 |
|
 
Hybrid: Get you motor runnin’
Hybrids have both an electric motor (powered by batteries) and a conventional internal combustion engine. The batteries help power the vehicle and are recharged by capturing energy during braking. Two of the most popular hybrids on the market are the Honda Civic hybrid and the Toyota Prius. (In fact, David Suzuki bought the first Prius available in Canada.) Hybrids are also available as SUVs and in mid-size cars. Since hybrids require less fuel to operate, they’re great for city driving. You may have already noticed more taxis and local courier companies using hybrids. Even the U.S. army is experimenting with the technology for its Humvees. Although hybrids don’t put an end to our dependence on gasoline, they do reduce it. The downside is that hybrids are still relatively pricey to purchase. A Prius, for example, starts at more than $30,000. Of course, increased consumer demand and more competition from other car manufacturers will likely mean lower prices and more choice in the near future. For more hybrid info: So what about strictly electric cars? Automobile manufacturers have experimented with electric cars for some time, but the road hasn’t been smooth. Electric vehicles often can’t be driven further than 200 kilometres on a single charge. Batteries must also be recharged, which can take up to eight hours each time, and they must be replaced after a few hundred charges. There are also environmental costs depending on how the electricity that powers the car is generated. But that’s not to say that electric cars have run out of juice. The New York Times recently reported that Mitsubishi is developing an electric car for sale in Japan by the end of the decade, and Subaru plans to test a prototype in early-2006. (Smaller electric vehicles such as scooters are also available and becoming increasingly popular.) For more electrifying info: Next>> Diesel: Dirty and efficient
|
|
What do Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Salma Hayek all have in common? Yes, they’re all beautiful and wealthy. And they all drive hybrid vehicles.
