Hybrids… Now What?
Even with emission regulations and emission control technology we are still only somewhere from 10%-40% better off than in the 70’s when it comes to our emission levels, and our air quality has improved even less. The reason for this is clear… there are too many cars on the roads.
Since 1970 the US population has increased by only 40%, but vehicle mileage has increased by an astonishingly high 150%. There are over 200 million vehicles on US roads, more vehicles than adults, driven over 2 trillion miles annually, and worldwide, the number skyrockets to 700 million vehicles on the roads. If nothing is done about this there will be over 1 billion vehicles on world roads by 2025.
With the average single family household making 10 vehicles trips per day and less than 5% of the population using public transportation, health care costs annually reach over 60 billion dollars, due to transportation pollution. Driving a hybrid will definitely make a difference in emissions, but even hybrids come with their own downfalls.
By early 2008 there will be over 1 million hybrid vehicles on US roads. While these vehicles will be burning less petroleum they come with a new concern, Nickel Metal Hydride (NMH) batteries. Although they are not as damaging to the environment as conventional lead-acid batteries, they are not without their own risks.
Currently over 40,000 metric tons of lead enter landfills each year in the form of car batteries, and another 70,000 metric tons are produced by the mining and manufacturing process. The auto industry is responsible for over 1 million metric tons of lead annually, 90% of which goes to making lead-acid batteries. There are many serious health risks associated with lead, some examples of which are, brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment and learning problems in children.
Now enter NMH batteries, nickel mining is very dangerous, health effects range from eczema to bronchitis to cancer. Also NMH batteries are harder to recycle than lead acid batteries, making them a less than favorable long term choice. Scientists and automakers are now pursuing lithium-ion technologies.
California based ‘Paratransit’ a non profit transportation company, utilizes a lithium-ion PT cruiser. The cruiser is powered by a 600lb/320V/1500 cycle lithium-ion battery and achieves a range of approximately 150 miles. The vehicle uses no petroleum and fully recharges within 6 hours. Lithium is the least harmful to the environment and has become the battery of choice for the future.
With all the concerns still linked to hybrid vehicles it’s obvious that we need to explore other avenues. Rapid transit busses, naked streets, bicycle panning, congestion pricing and intermodal systems have worked wonders in Europe and Asia and go extremely far in reducing our carbon footprint and other ecological risks associated with transportation. Recycling car batteries is of the utmost importance; Toyota offers a 2004 rebate for the return of their NMH batteries, and both Honda and Toyota place decals with a toll fee number on their battery packs to make recycling easier for the consumer, and even stores like Wal Mart offer rebates on the return of lead acid batteries.
We are learning more ways to leave our planet greener than we found it, but we all need to do our part. So buy a hybrid but use public transportation or car pool whenever possible and remember, it’s the little things that make the biggest differences.
Since 1970 the US population has increased by only 40%, but vehicle mileage has increased by an astonishingly high 150%. There are over 200 million vehicles on US roads, more vehicles than adults, driven over 2 trillion miles annually, and worldwide, the number skyrockets to 700 million vehicles on the roads. If nothing is done about this there will be over 1 billion vehicles on world roads by 2025.
With the average single family household making 10 vehicles trips per day and less than 5% of the population using public transportation, health care costs annually reach over 60 billion dollars, due to transportation pollution. Driving a hybrid will definitely make a difference in emissions, but even hybrids come with their own downfalls.
By early 2008 there will be over 1 million hybrid vehicles on US roads. While these vehicles will be burning less petroleum they come with a new concern, Nickel Metal Hydride (NMH) batteries. Although they are not as damaging to the environment as conventional lead-acid batteries, they are not without their own risks.
Currently over 40,000 metric tons of lead enter landfills each year in the form of car batteries, and another 70,000 metric tons are produced by the mining and manufacturing process. The auto industry is responsible for over 1 million metric tons of lead annually, 90% of which goes to making lead-acid batteries. There are many serious health risks associated with lead, some examples of which are, brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment and learning problems in children.
Now enter NMH batteries, nickel mining is very dangerous, health effects range from eczema to bronchitis to cancer. Also NMH batteries are harder to recycle than lead acid batteries, making them a less than favorable long term choice. Scientists and automakers are now pursuing lithium-ion technologies.
California based ‘Paratransit’ a non profit transportation company, utilizes a lithium-ion PT cruiser. The cruiser is powered by a 600lb/320V/1500 cycle lithium-ion battery and achieves a range of approximately 150 miles. The vehicle uses no petroleum and fully recharges within 6 hours. Lithium is the least harmful to the environment and has become the battery of choice for the future.
With all the concerns still linked to hybrid vehicles it’s obvious that we need to explore other avenues. Rapid transit busses, naked streets, bicycle panning, congestion pricing and intermodal systems have worked wonders in Europe and Asia and go extremely far in reducing our carbon footprint and other ecological risks associated with transportation. Recycling car batteries is of the utmost importance; Toyota offers a 2004 rebate for the return of their NMH batteries, and both Honda and Toyota place decals with a toll fee number on their battery packs to make recycling easier for the consumer, and even stores like Wal Mart offer rebates on the return of lead acid batteries.
We are learning more ways to leave our planet greener than we found it, but we all need to do our part. So buy a hybrid but use public transportation or car pool whenever possible and remember, it’s the little things that make the biggest differences.
2006-2008 HybridTaxRebate.com