August 30, 2023

Caroline Cronin 

8th Grade

Frost Middle School

The history of the hybrid car dates back to the 1900s, proving that we have been striving for healthier transportation options for over 100 years. The first hybrid car was made by Jacob Lohner and Ferdinand Porsche. Initially, Lohner decided that gas cars were loud and smelled bad. Around the same time, Porsche made an in-wheel motor, which was an electric motor that could fit inside the wheel of a car. Lohner then sought to combine his car with Porche's invention in order to make a hybrid. The car was named the “Lohner-Porsche Elektromobil” in honor of its makers. It was also the first car designed with four-wheel drive, as requested by the customer. However, it wasn’t until 2002, just over a century later, that hybrid cars gained recognition and that people started buying them. 

What sets hybrid cars apart from gasoline cars is the electric component. They have a gas engine, an electric motor, and a battery. These cars do not need to be charged. Rather, the hybrid car is designed so that the battery will be recharged by the brakes. This is convenient for people who don’t have access to charging stations close to where they live. The brakes on the car create electricity when it slows down, which is used to charge the battery. Another detail setting hybrid cars apart is that they capitalize on their dual-engine system to only use gas when necessary, thereby burning fewer fossil fuels. For example, the gas engine will be used if someone needs to drive up hills or go faster. However, if they are driving slower, the electric motor is used. This makes hybrid cars a more eco-friendly option than gas-powered cars. 

In addition to convenience, hybrid cars are also better for the environment than gas-powered cars since they have fewer emission gases, which reduces toxic air pollutants. With climate change heating our planet, harmful chemicals such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons are released into the air by gasoline-powered cars every day. These gases are released when their engines burn fuel to drive. Hybrid cars burn less fuel, thereby conserving resources and reducing toxic air pollutants. Hybrids also don’t require oil changes as often as gasoline cars, a factor that reduces the amount of discarded toxic substances. 

Despite their positive impact on the planet compared to gas-powered vehicles, with modern technologies constantly changing and upgrading, hybrid cars may be left in the shadow of competing all-electric cars. The greenest car of 2023 is the electric Mini Cooper SE Hardtop, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), as it causes 46% less damage to the environment. Electric cars use a battery pack to provide power, and regenerative braking helps generate more electricity, so electric cars don't release nearly as many greenhouse gases as gas or hybrid cars. 

It is important to note that while electric cars remain the most environmentally friendly vehicle option, there is still no car that operates without some risk to the environment. For example, though electric cars drive without burning fossil fuels, the charging stations used to power them often burn coal, which is bad for the atmosphere. Additionally, the raw materials found in the batteries of electric vehicles - like lithium - also have adverse effects on the environment. Regardless, several studies, namely one by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, have demonstrated that "the greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those of an average gasoline-powered vehicle." In other words, though it's crucial to recognize that there isn't a perfect solution to the environmental threats posed by vehicles, electric vehicles are currently the most environmentally friendly option on the market.  

Hybrid cars are better for the environment because they reduce the amount of air pollutants and have fewer emission gases. Therefore, while the most “green” car is electric, hybrids can be a good step toward owning an electric car in the future.