- Hybrid and Electric Cars
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Hybrid Technology
Hybrids appear to be here to stay. In the United States it took seven years to sell the first 500,000 Priuses; the second 500,000 took just two years. And in Japan a hybrid recently landed atop monthly auto sales for the first time. Check out the above video from Modern Marvels to see how it works.
There are, however, still those with many concerns. Should you buy a hybrid now or later? Will it actually save you money? Check out the answers to these and other questions here, as answered by CNN.
So what are your options as a consumer? Going with a hybrid can qualify you for a number of tax rebates, depending on where you live and what you drive. And the new cash-for-clunkers program can entitle you to up to $4500 in cash if you trade in your old vehicle for one that is more fuel efficient.
What is the carbon footprint of manufacturing a hybrid vehicle versus a pre-electronic ignition vehicle? Some say, that the lifespan of these lithium batteries are anything between 3 and five years. What is the cost on the environment to recycle these battery-packs and all the electronic junk? What is the cost to the owner to replace the battery packs, if he/she wants to continue driving the car after five years? What is the cost to recycle the whole car, compared to a pre-electronic ignition car? The lifespan of a well maintained conventional motorvehicle is almost open-ended, while electronics and plastics have in comparison severely shortened life spans, requiring a person to replace an electronic-era vehicle several times while a "classic" car may be driven almost indefinitely. Some cars from the fifties and sixties achieved 30 to 50mpg with ease, while maintenance could be handled by the average person at home without the use of expensive diagnostic tools.
I smell big business interests being forced on the people once again. Please try to convince me otherwise!