Why buy a hybrid car or SUV today rather then wait for zero emmissions vehicle?

Question

I was thinking about buying a hybrid (gas + elec.) but what I really want is a zero carbon emmission vehicle. What is taking the manufacturing industry so long to have them available to the public? How soon can we get truely green vehicles on the roads? Is this killing you like it is on me?

Answer 1

Just remember that there are various types of emissions from vehicles, besides just CO2.

You can buy several types of vehicles that are already rated as PZEV (partial zero emission vehicles), in that they meet the CA SULEV (super ultra low emission vehicle) emission standards, have no evaporative emissions (no hydrocarbons escape from the vehicle while it is sitting stationary/off), and a long emissions warranty.  Most, but not all, hybrids are PZEV, and there are many traditional gasoline only cars that also meet this low emission standard, besides some CNG and other alternative fueled vehicles.

http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/...

Assuming that you are currently driving a vehicle, you might as well "upgrade" it to be the cleanest vehicle that you can find that meets your needs.  You'll put out that much less emissions while waiting for your ultimate perfect vehicle.

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/

NONE of the currently commercially available hybrids have the ability to plug into an electrical outlet.  The only source of power is conventional gasoline.  The gasoline engine provides power to the hybrid battery through one of the electric motors acting as a generator.  Some of the lost kinetic energy in braking is recaptured through regenerative braking (wheels spin a generator, slowing down the vehicle), which also reduces wear on the conventional brake pads.

There are no commercially-available plug-in hybrids on the market so far, unfortunately. Some hobbiests and aftermarket companies have been altering a few hybrids (Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid) to make them plug-in capable. Typically this requires adding additional hybrid batteries, besides the ability to charge off the mains.

For more information, check out http://www.calcars.org/vehicles.html

(I'll note that some of the manufacturers are looking into having a plug-in hybrid available in the future (2010 or so), such as the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt.)

For cost reasons, unless you are a fleet owner or other high-mileage driver it probably will not be worth the cost of the PHEV conversion for you. (When the hybrid battery pack is depleted to a certain point the vehicle reverts back to its original hybrid self and runs on a combination of the gasoline engine (which will also recharge the battery) and the electric motor. A PHEV would add a greater all-electric range to the existing hybrid, besides the ability (but not the requirement!) to plug it into an electric source.

Depending on the source for electricity in your area, a BEV (battery electric vehicle) may or may not put out more greenhouse gas emissions than a 55MPG HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). Mainly, if the primary source for electricity in your area is coal, your HEV is cleaner than a BEV running on coal-powered electricity. However, if your electricity source is natural gas, the BEV is usually cleaner than the HEV (depending on the method used for natural gas->electricity conversion), and it gets even better for the BEV if you are using a hydroelectric or other renewable electric source. In comparisons with a generic 17MPG SUV, an average 26MPG vehicle, and a high-efficiency 38MPG vehicle, the 38MPG vehicle still will beat the coal-powered BEV, but isn't as clean as the HEV (and gas and renewables powered BEVs are much better than the 38MPG vehicle).

see: "Battery-Powered Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Resource Guide for Project Development," July 2002

http://www.netl.doe.gov/products/ccps/pu...

http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/i...

mainly section 4.3

(and that's besides the arguements that it's easier to manage emissions from a handful of electric plants, as opposed to millions of independently-owned cars... typically, electric charging rates (especially the off-peak charging times which would use otherwise lost power and level the loads) are still cheaper than petroleum rates, too. Of course, there are still emissions to worry about other than just greenhouse gas emissions, too.)

and yes, about 50% of the US' electric energy generation is from coal, but for your local power outlet depends on your power company and the local mix:  http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html

And, of course, there's some emissions created when the vehicle is produced, as well...  Electric vehicles may have better or worse carbon emissions, depending on your electric source.  Hydrogen vehicles usually have worse carbon emissions when taking into account the energy expenditure to make the hydrogen.  Ethanol, depending on the source plant material, may take more energy to make than recouped when used as fuel, too...

Heck, even if you just decided to walk (so no added emissions or material use to provide you with a transportation device), you still have to get your energy by eating (vegetarian is more fuel efficient than animal/meat products, BTW), and then there's your own emissions to deal with...

Answer 2

I bought a Prius a year ago, but at this point I would consider waiting, because some really good fully electric vehicles are coming out starting in about a year.

Available in California in October 2008, the Aptera typ-1e will cost about $27,000 with a top speed of 95 mph and range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Soon thereafter Aptera will introduce the typ-1h, a plug-in hybrid version of the typ-1e with a 40-60 mile range on purely electrical energy, and a range of over 600 miles total when in electric/gas hybrid mode, for around $30,000.  On a 120 mile trip, the typ-1h will get 300 miles per gallon.  The shorter the trip, the higher the efficiency.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Available in 2009, the ZAP Alias will cost $30,000, have a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 100 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Soon thereafter the ZAP-X will be available at a cost of $60,000 with a top speed of 155 mph and a range of 350 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Available in 2009, the Miles Javlon will cost $30,000 with a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.milesev.com/

Phoenix Motorcars will start selling their SUT to individuals in 2009.  It will cost $45,000 and have a top speed of 100 mph with a range of 100+ miles per charge.

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Plus the next generation Prius is coming out probably within a year and will get 80 mpg in the city.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/6070119.001/...

Answer 3

There will never be any such thing as a zero emisions car. Get the best you can now, assuming you need a car and are driving something not so hot at the moment.

Buying the greenest car you can at the moment also encourages manufacturers to make more, eco friendlier cars.

On yer bike!

Answer 4

Get with it , there is no zero emissions vehicle.

Answer 5

We have been waiting 15 years waiting for fuel cell technology thinking "it will be coming out in the next few years".  I guess I am sick of waiting for it to become mainstream and wanted to do what I can now.  I'm glad too....since we bought our Prius, not only do I feel better about our gas mileage--the price of gas has increased pretty drastically and I feel good driving past the gas station rather than stopping there so frequently!

Answer 6

You may say this is negative but what good is it to go green now it would take years upon years for the ozone to repair itself. I really don't see any purpose in it now.

Answer 7

I think the next step from the hybrids we are familiar with will be true plug in hybrids.  And then electric cars.  

  Electric cars have come a long way.  look what Tesla has done with their luxury electric sports car.   0-60mph in 4 seconds,  up to 250 mile range on a charge and will do 130 mph. competitively priced with a Porche with similar performance.

And Phoenix Motorcars is making electric light utility pickups with a new lithium titanate battery that can be charged in 10 minutes using a 400volt charger and in 6 hours using the onboard 110volt plug in charger.  A network of these 400 volt charging stations would mean you could go long distances.

Electric cars already make sense for in town cars, like rentals, delivery vehicles, cabs etc.  And also for job trucks around farms, industries.

Once we have a clean electric grid, we can go completely to electric cars.   In the meantime I think we'll have a mix of hybrids and electrics.  

Fuel cells and hydrogen burning combustion engines are also alternatives in the future.  

Regarding fuel cells, I think we'll see them in other applications before they are common in cars.  One company is making fuel cells for power plants.  The fuel cells run on natural gas, like many power plants.  These plants can be converted to fuel cells or run in tandem with them, using the same fuel.  But fuel cells don't burn anything and are much cleaner.  

Solar is our best hope for the energy grid.  

We could have a nearly 100% solar electric grid by the end of this century, and 65% by 2050: cheap, 100% clean energy that will never, ever need any fuel. The technology is already here and it is competitive with the price of fossil fuel power plants.

to see how we can achieve this, check out this article from Jan. 2008 Scientific American

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-so...

And if the money it calls for spending over the next 20 years or more seems like a lot at $400 billion, we are giving that much to oil companies in subsidies in less than half that time.  

Very profitable oil companies;  Exon just reported $40 billion in profits for 2007  Susidized with your tax dollars.

And the price of the war in Iraq is over a $trillion.  

We would have true energy independence with this plan. No more oil.  We could use what's left of the oil to make things, instead of burning it.

In fact, when you really add up all the costs to our country from continued fossil fuel use, the solar is many times cheaper, in my opinion.  Think of all the hidden costs of oil and coal with it's pollution, harming our health and our environment and the wars in the mideast and all their costs.  Add that to the price of a barrel of oil.  Even the transportation of the oil is polluting.

Answer 8

every little bit helps.

you use less gas you save money since you dont fill up as often. and by the time a true widely distributed emission free vehicle is produce it will be time for a new car.