StudentScholarships.org - The Hybrid Sensation
The Hybrid car is one of the unsurpassed inventions of the 21st century. It is not only environmentally friendly but, with this car you receive better mileage and, with gas prices ever-increasing, many families across the country are saving hundreds of dollars on gas alone. When you by a hybrid car you are simply buying a better car period.
Global warming could increase the number of people affected by flooding by 20 - 50 million people. Entire ecosystems may be lost and others severely impacted. According to a 2004 Pentagon report, an abrupt global climate change could bring the planet to complete devastation as countries fight to defend and secure the decreasing food, water, and energy supplies. These are just a few reasons why the hybrid car is such an influential invention. A gallon of gasoline weighs just over 6 pounds. When burned, the carbon in it combines with oxygen from the air to produce nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. By switching from a gas guzzler to a hybrid, you can literally save the earth a couple of tons of greenhouse gases.
If the fuel economy were improved by 5 mpg, that would save 1.5 million barrels of oil per day. That's approximately 55 million metric tons of carbon per day. Using such cars as hybrid cars could be a major step to alleviate global warming.
All hybrids get better mileage than conventional cars. Some get better fuel mileage in stop and go traffic, while others do better on the highway. Hybrid cars also produce about 90% less smog than the average conventional car. Hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium which causes a lot of damage to the environment. 'Nickel metal hydride batteries [can be] fully recycled,' says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal.
With gas prices soaring to more than $2 a gallon, there's no smarter reason to switch to a hybrid than fuel efficiency. In fact, hybrid cars can go for more than 600 miles between fill-ups, meaning you can cut visits to your gas station in half, saving you time and money. If you drive 1,000 miles a month and your current car averages 20 miles per gallon, driving a hybrid could save $700 or more a year at the pump.
Hybrids are also small, quick, and good at avoiding accidents. Toyota's new version of the Prius, Toyota's hybrid gas-electric automobile can even parallel park itself. People who purchase a new hybrid by the end of 2005 are eligible for a "Clean-Fuel" vehicle tax deduction of up to $2,000. New more valuable tax inducement will go into effect on January 1, 2006, as part of the "Energy Policy Act of 2005."
The hybrid is truly a remarkable invention. Whether you are looking to help the environment, or save money the Hybrid is your best option. It also doesn't hurt that Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Larry David, and Leonardo DiCaprio just happen to be hybrid owners!
