Everything you wanted to know about hybrid vehicles.
Are hybrids better for the environment?
While hybrids may not single-handedly stop the ice caps from melting,
scientists suspect excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is a contributor to
global warming. Where does most CO2 come from? Burning fossil fuels,
like gasoline. Because of the decreased amount of fuel burned in a
hybrid, CO2 emission is cut, meaning it generally contributes to
climate change a bit less than its gas-powered counterpart. End of
story? Not quite.
Some experts argue that due to extra components
(electric motor, batteries, etc), the entire lifecycle of a hybrid may
pollute just as much as a conventional gas machine. Building batteries
tends to be a toxic and energy-consuming process, shipping batteries
also takes energy—more so than for a vehicle not equipped with one—as
does recycling the batteries at the end of their lives. Which is
better? That’s up to you.
Pictured: 2010 Lexus HS 250h
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