Green Planet and Me

 
A major concern today for many people is the growing number of vehicles you see driven on a daily basis. Not only do these vehicles consume large amounts of fuel on a regular basis, but they also create an enormous amount of air pollution. There have been many attempts to combat this growing concern, and the most effective one so far has been the invention of Hybrid cars. The aim of Hybrid cars is to reduce not only the pollution in the air we breathe, but also the consumption of fossil fuels used to fuel our current mode of transportation. Furthermore, since the amount of fossil fuel is finite, this could postpone the time when none is left; hopefully, by then a superior new power source will have been found.

 
In many case studies, it’s been proven that Hybrid cars produce 80% less harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases than their gasoline counterparts. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released by more traditional fuels such as gasoline, as well as nitrous oxide and methane gases. These chemicals, which are stored in the fossil fuels we use today, get released when burned in our car’s engines. Hybrid cars help to reduce the production of these chemicals, lessening their dangerous contribution to the greenhouse effect. More traditional engines however, such as those in our current cars, release a significantly higher amount of these gases on a daily basis.

 
The technology that makes these cars possible, and makes them capable of such a high rate of reduction in harmful pollutants, is their unique engines. Hybrid cars come in two different forms, Parallel Hybrid and the Series Hybrid. Both types of engines use a combination of gasoline-electric engines in radically different ways. Both these types of engines contain small gasoline powered engines, that produce less pollution than their larger versions. They generally produce around 60 to 90 horsepower on their own, so to compensate for this lower horsepower Hybrid cars are constructed with ultra lightweight materials. The most common of these materials is carbon fiber and aluminum, which both make the cars lighter so there is less stress on their engines.

 
Another unique feature of the Hybrid is the way it stores energy for use by its electric engine. Hybrid cars create energy via their wheels, using the kinetic energy produced by the wheel’s movement to power their small electric engines. This means there are no plugs involved for charging, as their energy source is regenerative. When it comes down to it, for a cleaner environment Hybrid cars are definitely the way to go. They not only utilize an engine that produces less pollution in its emissions, but also are energy friendly since they generate their own electricity.

 
Finally, it is important to mention that many states are offering incentives: both cash and other privileges for consumers who purchase ecologically friendly vehicles such as hybrid cars. Including: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah.

 
P.S. Hybrids are really cool cars. If you want to participate in a short survey and possibly win a Hybrid, click here.