The first thing I think about when I consider hybrid cars is the cost. Most of the technology is still so new that these cars are very expensive and are not affordable for the man in the street.
So what is one to do? We’ll get to that in a moment. For now, let’s look at the basic ideas around these amazing inventions, be they electric, gas, biofuel or others.
Electric Hybrid Cars
This type of car runs on a combination of electricity and fuel. Our neighbours have one of the most common talked about electric hybrids – the Toyota Prius. While my children think along the same lines as Jeremy Clarkson from BBC’s Top Gear Xtra (he says really mean and nasty things about it) I think it looks quite nifty, but then, what does a mother of 4 know about cars?
Electric hybrid cars are designed to charge while you drive as well as recharging in your house mains if they are “plug-in-hybrids”. Currently (2009) the top selling electric battery powered car is the G-Wiz. This is not a hybrid car in the true sense of the word as it is not dual mode.
Dual mode cars use a combination of fuel and electricity.
The Toyota Prius walked off with the 2008 best hybrid engine award and has won 7 other awards since 2005 for its 1.5l engine. But while the Prius is the most well known, it is not the only vehicle out there. Lexus has a hybrid for you, if you can afford it! So does BMW, Chevy, Honda and Citroen.
Gas powered cars
We own a “gas guzzler” – she now sits in our garage unused, but we love her all the same. Our Landrover has given us many good memories and has been a faithful servant. However we do not use her anymore and hope to convert her to being gas powered oneday. So gas in her context is not the green type!
Many cars on the road today can be converted to being gas driven. Ethanol (from sugar cane) is used in hybrid cars from Ford, Saab and Volvo.
Biofuel powered cars
With Peak Oil concerns the next big question is – if we can’t use oil for petroleum, what will we use? My husband and I watched with amusement on BBC when “Chop Shop” converted a car to biofuel – curry oil collected from resturants in London. Amazingly it worked!
Some of us aren’t that creative, and have to rely on more traditional forms of biofuel. Biofuel (or biodiesel fuel) is a clean burning renewable source of fuel. Please don’t think that it’s just vegetable oil that is used in place of petrol. Biofuels are made according to strict specifications.
Although there are many who offer biofuel making kits you will need to be sure that your car can be converted to biofuels before you purchase conversion kits.
You can purchase cars made for biodiesels, but again the prices are not for everyone.
Hydrogen powered cars, solar powered cars and others are still in concept stage, but what an exciting space to be in as the age of invention happens all over again. All the big names are bringing out eco-concept cars hoping to help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.
But if these hybrid cars are not for you, or are out of your price range, be sure to consider how you can make sure that you use your current mode of transport to its most “green”.
Go Greener
You could save money by building your own hybrid using a portable generator like this Canadian did.