, for instance, boasts over 400 miles per tank of gas. In addition to the other benefits, many drivers simply enjoy the convenience of fewer visits to the gas station.
Cleaner Air
Fuel efficiency is a commonly touted benefit of hybrid technology, but the
benefits to the earth don't end at the pumps. By burning less gasoline, HEVs
are also much cleaner than conventional cars in greenhouse gas emissions such as
carbon dioxide. Statistics vary, but on average, hybrids emit 30 to 50 percent
fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional cars. Many HEVs not only help
to slow climate change, but also spew far fewer criteria air pollutants,
reducing air pollution linked with asthma, cancer, and other serious health
problems. The second generation Prius, for example, meets California's most
stringent emissions standards, qualifying as a partial zero emissions vehicle
(PZEV).
More Financial Incentives!
Many conscientious drivers are intrigued by the possibility of purchasing a
hybrid but might be deterred by the initial cost. Admittedly, the sticker price
of an HEV can run a few thousand dollars higher than a comparable car. Over a
lifetime of ownership, however, hybrids actually prove significantly cheaper.
Estimates vary, but according to Friedman, the average price increase for a full hybrid is about $4,000 over a comparable car. Replacing a hybrid's battery can also cost a few hundred dollars extra over the life of a typical vehicle. But when you factor in a whopping $5,500 in gasoline savings (not even accounting for future gas price increases), hybrids offer a clear financial advantage. Reduced maintenance and higher trade-in value may also bring down the overall cost.
Government incentives further increase the savings. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service currently provides a tax deduction of up to $2,000 for hybrid purchases. (A typical purchaser will receive $400 to $600 off of their taxes.) Some states offer additional incentives. Maryland, for example, waives its 5 percent sales tax on HEVs, which amounts to roughly $1,000 in savings on a typical base model Hybrid Civic or Prius. Although current federal deductions are scheduled to disappear by 2007, Congress has the opportunity to extend and increase HEV incentives in the new energy bill by promoting CLEAR Act tax credits.
The private sector is also working to make HEVs more affordable. The Toyota Motor Corporation, for instance, provides three years of free maintenance for the Prius, which, according to David Blakemore, an exuberant Prius owner, "takes some of the risk out of this new technology." Toyota recently indicated that expanded mass production of the Prius, coupled with a large increase in projected sales, will bring down the costs of production, making these cars even more competitive.
More Vehicle Choices
Individuals seeking a hybrid vehicle have more choices now than ever before.
According to John DeCicco, senior fellow at Environmental Defense, and co-author
of ACEEE's Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks, "We've been
waiting a while, and our choices are finally expanding. ...If consumers are
mindful of fuel economy when car shopping, there is always a more fuel efficient
choice that will meet their needs in any segment of the market, not just
hybrids."
Most major car companies have introduced, or will soon be introducing, hybrids in various vehicle classes. The chart below lists HEVs available today and in the near future.
Some highlights for model year 2004 include Toyota's second generation Prius, with a roomier interior, a combined city/highway mileage rating of 55 miles per gallon, lower emissions, and a more powerful hybrid drive system. General Motors also plans to release a model of its Silverado full-size pickup truck offering some hybrid features and mild fuel economy gains over the conventional model. Honda will continue to sell its popular Hybrid Civic, and hints at integrating HEV technology into other models. For those seeking a more rugged vehicle, the Ford Motor Company will release the 2005 Escape hybrid SUV in mid- 2004 with an advanced hybrid system achieving about 50 percent better gas mileage than the conventional Escape SUV.
And Still More to Come
The car industry already has the technology — both hybrid and conventional —
to produce significantly more efficient automobiles without sacrificing
performance. It is up to us as consumers to show companies we want cars that
don't guzzle gas and pollute our air. Creating demand for these vehicles
promotes a cleaner environment now, and furthers research and prospects for even
more promising technologies, such as fuel cells, in the future.
HEVs aren't the only solution. As with any purchase, the best advice is to look at all options and make a conscientious choice based on your needs. However, HEVs offer more convenience, affordability, and choices than ever before, giving drivers an easy, practical way to promote a greener, more secure future.
Naomi Friedman is Director of Sustainable Markets for the Center for a New American Dream.
Want to Know Your Real Impact?
Put your actual tailpipe emissions statistics side-by-side with a hybrid (or
other car of your choice) using Environmental Defense's Tailpipe Tally feature
at www.environmentaldefense.org/tailpipetally/. By entering information on up
to four different cars, you can calculate the comparative fuel costs and vehicle
emissions on several major pollutants.
Not Sure? Try a Rental
If you like the idea of an alternative fuel vehicle, but aren't ready to commit
to the investment, try driving one on your next vacation, or taking one out for
a spin around town. EV Rental Cars is a car rental chain that offers several
alternative fuel vehicle models through Budget Rental. In five years the Los
Angeles-based company has saved over 130,000 gallons of fuel and prevented over
100,000 tons of air pollution. Unfortunately, these rentals are currently only
available in California; Washington, DC; Arizona; Texas; and Pennsylvania. Wish
there were one nearer to you? Call your local Budget Rental office and let them
know! Another perk: EV Rentals also sells cars from their fleet, offering used
hybrids at lower cost than the showroom models. Visit www.evrental.com or call
1-877-EV-RENTAL for more information.
Stay Up to Date
As automakers realize the profitability of alternative vehicles, more models,
technologies, and improvements are sure to follow. Stay up to date at the
Conscious Consumer web site