HACKING THE HYBRID VEHICLE

Yet another answer to the high gas prices is the hybrid car (ex: CalCars, EDrive); an automobile that can alternate between battery charged-electricity and fuel. The creation of an alternate plug-in vehicle is not new news, as it was created and rejected by consumers in the past. As mentioned with the high gas prices, hybrid technology is stepping up to the market plate with confidence that their products will hit home with consumers. The production of new hybrid prototypes will be created within the next year! The future for these batteries does not look very bright, however, due to the risk involved with selling them and the lack of interest in a new way of replenishing the fuel for a car.

One reason why hybrid cars won’t take off in the marketplace is because distributors will not trust the potential for an already failed experiment. Even though gas prices are high, financiers will always keep in mind that consumers are usually very stubborn in changing to a new device. Prices are bad for gas, but not bad enough to hinder drivers from changing their views on transportation and riding a bike or taking the bus for work; the number of “on-the-road” drivers has almost been unaffected by the increase in gas! The testing for the vehicles have made the experts a tad sketchy with the practicality of the vehicles as well. Perry Carter, an associate professor at BYU who witnessed the tests, explains the impracticality of the battery type for the hybrid (the ultracapictor), “the drag racer used $22,000 worth of ultra capacitors for a 14-second run on a track." Apparently, the hybrid will save customers money but only under certain conditions concerning the endurance of the trip and the speed desired. Consistent, simple car drives with the hybrid will save money with customers who had used gasoline, but other driving scenarios may change the price comparison.

Not only do hybrid batteries have a bad reputation for failing in the market, but people seem to prefer burning fuel over recharging fuel; the idea of recharging a car battery every night does not sound appealing to a lot of customers. As lazy as it sounds, the use of ultracapacitors seems like too much of a mental hassle for the typical customer. In my opinion, this battery reminds me of some of the wind-up cars that motorists would have to use. Even if batteries become popular, they might become a small fad to that of 3-D glasses and people will move onto a cheaper fuel-type (whenever that comes around). Once more efficient, aesthetic, fuels are developed and marketed, people will return to a more familiar engine-charging type.

Although the hybrid car seems dissatisfying to potential consumers and financiers, I do believe that the hybrid battery does have a promising life with truckers (18-wheelers and cross-country shipping vehicles). These motorists do not have much time for pleasure cruising, and the battery suits their automobile needs: they’ll be driving for weeks and then take long breaks (a good schedule for a 5-week, rechargeable, battery). This will also benefit the truckers financially (whether or not the cash for gas comes directly from their paychecks), because they will not have to rely on the VERY expensive diesel fuel at the gas station.