The production of hybrid batteries, in particular, requires much more energy than producing a standard car battery and results in higher emission levels of gases like sulfur oxide [source: Burnham et al ]. But do the environmental impacts of hybrid vehicle production outweigh the long-term benefits of driving a cleaner running automobile?
That answer is a resounding "no. Keep reading as we break down the statistics for both hybrid production emissions and hybrid driving emissions and learn what "green" really means. Building a hybrid car is almost exactly the same as building a conventional car, requiring high-tech and highly automated assembly lines.
This type of manufacturing process requires tremendous inputs of energy, particularly the forging of materials like steel, aluminum , glass and plastic. Interestingly, lightweight vehicles can sometimes be more energy-intensive to build than heavier cars because lighter metals like aluminum are harder to forge than stainless steel [source: Moon ].
Experts estimate that 10 to 20 percent of a vehicle's total lifetime greenhouse gas emissions are released during the manufacturing stage alone [source: California Energy Commission ]. Toyota admits that the production of its lightweight Prius requires more energy and emits more carbon dioxide than the production of its gas-only models [source: Williams ].
The major reason is because hybrids like the Prius include more advanced components than a conventional car, including a second electric motor and heavy battery packs. Batteries are an essential component of hybrids. Regenerative braking lets hybrids generate and store their own energy to power the vehicle at low speeds and while idling.
Unfortunately, both nickel-hydride batteries and the newer lithium-ion batteries rely on the mining of nickel, copper and so-called rare earth metals. The production of lithium-ion batteries account for 2 to 5 percent of total lifetime hybrid emissions and nickel-hydride batteries are responsible for higher sulfur oxide emissions, roughly 22 pounds 10 kilograms per hybrid compared with 2. There are additional environmental concerns related to those rare earth metals, like those used in the magnets of hybrid batteries.
In recent years, rare earth metals like lithium have been imported almost exclusively from China, which was able to lower its prices enough to monopolize the industry [source: Strickland ]. One of the reasons China could sell lithium so cheaply was because it widely ignored environmental safeguards during the mining process. In the Bayan Obo region of China, for example, miners removed topsoil and extracted the gold-flecked metals using acids that entered the groundwater, destroying nearby agricultural land.
Even the normally tight-lipped Chinese government admitted that rare earth mining has been abused in some places. But what about hybrid cars, where do we stand on those?
For us, any technology that actively reduces the amount of carbon created can only be a good thing. This entirely depends on how your drive your hybrid car and where you source the electricity you need to charge the battery with plug-in hybrids. Typically, the electric motor is used for slow-speed or urban driving which can help to reduce inner-city pollution.
In fact, this is one of the key areas where hybrid cars thrive and the reasons are pretty obvious:. Standard hybrids have a very small battery by car standards which is charged when braking, and and therefore a shorter range and therefore tends to work in conjunction with the petrol engine. A benefit of this is that the battery can be replenished by driving, rather than needing to be plugged in.
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles PHEV — This is a vehicle that may be plugged in, and has a small battery and a large fuel tank albeit with a slightly larger battery, and therefore longer electric range than a standard hybrid. These typically have a range than their traditional hybrid counterparts. If you know detailed information about hybrid cars and their benefits for the environment, then you know that it can make a big impact.
There are many environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles, below are just 4 of the benefits. There is a big role for hybrid cars to reduce harmful pollutants and toxins. You just need to ensure that you have the right information on hybrid cars before buying one.
This is a great and efficient way to help reduce global warming. If you are looking for trustworthy vehicle repair services for your hybrid vehicle, stop by ADS today for an inspection.
He says he expects the range and performance will continue to improve, making them an "essential stepping stone to a fully electric vehicle". Greenpeace meanwhile describes PHEVs as "the car industry's wolf in sheep's clothing". Transport and Environment's analysis says a key problem with plug-in hybrids is that so many owners rarely actually charge their cars, meaning they rely on the petrol or diesel engine.
The latter mode means that the car's emissions will depend a lot on the driver's behaviour. Follow Justin on Twitter. Image source, Getty Images. A really simple guide to climate change The five major challenges facing electric vehicles How will the petrol and diesel car ban work?
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