Effect of Hybrid Cars on Conservation Efforts

Many people purchase hybrid vehicles under the impression that hybrids help to save the environment. Hybrid vehicles offer an alternative to burning only fossil fuels, but their effects on the environment are still being studied.

Identification

According to the Green Home Effect, hybrid cars use the combination of a combustion engine that burns fuel and an electric engine that does not burn gasoline to operate. This decreases the amount of fossil fuel being burned and helps on energy conservation.

Features

The Green Home Effect states that the braking system in a hybrid car is designed to help release the energy generated during braking into the car's batteries. This can help conserve the amount of electricity required to run the vehicle.

Significance

According to the Registry of Natural Habitats, a hybrid car capable of 45 miles per gallon in efficiency can potentially conserve over 1,300 gallons of gasoline during the course of a 5-year car loan.

Considerations

According to Science Daily, if the current purchasing trend continues with hybrid vehicles, then by 2030 the number of hybrid vehicles needing to be electrically re-charged could cause a critical need for new power plants to be built in the United States if everyone plugged their vehicle in for charging at 5:00 p.m.

Theories/Speculation

Science Daily estimates that there would be no need for additional power plants in the United States if all hybrid car owners charged their vehicles after 10:00 p.m.