The introduction of automobiles came like a dream at the dawn of industrialization and civilization advancement. The early manufacturers of automobiles in the developed countries were very enthusiastic about the issue. Thus, many experts talented in engineering and designing pooled together their efforts to discover the widely used systems in today’s world. Although their inventions of the late eighteenth century and nineteenth century were paramount to the development of new means of transportation, the ultimate productions of this time have gone through a dynamic transition due to numerous reasons. These great inventions which were used during our forefathers’ could only apply a singled kind of system have been altered to suit the needs of man at various generations period. These earliest systems which were applicable in automobiles used engines that were compatible with petroleum products like petrol and diesel. As man has survived through change, many changes have occurred in the way in which these types of machines have been constructed.
Contrary to the generation of today, which is fond of fashion and stylistic products, the early changes in automobiles were brought by coherent and comprehensive reasons. Hence, there are many reasons other than fashion that have contributed to the production of this array of products in the automobiles sector. The broad reasons are all categorized into three major classes. The economic reasons and the environmental factors are among the two major ones. Initially, the two factors were not of interest. This is because there were fewer automobiles which impacted the least on the negatives sides. The release of pollutants was quite minimal and almost unnoticeable. The maintenance costs were also relatively low. The major vehicles problems were unveiled at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The first decade of the nineteenth century marked a start in the changes in the environment and climates which also required certain changes in the manufacturing of automobiles. Both the engines and the products for use in the engine parts formed the center of solutions to such problems. Thus, gas and electricity-driven motors were designed to curb the perilous environmental problems. (Arita, 2000)
. The inventions which then rampantly come up in the 1900s were much more inclined in the productions of automobiles which could effectively and efficiently work with gas products. The gas engines first perceived as the most effective and none expensive ones was invented. However, almost in a simultaneous manner, changes in the prices of oil products doomed the world. Gas being one of the products from the oil products, then became expensive and many people could not use their vehicles. This complicated the intended invention of engines and the technological issue on the search for better engines remained at the peak in the research sectors; the experts had to invent better ways that could put the vehicle on the right track.
The experts of technology then emerged with the solutions of electric car technology. This was solely created in favor of offering the clients and vehicle customers an economical means by which they can drive their automotive. As a result of the relentless search, electric cars, gas-powered cars were invented. Due to some inconvenience associated with the batteries which were used in the electric cars, this kind of cars disappeared within a shorts period. As far as environmental concerns were in consideration, such models could not go to extinction. They soon came up around the mid of the twentieth century. This was mainly triggered by the issue of the environment and the unpleasant dependence on the oil products for which gas-powered vehicles perpetually are affected. Environmental issues together with economic concerns as well as enabling technologies in the modern period led the manufacturers in the late 1990s to call for vigorous research on new development in the sector. This was a time when hybrid automobiles were born. The hybrid vehicles trends have from then increased up to the present. (Wachs, 2000)
Hybrid vehicles are much complicated vehicles that have emerged in recent past years. They are therefore vehicles that can run two separate power sources, unlike gas-powered vehicles. The generation of fashion is privileged to enjoy the technological inventions of vehicles with both gas and battery power. The existence of the two sources forms the most important part of manufacturing such a vehicle. This is because the combination of the two sources complicates the overall process ranging from its operation by the drivers to its energy consumptions. The two energy sources are designated in such a way that there is coordination between the two. The coupling of the batteries source and the gas source enables vehicles-batteries to be rechargeable. The rechargeable batteries are aimed at reducing the effects on the environment. Although the gas-powered vehicles have high energy conservation powered, these vehicles are considered to have a continuous need for drivers to press on the accelerators.
The continuous ejection of fuels always produces some minute pollutants to the atmosphere. These minute pollutions to the environment are accumulative posing long time effects to the environment. The hybrid vehicles have double energy sources, this means the vehicles can utilize each source alternatively and separately at their convenience; hence the drivers have no need of ejecting gas fuels which perhaps undergo incomplete combustions always. It has been said by vehicles engineers and environmental experts that the alternative energy sources from the batteries and motors in hybrid vehicles have high advantages. Hybrid vehicles can convert excess power from the gas engines source to electricity from the motor sides. The converted energy is utilized in certain circumstances when the vehicles have insufficient fuels on the gas engines side. Such form of stored energy does not emit pollutants to the environment, hence hybrid vehicles are more environmentally favorable than gas-powered vehicles which are not hybridized. Thus, hybrid vehicles are highly recommended for those people whose value lies in the consideration of environmental clean-up. (Wachs, 2000)
Travel using hybrid vehicles is more advantageous than using gas-powered vehicles. Fuel problems do arise when someone is on his / her way. This is especially when fuel gets finished on the way. The moment fuel is not enough on the gas engines side, the hybrid vehicles can provide an alternative way on the motor side which acts as storage for an excess energy source. The preserved energy from this point may enable one to gets closer to his destination or even to arrive at a place where he /she can purchase more fuels to refill the vehicle. When traveling in gas-powered vehicles, the probabilities of fuel getting used up are similar to those when traveling in hybrids vehicles. So, the moment fuels are no longer in reserve within the gas-powered vehicles, there is no single step towards a destination can be made. The travelers get stuck in one place only to seek help from other vehicles while they leave their vehicle on board. This makes the hybrid vehicles have added advantages on the mileages as compared to standard gas-powered vehicles. The extra miles which are traveled by the hybrid vehicles make many people have passion for these vehicles. When the two kinds of vehicles are compared in terms of mileage, long distances are covered by the hybrid types while consuming less fuel than the standard gas-powered vehicles. (Witzel, 1992)
Owning a vehicle is what many people desires. The demand and desires vary from one person to another. Cost is one of the factors of consideration in purchasing a car, the research reports carried out by different people review that the cost for hybrid vehicles is more than that of standard gas-powered vehicles. However, this is quite well understood by the intellectual and those who fit in the sector of invention and innovation. The price of any good is comparable to its attractiveness and durability. These are all features that are attained through research and invention means. Hence, the devotion for the researcher whose results have to produce widely acceptable products also has to be paid duly.
The limited numbers of people with the technological know-how in the production of hybrid vehicles have facilitated the escalation of the costs of this kind of vehicle in the past ten decades. Automotive makers are now posing threatening attacks to a customer on cost elevation; hence, they rare possession of hybrid vehicles than the standard gas-powered vehicles. This means that the environmental goals of hybrid and the economic problem solutions which were anticipated to come to their dismal ground with the introductions of hybrid economical vehicles may not be solved soon. Furthermore, the prices of the petroleum products which are commonly used all over the world will continue to wear down the economies of many states which depend on these products from foreign countries. (Greenliving online, 2008)
Although there are enormous differences between the two types of vehicles models, there is a similar array in the similarities, especially in terms of techniques of reducing fuel consumption and efficiencies. These are highly dependable factors that depend more fully on the operational techniques of the vehicles. The efficiencies are not limited to how the operators drive. The method in which the hybrid vehicles and the standard gas-powered model achieve this includes the manners in which the drivers reduce the speed. The reduction of the speed on the road on such vehicles leads to the reduction of the wind drag. Such reduction ultimately mitigates the rates at which the car consumes the fuel resulting not only in greater efficiencies on fuel use but also improving in the gas mileages. In addition, the avoidance of abrupt stopping and abrupt journey commencement reduces the effects of engine overworking, and as result, the engine requires lesser fuel amounts.
This means that the drivers who opt to have additional advantages in the economics of fuel need to have high skills in driving. This means highly qualified automobile drivers, whose driving knowledge and experience is broad enough to enable them to have consistent drives. The consistency on the driving of the engine on such vehicles avoids overtime working of it, making its operational work easier than expected. This reduces the overall energy source usage, especially on the gas fuel engines. However, the case of achieving this is quite minimal for hybrid vehicles which are depicted to have two energy sources. Many drivers have problems with getting acquainted with the operation of hybrid vehicles. This perhaps arises from the complications involving the power transfer from gas engines to electrical motors. Thus, the complications of the driving skills which are required are making hybrid vehicles to be rare in the commercial industries for transportation works. Thus, it is upon the individuals, organizations, and companies to consider which of the two types of vehicles is most suitable for the need and skills required. But the most important need is the environment in which we all treasure for our life and the future generation to come. For this, hybrid vehicles remain the most suitable vehicles. (Petric, 2007)
Reference
Arita, M. (2000): Technical Issues of Fuel Cell Systems for Automotive Applications: vol. 2, pg. 20 – 30: free press.
Petric, J. (2007): Concept of Hybrid Vehicles vol. 25 pp 10- 30.
Greenliving online (2008): top 5 myths about hybrids cars. Web.
Witzel, M. (1992): The American Gas Station: Motorbook International.
Wachs, M. (2000): The Automobile, the Built Environment, and Daily Urban Life: University of Michigan Press.