Hybrids have become quite popular among the general audience over the past few years. Car-manufacturing industries are left guessing what exactly triggered this popularity. Whether it was the environmental concern, the fascination with new opportunities or just the necessity to get a taste of something new, Hybrids seem to have become a huge hit. Their advantages and drawbacks, however, are yet to be explored.
Starting with the positive aspects of the given product, which immediately made the public’s enthusiasm escalate, was the fact that Hybrid cars were completely environmentally friendly and did not pollute the environment.
Another strong feature of modern hybrid cars is that it allows for numerous variations in combining a gas engine with electric motor and batteries. As Hybrids 101 says, there are parallel and series hybrids, full and mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, full electrics, etc. Thus, choosing a hybrid car turns into a much more flexible process than the choice of a diesel car; a potential owner can practically find the car adjusted exactly to his/her needs.
Speaking of maintenance, a hybrid car does not require “any special maintenance beyond what a regular car needs” (Hybrids 101. Guide to Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Cars and Powertrains). The last, but not the last argument in favor of hybrids is that there is no friction in the engine; therefore, less damage is caused to the latter.
However, hybrid cars also have their weak aspects, and the most notorious one is their vulnerability to the effects of the outside factors, especially weather. Being lighter than traditional cars, hybrids can be damaged considerably in case of a storm. Temperature fall can also serve as the fatal blow to a hybrid car; since the batteries, which hybrids work on, are not prone to changes in temperature, when the weather changes suddenly, the hybrid’s performance quality is most likely to drop.
The last, but not the least argument brings one back to the environmental issues, which the creators of Hybrid cars claim to have finally solved. True, the car does not affect the environment when being used – at least, it does not affect it as badly as a diesel car does. However, in the process of manufacturing Hybrid cars, twice as much harm is being made to nature (Hybrids and Diesel: Do They Save Money?).
With that being said, one must agree that Hybrid cars need improvements. The premise for their creation is truly fascinating – people need to take care of the environment. The price, however, is too high, with the production process being as much, if not twice as much, as harmful as the effects of a regular car.
Like the use of diesel cars, the use of hybrids has its pros and cons. While one can argue that hybrid cars harm the environment to a lesser degree, do not require maintenance as frequently as traditional cars and draw a lesser tax, they, nevertheless, have their doubtful downsides, among which, the fact that hybrids are more prone to various road accidents seems to be the most negative.
Therefore, it cannot be denied that hybrid cars need more time to be perfected and improved. Presently, hybrid cars seem more of a second choice next to a more comfortable and by far more usual diesel car. Nevertheless, hybrid cars have potential. With that being said, it can be assumed that with several more changes that will help bring the negative issues down a few notches, hybrid cars will oust the conventional ones from the then market
Works Cited
Hybrids 101. Guide to Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Cars and Powertrains. 2012.