hybrid vehicles: friend or foe? by lizzie johnsen and julie samuelson
TRANSCRIPT
Hybrid Vehicles:Hybrid Vehicles:Friend or Foe?Friend or Foe?
By Lizzie JohnsenBy Lizzie Johnsen
and Julie Samuelsonand Julie Samuelson
What are hybrid vehicles?What are hybrid vehicles?
Type of car that Type of car that uses a combination uses a combination of small gas engine of small gas engine and electric battery and electric battery to power carto power car
History of HybridsHistory of Hybrids
From 1897 to 1907 the Paris Electric From 1897 to 1907 the Paris Electric Car Company produced a series of Car Company produced a series of hybrid and electric carshybrid and electric cars
First hybrid created in United States First hybrid created in United States was by engineer H. Piper on was by engineer H. Piper on November 23, 1905November 23, 1905
From 1890 to 1920 there were more From 1890 to 1920 there were more than 100 different makers of hybrid than 100 different makers of hybrid carscars
How Hybrids WorkHow Hybrids Work
http://www.alternative-energy-http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/news.info/technology/transportation/hybrid-cars/transportation/hybrid-cars/
How Hybrids WorkHow Hybrids Work Use combination of gas Use combination of gas
motor and electric motor and electric batterybattery
At low speeds or At low speeds or coasting, the car runs on coasting, the car runs on electric energyelectric energy
At fast speeds, the car At fast speeds, the car switches to its gas switches to its gas engineengine
If the car is not moving If the car is not moving the engine automatically the engine automatically turns off, using no turns off, using no energyenergy
Hybrid Effect on Hybrid Effect on AtmosphereAtmosphere
Releases fewer emissions into Releases fewer emissions into atmosphereatmosphere– emissions: gases and particles released emissions: gases and particles released
into the air as byproducts of a natural or into the air as byproducts of a natural or man-made process (man-made process (www.mtpc.org))
– Emissions pollute the air and contribute to Emissions pollute the air and contribute to the thinning of the ozone layerthe thinning of the ozone layer
– Fewer emissions are less damaging to Fewer emissions are less damaging to atmosphereatmosphere
Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids
Make us less Make us less dependent on dependent on other countries other countries for oilfor oil– Uses less oilUses less oil– Makes us more Makes us more
self-sufficientself-sufficient
Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids
Reduction in Reduction in gasoline needsgasoline needs- Less of a need for Less of a need for
gasolinegasoline- Saves the owner of Saves the owner of
the car moneythe car money- This is crucial as This is crucial as
gas prices continue gas prices continue to riseto rise
Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids
Battery pack can Battery pack can rechargerecharge– Receives energy Receives energy
from break from break frictionfriction
– Capable of Capable of storing energystoring energy
Benefits of HybridsBenefits of Hybrids
More eco-friendlyMore eco-friendly– Does not harm the environment as Does not harm the environment as
badly as traditional gasoline carsbadly as traditional gasoline cars– Releases fewer toxinsReleases fewer toxins– Keeps air cleanerKeeps air cleaner– Much quieter than gas carsMuch quieter than gas cars
Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid
Significantly more Significantly more expensive than expensive than regular carsregular cars
Battery not Battery not included in overall included in overall costcost
Battery is Battery is expensiveexpensive
Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid Batteries still need workBatteries still need work Die about every 3 years, Die about every 3 years,
expensive to replaceexpensive to replace Made with lead and Made with lead and
nickelnickel– This makes the batteries This makes the batteries
toxictoxic– Can be hazardous if they Can be hazardous if they
leakleak– Can cause deformities Can cause deformities
and diseases in peopleand diseases in people– Batteries can take up to Batteries can take up to
10 hours to fully recharge10 hours to fully recharge
Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid
Higher chances of breakdownsHigher chances of breakdowns– Uses new technology that has not been Uses new technology that has not been
mastered yetmastered yet– Sometimes unable to detect errors in Sometimes unable to detect errors in
car until it stops workingcar until it stops working– Hybrids have 2 motors, so the chances Hybrids have 2 motors, so the chances
of one of them not working is doubledof one of them not working is doubled
Flaws of HybridFlaws of Hybrid
Lack of raw materialsLack of raw materials– Many parts would have to be imported Many parts would have to be imported
from Chinafrom China– Increases our dependency on other Increases our dependency on other
nationsnations
Flaws of HybridsFlaws of Hybrids
Technology too Technology too complexcomplex– ““Cutting edge” Cutting edge”
technology is more technology is more advanced than advanced than common peoplecommon people
– Many mechanics Many mechanics don’t understand itdon’t understand it
Hybrids in the MediaHybrids in the Media
Many people are misinformed about Many people are misinformed about their views on hybrid carstheir views on hybrid cars
Car companies use marketing and Car companies use marketing and their credible reputations to persuade their credible reputations to persuade people to buy their carspeople to buy their cars
GM, Ford, and Chrysler recently urged GM, Ford, and Chrysler recently urged President Bush to financially and President Bush to financially and politically support a national politically support a national technological solution involving technological solution involving hybrids hybrids
Are they a realistic future?Are they a realistic future?
Although they are a good solution for Although they are a good solution for right now, hybrid vehicles are not right now, hybrid vehicles are not sustainable in the long runsustainable in the long run
Only a “quick fix”Only a “quick fix” Their technology is too complex and Their technology is too complex and
their cost is too expensive for the their cost is too expensive for the general publicgeneral public
Research shows that they will not be Research shows that they will not be able to be mass produced until 2025able to be mass produced until 2025
BibliographyBibliography
http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com
http://www.hybridcars.com/http://www.hybridcars.com/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.i
nfo/images/technical/hybrid-car.jpg www.cartoonstock.comwww.cartoonstock.com http://www.eartheasy.com/http://www.eartheasy.com/
live_hybrid_cars.htmlive_hybrid_cars.htm