Hybrid Electrical Vehicle example essay topic

"In the United States, approximately 6.6 tons (almost 15,000 pounds carbon equivalent) of greenhouse gases are emitted per person every year" (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases: Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock. Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.

"Most of these emissions, about 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our cars. The U. S presently emits more greenhouse gases per person than any other country" (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). The impacts we face are rising global temperatures. The rising temperatures are expected to raise sea level, and change precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils. Basically, as we know it, life and our environment will not be the same. Environmental activists have argued and are still arguing that automobiles are one of the direct causes of pollution.

It is obvious that our environment is in dire need of an alternative to gas-guzzling cars to significantly help decrease the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted per person each Espiritu 2 year. Now that one has been invented, the question is why it is not enforced amongst all automobile dealers and drivers by the government. A vehicle's main purpose is to provide people with transportation. Many cities, however, offer exceptional public transportation, such as San Francisco's "Muni" buses which have zero fuel emissions. There are also trains, subways, and light rails that offer the same type of service. But America chooses to use personal forms of transportation.

Society relies on its use for individual and business use. Students and commuters use smaller vehicles to travel daily. Families use bigger vehicles, like SUV's and mini-vans, for the comfort and spaciousness it gives, while others use it on the business end as transportation of goods. Most people not only use their vehicles as a source of transportation, but as a luxury item.

Our dependency on cars today have shifted from a requirement for daily chores to an accessory for a lavish lifestyle. We drive cars as a past time not seeing the effects it has on the environment. Our main dilemma is to have a vehicle that reduce pollution in the environment. Fortunately there is a car that has been invented that achieves a reduction in these emissions called a hybrid electrical vehicle. "These vehicles are also environmentally friendly, emitting less global warming and smog-forming emissions than most conventional vehicles" (web). Looking at the current vehicle, some expected requirements are that: it must drive at least 300 miles between refueling, be refueled quickly and easily, and it must keep up with the other traffic on the road.

A gasoline car meets these requirements but produces a relatively large amount of pollution and generally gets poor gas mileage. An electric car, on the other hand, produces almost no pollution, but it can only go 50-100 miles between charges. Espiritu 3 But how the Hybrid basically works is that it has both the engine and the electric motor which are connected to the wheels by the same transmission. The gasoline portion of the engine is like most cars but it is smaller and has ways to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. Advanced electronics allow the electric portion to act as a motor as well as a generator. Intelligent power electronics decide when to use the motor and engine and when to store electricity in advanced batteries for future use.

The electric motor as a generator to produce electricity, which is then stored in its battery pack. Unlike all-electric vehicles, however, hybrid vehicles do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity. Gasoline stored in a conventional fuel tank provides all the energy the hybrid vehicle needs (Nice). For now only two companies make the car affordable. Honda and Toyota are the only ones to have money for research, although GM is right behind them. The Hybrid has less appealing styles, less features, no class, and no variety while these options are still available in the majority of cars today.

There is also limited seating which discourages many families from purchasing a new hybrid vehicle. It is not as appealing to consumers even though it helps the environment. Dr. Mario Molina, a professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, believes that "gasoline for cars is very cheap here in the United States, so there is no incentive to be more efficient" (Campbell 21). In addition, the hybrid is currently not as available as the current cars are. Automobile companies can make a transition to having all their vehicles be hybrid vehicles, although there are difficulties in enforcing them to do so. Dr. Molina continues to argue that "with rapid, drastic change in energy use, we can predict that the economy would suffer.

But with more gradual change and the right kind of Espiritu 4 planning and incentives, we can deal with the climate change issue. In fact, recent international agreements could change the way we use energy" (Campbell 21). Looking at this issue as a consumer, it would be an inconvenience to sell my current car to buy a new hybrid car due to paper work and refinancing. Looking at this issue as an automobile maker, my company could go out of business because of the research and the money to make new vehicles is unaffordable. And if this law was enforced, it would cause the loss of job opportunities and directly impact our society's economy.

Maybe one day there will be money available to replace all current cars with hybrids. But why stop there? Couldn't all engines, like ships and planes, all be electrical and not use as much fuel as they do now? We would not only be saving ourselves but our environment and its natural resources. If we could look pass all of our materialistic desires in a car, driving a hybrid would not be so bad. We could all help to save the environment while taking care of business.

Who knows, maybe the hybrid could be further improved as well as our future. Taking action in the present to help save and conserve energy use ensures a future. Make a difference on the road and rethink your transportation options. Combining trips, using alternative forms of transportation, carpooling, and most importantly, considering to purchase a fuel-smart car can save the future. Espiritu 5

Bibliography

1. Campbell, Neil A. et al. Biology. California: Addison Westley Longman, Inc. 1999.
2. "New Hybrid Vehicles Increase Gas-saving Options for Consumers". 17 NOV 2003.
3. Nice, Karim, "How Hybrid Cars Work" How Stuff Works. 17 NOV 2003.
web 4. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Global Warming Emissions. 17 NOV 2003.