Hybrid Cars use an electric motor and large battery to take and store energy that is normally lost in inefficient gasoline engines. The energy is used to help run the vehicle and can dramatically improve fuel efficiency.
However, Even though hybrids are efficient, they still use oil; they are simply more efficient gasoline cars. A better solution would be Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). The idea is to increase the size of the battery in a normal hybrid so it can take more energy, and add a plug, so that the car can also get energy from the electrical grid or from rooftop solar power.
Another alternative for oil cars are the electrical cars that are more advanced in which they don't have a gas tank. The only power for the car is its electric motor and a very large battery pack, which is plugged in to recharge
Hybrid + Electrical Vehicles - http://www.globalexchange.org/update/publications/3884.html
John DeCicco, a Detroit based car expert was asked if the green cars will affect the US economy standards. DeCicco answered " I get this question a lot and the truth is that it's a very unhelpful and distracting issue. Fuel cell technology is very speculative. The challenges facing fuel cell technology make it a highly dubious proposition." [1] He also stated "This is not a technological issue. It's not about what technology is available. It's about how the technology is used." [2]
On the other hand Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's president, said at an environmental forum in Tokyo on June 11 "Without focusing on measures to address global warming and energy issues, there can be no future for our auto business." [3]
But DeCicco seems to have a different view; he stated that "none of the car companies are giving global warming any real consideration." [4]
So there's still a debate behind the real reason of making these kind of technology that should be environmental friendly.
Criterion C
Green Cars afford business many advantages. Because as researches proved, oil would finish in almost 30 years, and so people would have to either, buy green autos or live without cars, which is impossible. Also, due to the expectations of the upcoming global worming that need s to be prevented, petrol cars will be banned in the future. Due to this, many people would rush to buy the green automobiles that shouldn't be very expensive.
However, green cars are very hard and expensive to make, since they have very high technologies, so there price will be very high and many people won't afford it, and so they might turn back to petrol cars.
Also having billions of petrol cars nowadays may cause a problem in business when the green cars are on for sale, petrol cars will not be needed since they cause air pollution and they might be restricted by higher authorities. So there will be so many petrol cars on for sale but no one to buy and so there price will highly drop while on the other hand, the price of green cars will highly increase due to there demand in the market and this might lead to inflation and then to economy crashes.
Overall, the concerns over global worming and oil consumptions, as well as the high restrictions over using petrol cars, has and will be the biggest issue for business. Green cars are further hampered by the lack of sufficient understanding by the people of its technology and of the dangers of the upcoming global worming. Car companies are looking into ways that can improve the propaganda of the green cars and make the people more comprehensive to its concept.
Criterion D
Whilst the understanding of the concept of green cars is a great concern, more companies believe that the high price of green autos is a bigger problem. Hence one solution is to make presentations and ads so people will understand the purpose behind these cars. The possibility of a global worming to occur is increasing daily due to air pollutions and so presentations explaining this issue and describing the situation and the dangers of global worming will give the people a clear idea about the need of green cars. Also good and simple advertisement about green cars will make it easier for the concept to get into peoples' minds.
However, Advertisement cannot be the only way to make the green cars wanted. Since the green automobiles have high technology, they require much more money and effort to make than the petrol cars. Diesel engines produce less CO2 and are more fuel efficient and reliable than their petrol counterparts, but these advantages come at an environmental cost. The soot particles contained within diesel exhaust induce a “stress response” in the brain and exacerbate conditions like asthma in the young.
VW and other manufacturers have fitted their green diesel cars with advanced filters (pictured right) that remove from the exhaust gases every trace of particulate.
The cars may have a relatively high price but the value of their green technology is higher still, and so green cars will be less affordable than petrol cars.
Even though green cars are more expensive, the higher price tag may be offset by lower long-term costs. Depending on how much you drive, you can save the price premium in gas over the life of your hybrid.
The electric components of a hybrid car require no maintenance, but the rest of the car needs the same maintenance as any other vehicle. Replacing the batteries of a hybrid car can cost several thousand dollars, but most manufacturers offer long warranties on the hybrid components – usually about eight years.
Still, companies have to find ways to use the same high technology in the green autos but with cheaper and more affordable prices.
Criterion E
"Are We 'Running Out'? I Thought There Was 40 Years of the Stuff Left"s Life After the Oil Crash. 18 Oct. 2008 <http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/>.
"Cars and Global Worming." Global Worming. 2008. Oct. 2008 <http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagid=1126>.
Deffeyes, Kenneth S., ed. "Current Events; Join us as we watch the crisis unfolding." Beyond Oil. 24 Oct. 2008. 18 Oct. 2008 <http://www.princeton.edu/hubbert/current-events.html>.
"Green cars are too expensive." Your green peace of mind. 2007. 1 Nov. 2008 <http://www.eta.co.uk/green-cars-are-too-expensive/node/11269>.
"Japan's New Green Car Push." Buisness Week. 2 July 2008. 11 Oct. 2008 <http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb2008071_763199.htm>.
"The New Green Cars." How To Buy A Car. 2008. Oct. 2008 <http://www.life123.com/article_fullarticle/green-cars_1205353860286.html?start=2&secondaryid=1205357084367>.
"Time to Cut Pollution From America's Autos." Global Worming. 2008. 18 Oct. 2008 <http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagid=1135>.
