Green Vehicles

Going Green in a Hybrid Automobile

There is a lot of talk about "going green" these days. It is a hot topic of conversation as people become more concerned with the prospect of global warming and the rising cost of fossil fuels. Environmentalists have complained for decades over this country's excessive use of fossil fuels and the hazards this presented to the environment, but until the impact hit the average person's wallet there was not enough interest in changing our habits for a company to have success in marketing an environmentally friendly green vehicle. If there is a bright side to the high cost of fuel it is that it got people to realize the importance of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and has made it profitable for the automakers to develop new eco-friendly automobiles.

So what exactly is a hybrid? A hybrid, by definition, is a bringing together of two different elements functioning as one. A hybrid car typically uses both a gas powered engine and an electric motor. While this doesn't totally eliminate the need for gas, it does reduce the need greatly which is a huge step in the right direction. Some of the hybrid engines can run on flex-fuel or E85, so it is conceivable to eliminate our need for foreign oil based on this technology alone. The gas engine in a hybrid is usually used for traveling at higher speeds and can charge the electric battery which is used for idling and in some models for driving at lower speeds.

There are several different types of green vehicles available today each with their own unique advantages and drawbacks, but one thing is shared among them and that is that they are cutting back on the need for gas from fossil fuels. New green hybrid cars also eliminate harmful fuel emissions by up to 98% which is more great news for our environment and all of us who want to keep the world a beautiful, healthy and functional place to live.

Since "going green" also means to reduce, reuse and recycle many green vehicles on the market today are using recycled materials when making the vehicle. Plastic can be recycled using the new technology that is available today and many manufacturers are also making cloth for seats and plastic parts for vehicle interiors from soybeans. That isn't entirely new since Henry Ford invented the idea back in the 1930's, but renewed interest is helping manufacturers to further reduce dependence on petroleum, since plastic is a petroleum based product.

Today's green hybrid cars are making their mark in history. Conceivably, every car in the US could someday be a green vehicle and eventually not need gas at all. As for know, we can be content to know that the automotive industry and the world are moving in the right direction for the environment.