The hybrid car has introduced a new era of environmental awa

The hybrid car has introduced a new era of environmental awareness

Rocky Mountain Collegian
by Holly Stollsteimer
December 12, 2003


Kurt Davies, the research director for Greenpeace in Washington, said the organization supports the use of these newer vehicles.

"We are all in favor of anything that reduces the amount of oil we use," Davies said. "The beauty of the hybrid is it's a transitional move from petroleum to hydrogen."

According to Davies, there are enormous implications for using less oil, and said some companies are already inventing fuel cell cars, which replace gasoline engines.

The United States has become more of a "car culture" than other countries, Davies said. He questions whether or not people are aware of the effects of driving a Hummer or SUV, in relation to global warming.

"If the whole world were like us, we'd be out of oil in years, not decades," he said.

He said the use of hybrid cars is something citizens should pursue as "a moral responsibility to do the right thing."

The 2004 Toyota Prius, released in Denver in November introduces features not seen in conventional cars.

Ron Lewis, the sales consultant for Pederson Toyota, explained advances taken in the Prius, as well as all Prius cars on the market.

The Prius is an electric powered vehicle with a gasoline backup, but can also run simultaneously, according to Lewis. It does not run through automatic or manual transmission. Instead, the Prius has Continuously Variable Drive, which works with the momentum of the car.

"We always come down to this double-edged sword, with efficiency and the environmental standpoint," Lewis said.

The Prius is EPA rated at 52 miles to the gallon in the city and 45 on the highway. It is rare to have better fuel efficiency during city driving town than on the highway, according to Lewis.

The environmental standpoint is seen in that the Prius is rated at a Partial Zero Emissions, meaning it is 90 percent cleaner than other brand new conventional cars.

Previous Prius models were at a Super-ultra-low Emissions Level. All Prius cars are exempt from the state emissions program.

"The belief that hybrids lack power is the farthest thing from the truth," Lewis said. "The Prius has three times the amount of power as a conventional motor."

The first generation of the Prius had 340-foot pound torque, which is the power required for the car to be put into motion. The 2004 Prius has 377-foot pounds torque. The Toyota Corolla, a conventional gasoline-powered car has 125-foot pounds torque.

The cost of the new Prius is a base price of $19,995, not including a destination fee of $515 fin order to ship the car to the United States from Japan.

"To offset that price," Lewis said, "the government gives tax incentives for those who buy hybrids."

Curt Hanson, salesperson at Markley Honda in Fort Collins, said the Honda hybrids are similar to the Prius in terms of size and that they both use gasoline and electric-powered engines.

The Hondas differ from the Prius in that the cars are gasoline-powered with an electrical start-up, and electrical help with acceleration. Gasoline and electrical power cannot run simultaneously in Hondas, but one couldn't work without the other, Hanson said.

"If (the hybrids) didn't have the electrical power, the car wouldn't function," he said.

The Hondas have an IMA, or Integrated Motor Assist, which mean the electrical power and gasoline power are built into the same motor.

The Hondas have an EPA rating of 50 miles to the gallon.

Aaron Kocurek, a math education sophomore, owns a Honda Accord and is aware of both Toyota and Honda hybrids.

"My car's not a hybrid, but I'd switch to one because they're less expensive in the long run," Kocurek said. "You won't be spending as much money on gas."

Kocurek said he would also switch to a hybrid because they are cleaner, more efficient and prevent using resources such as oil and gas.

Lewis stated that the infrastructure is not yet ready for a hydrogen cell car, the next step after hybrids. Gas stations are also opposed to the idea because oil companies are hesitant to move in that direction. Lewis said it might take over a decade for completely electric-powered cars to come into the car-manufacturing scene.

"The hybrids are a bridge," Lewis said.

Hanson also feels the cars are "on the cutting edge of the future."

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