There is more of them out there today, than there have ever been before. They are more powerful, more quiet, and could be the answer to a looming crisis. As we speed headlong into our near future, that crisis comes into focus...what happens when the oil wells run dry? On the transportation front, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) are taking a stand. Automotive manufacturers are continually offering more Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) every year since 1991.
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In 1991, Ford and GM took the plunge by selling the first vehicles to fit in the AFV / HEV label and in ten years, just over fourty models were available between seven manufacturers. Eighty models from fourteen different manufacturers are being offered in 2011. That's over thirty models more then what was offered last year alone. It seems a trend was developing and automotive manufacturers were aware that there was a growing market in alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. “Global companies like Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Daimler have spent billions of dollars to develop electric and plug-in hybrid cars.” says Keith Bradsher, an author for the New York Times.
Some of these car companies, like Ford and Toyota, have teamed up to help prevent some of the possible problems we face. Nick Bunkley reinforces this idea, through an interview, in his article, Ford and Toyota to Work Together on Hybrid System for Trucks. ''Clearly Ford and Toyota will remain competitors,'' said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for research and development. ''By working together, we will be able to offer our customers more affordable technology sooner." (Bunkley 2011) Collaborations like this have happened in the past to perfect a technology but like Kuzak had mentioned, they still walk away competitors. After the smoke clears, the average consumer would probably ask, ”What's in it for me?”
Some of the positive effects from investing into an alternative fuel/hybrid car is cleaner air thanks to better emissions. We can lessen our dependance on foreign oil and saving on fuel costs alone is enough to coax city drivers to purchase one. In Technology and Engineering Teacher, Walter F. Deal, III mentions that gasoline engines aren't very efficient. He writes, “Electric motors convert 75% of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels--internal combustion engines (ICEs) only convert 20% of the energy stored in gasoline.” (Deal III, 2010)
There are some perks to picking up one of these cars such as better driving conditions. On Livestrong.com, Josh Duvauchelle states,” (For example), several states give hybrid car drivers the use of special carpool lanes so they can bypass traffic quicker. Some businesses, restaurants and facilities also provide hybrid car-only parking spaces.” I have noticed several hybrid spots right at the entrance to many building on military bases but if preferential treatment isn’t enough for you, then maybe saving some cold hard cash is the perk your looking for. “The U.S. Internal Revenue Service extends several tax benefits to help reduce the upfront costs of purchasing a hybrid car. This can give you a tax credit of up to $2,000, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.” states Josh in his article, Positive Impact of Hybrid Cars.
In conclusion, together we have created these growing issues and together we can solve them. Car companies team up to make their technology more effective so they can offer reliable options in their hybrid/alternative fuel vehicles. Government, businesses, restaurants and many facilities all offer their incentives to clean up the air. With all the great reasons to buy hybrid, it's no wonder there's a trend that has been growing since the early 90's. Being smart never sounded so cool or looked so trendy.
Bibliography:
Going green with electric vehicles: there is considerable interest in electric and hybrid cars because of environmental and climate change concerns, tougher fuel efficiency standards, and increasing dependence on imported oil. Walter F. Deal, III. Technology and Engineering Teacher. 70.3 (Nov. 2010) p5. Word Count: 3585.Going Electric Humans by their very nature are mobile beings. From the earliest of times, when humans were hunter-gathers or nomadic peoples, they moved from one place to another in search of food, shelter, and changes
Ford and Toyota to Work Together on Hybrid System for Trucks. Nick Bunkley. The New York Times. (Aug. 23, 2011) Business News: pB3(L). Word Count: 598.DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor said on Monday that they would jointly develop a gas-electric hybrid fuel system for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles aimed at keeping larger models
Hybrid in a Trade Squeeze. Keith Bradsher. The New York Times. (Sept. 6, 2011) Business News: pB1(L). Word Count: 1625.TIANJIN, China -- For General Motors and the Obama administration, the new Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid represents the automotive future, the culmination of decades of high-tech research financed partly with federal dol
Worksheet available at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/data/index.html
Josh Duvauchelle. Positive Impact of Hybrid Cars. Livestrong.com, 30 June 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/156156-positive-impact-of-hybrid-cars/
Post write: I feel the paper is sharper and clearly explained than the previous focused some more. The subject is very broad AFV and HEV. The example is when the reader is presented with the question" what happens when the oil wells run dry?" I think the question isn't that vague to where it must be explained. I think what remains to be done is perhaps adding some negative effects but I feel that the positive effects will help solve a much more dangerous problem. Although doing so will create some much needed lengthening of the article. Do you think that the essay needs to explain some unexplained ideas? Is the article overall a better versionthan the last and if not what would you change?
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