Traditional cars versus hybrid cars

Hybrid autos are still being modified and improved

The debate regarding the traditional versus the hybrid car is interesting, but also remains a "work in progress." Hybrid cars are relatively new to the market, are still under development, and are in different stages of improvement. In many ways, the theory of hybrid autos has outpaced the industry's ability to create an identical finished product.

Much as Henry Ford's creation of the production line revolutionized the fledgling car manufacturing industry, an obstacle faced by hybrid auto building is the lack of cost effective materials and systems. This usually results in the best hybrid cars carrying a higher price tag than traditional autos. However, much like the development and pricing of personal computers, CD players, HDTVs, etc., the cost of the finished product should decline as production methods and processes improve.

The development of alternate fuel sources is also a high priority in the transportation industry. Many different alternative energy options are currently being researched and tested. These activities result in massive levels of investment in the financial and natural resources needed to measure effectiveness and develop cost effective ways to produce this energy.

For example, corn, of which the U.S. has a large surplus, is a wonderful component to create ethanol, a potentially effective alternative automotive fuel. However, there are major problems at the moment. Corn is, of course, renewable in large quantities unlike fossil fuels. But consider the components of the process.

The corn must be harvested by tractors and equipment powered by fossil fuel. It must be transported to an ethanol manufacturing facility using fossil fuel. Then, it must be fermented in giant stills to create ethanol. Fermentation involves the use of fossil fuels. Therefore, current production methods use more disappearing fossil fuels than the resulting alternative energy created. The cost is simply not efficient to change gasoline and diesel burning autos into ethanol-powered cars.

A better comparison of traditional versus hybrid cars will come in the future. But, there are still pros and cons of both choices that make one or the other a good option today.

Pros and cons of traditional and hybrid autos

Traditional cars: Pros

• All systems are reliable. The gasoline engine has been perfected over many years and is an efficient, reliable source of transportation.
  
  
• Less costly than comparable hybrid autos. While traditional autos are certainly not inexpensive, they are usually priced lower than comparable models of hybrid cars.

Traditional cars: Cons

• Totally dependent on fossil fuel. This dependency on gasoline and diesel fuel, both of which are disappearing rapidly, could create a transportation disaster in the future.
  
  
• Industry infrastructure retarding alternative fuel development. The auto industry is not the private arena of the car manufacturers alone. Hundreds of other industries are involved, including oil companies, and many other support industries. They have little incentive to help the development of alternative fuel sources and hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid cars: Pros

• Less fossil fuel consumed. Hybrid cars, using other sources of energy, primarily electricity produced by batteries, consume much less gasoline or diesel than traditional autos.
  
  
• Ability to produce their own energy internally. The better hybrid autos have the ability to charge their massive batteries while you drive. Converting other energy, like acceleration, braking, deceleration, etc. to battery recharge sources, they are able to replenish spent electrical energy automatically.

Hybrid cars: Cons

• More costly to purchase. The integration of a second energy source in a marriage with a traditional gasoline piston engine is currently a costly process. The cost of powerful battery packs and the onboard computer that controls the process of alternating between gasoline and electricity drives up the cost to purchase a good hybrid.
  
  
• Difficult to generate sufficient electrical energy to power autos at higher speeds or for long periods of time. Current hybrid cars are still developing enough power and torque to move three or four thousand pound vehicles at better cruising speeds. Also, the the power drain on battery packs tends to be rather rapid, making it difficult to operate the auto for long periods without using fossil fuel.

What the future holds

This is one debate that will change in context and comparisons in the future. First, fossil fuels will disappear. Before they do, they will become scarce. Supply and demand will mean that if demand remains constant, the supply shortage will drive the price up significantly. Second, as hybrid autos become more efficient and less costly, they will often become the vehicle of choice for many good reasons.