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Hybrid Cars. What is a hybrid?. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) include both a combustion engine as well as an electric motor. If we had better batteries, we would not need hybrids at all. Hybrids can be implemented in many kinds of vehicles. Global-Warming: Still An Issue.
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What is a hybrid? • Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) include both a combustion engine as well as an electric motor. • If we had better batteries, we would not need hybrids at all. • Hybrids can be implemented in many kinds of vehicles.
Global-Warming: Still An Issue. • Hybrids are not zero-emission vehicles. • Will cut down emissions of global-warming pollutants by a third to a half. • Later models may cut these emissions down by even more.
Why hybrids? • Regenerative braking actually makes city driving more economical than on the highway. • Fuel efficiency is greatly increased (twice). • Emissions are greatly decreased. • Dependency on fossils fuels can be decreased. • Hybrids can be run on alternative fuels as well. • New materials can be implemented.
EPA at work • Federal guidelines for emissions: • Tier 1 took effect in 1997 • Tier 2 will phased-in beginning 2004. • National LEV (NLEV): builds on the California Emissions Standards until Tier 2 is implemented. • LEV II: California Emissions Standards.
ULEV/SULEV • Tier 1, TLEV, LEV, ULEV, SULEV, ZEV. • CARB: California Air Resources Board. • CO2 reductions not called for. Only HC, CO, NOx. • Cars can be certified Low Emissions Vehicles but at the same time have high fuel consumption.
Tax Incentives • ‘The IRS has determined that purchasers of a new Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Prius are eligible for a "Clean-Fuel" vehicle tax deduction of $2,000. The current incentive is scheduled to phase out in 2004-06. ‘
Some EPA facts • Every gallon of gasoline your vehicle burns puts 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. • A 5 mpg difference in fuel economy equates to about 2,800 pounds of CO2 a year.
Tons of greenhouse gas • NLEV program does not take CO2 into account but let’s see some numbers: • Honda Insight: 3.4 t/yr. • Honda Civic Hybrid: 3.9 t/yr. • Toyota Prius: 4.0t/yr. • Ford Explorer: 11.0 t/yr. • Honda Civic: 5.7 t/yr. (calculated)
Honda Insight 2003 • Cost: $19,080/$21,280 (MT/CVT) MT: manual transmission CVT: continuously variable transmission
Honda Insight 2003 IMA: integrated motor assist system
Honda Civic Hybrid 2003 Cost: $19,550/$20,550 (MT/CVT)
Toyota Prius 2003 Cost: $20,480 CVT
A note about Ford • I believe Ford is behind in the Hybrid world. • The Hybrid Escape is due at the end of 2003 with 40/29 mpg as compared to 19/25 mpg. • The Explorer: 239 HP, 4422 lbs., gets 17/21 mpg, and has a 22.5 gallon tank.
Tepper Fleet Consumption • 33.3 t/yr. CO2 • Could be reduced to less than half if all cars were hybrids. www.fueleconomy.gov
Cars to come • GM: Chevy Pickup 2004, Chevy Suburban 2004. • Daimler-Chrysler: Dodge Ram Pickup 2005, Mercedes S-Class 2006.