Going green or not?

Hybrid cars - Spinning the weave of green

Like weaving a dream of green and blue, hybrids have pledged towards a clean, sustainable future. Certainly we know that these dreams are coming true, considering the vast number of hybrids we see on our roads today.

Hybrids exude a certain air - one that conventional petrol (or more recently, diesel) cars find it hard to match up to. Do not mistake this as another 'badge display' exercise - the blue emblems do more than mere show off.

Putting things into perspective, when was the last time you envied the guy next door having a more technologically advanced gadget? Recall an encounter that puts you in green (with envy).

Hybrid cars do the same. Think along the line of brake energy regeneration, and the ability to run on invisible subatomic charges. You won't get to do that in conventional cars.

On the hindsight, you have to admit that all the eco stuffs are turning up the heat in the automobile industry (pardon the pun). And they look cool too. More often than not, hybrids feature a slew of energy saving measures. Ditching halogen bulbs, they take on LED lamps. And LEDs are cool.

Hybrids also have eerily quiet start ups - not that you need one - but it begins the journey in a more pleasant, leisurely manner, akin to a good breakfast at a quiet little corner before the morning rush.

And of course, the amazement in the passengers' eyes comes to play: staring in disbelief that the car is already up and running and doing without the usual mechanical churns. They speak a thousand words without the slightest murmur. Priceless.

At the end of the day, some of us want a cool car, or be seen in one. Some of us prefer a quiet, subtle look. Others - cars that live up to their motto. There is, then, seemingly an area where these characteristics converge - hybrid.
Hybrid cars - Saving money, saving Gaia

Not too long ago, we started seeing more and more hybrid cars on our sunny island. These cars, like all others, do have their supporters as well as their opposers.

Well, I don't see why people should dislike hybrid cars. Keeping the Earth clean and green is of utmost importance. I mean, isn't saving Gaia everyone's responsibility?

So what's the deal about these green cars?

Hybrid cars are well known for their fuel efficiency. Take the youngest member of Toyota's hybrid family, the Prius C, for example. I was able to achieve 22km/L with that heavy foot of mine.

Alright, perhaps that figure doesn't sound convincing enough. Let's talk about its older sibling then - the Prius - and compare it with a similar car in its class, the Mazda 3 hatchback. With an average fuel economy level of 25.6km/L, (mind you, that figure is totally achievable) as compared to the Mazda's 12.3km/L, would you need to frequent the pumps that often?

And did you know that the regenerative braking technology that a hybrid car uses to recoup energy during braking actually means that the normal brake pads will last longer, which cuts down on the consumption of another disposable part used in conventional cars?

Also, hybrid cars emit less ground-level air pollution than other cars, including 29 percent less of the harmful nitrogen oxide. Even if there are some very efficient conventional cars that can achieve 'hybrid-style' mileage, only hybrid cars can help maintain healthier air.

More notably, with the new Carbon Emissions Vehicle Scheme in place, hybrid cars are entitled to great rebates as they emit lesser carbon in general. Like the cars you see here, both the Prius and Prius C are entitled to a $20,000 rebate while the Camry Hybrid is entitled to a $15,000 rebate.

Based on our urban landscape and the infamous traffic conditions, driving a hybrid car is definitely the way to go.

The list of advantages may just go on and on and on. But I'll just stop here or I wouldn't be helping to save Gaia any longer.


Hybrid cars - Half breed is always half good

What is a hybrid car? What is a gasoline engine? What is an electric motor? The first would probably be described as a car that basically consists of a gasoline engine with an electric motor, and each of which can propel the car. The second as a car that has an internal combustion engine that burns gasoline, and the third is simply a motor that converts electricity to mechanical work.

But not to me. If you were to ask me these questions, I'll tell you hybrid is a waste of time. It's a half breed machine. Let's put it this way - if you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing fans, cars, branding and maybe even your mind. It could mean even mean mockery.

But there is no other feeling quite like going the full length. That's when the car will ride its life straight to perfection. Hybrid cars aren't meant for everyone because they're just unsuitable for some people.

Let's be honest here. Even though hybrid cars have been on the market since the 90s, you can't swing an arm without striking the Prius, the Prius C or even the Camry Hybrid these days. I mean there are countless reasons for wanting a hybrid - saving the environment, making fewer stops at the petrol station, feeling good about your green self... But if they are really that good, how come hybrid cars haven't overtaken the automotive market yet?

There was a time when a hybrid car may have sounded like a great idea. But that was the past. I mean why on earth would I get a Camry Hybrid for $200,988 when I can get a 2.5-litre Camry for $186,988? And how long is it going to take before the hybrid car makes up for the price difference of petrol when compared to a gasoline engine car?

What's there to say about hybrid cars? The extra power you get? Being a responsible driver? Cool blue and green badges? When you get a hybrid car (and that's a big fat when), rest assured that your friends and complete strangers will ask you, "Has the car started?" What they are really asking is what kind of car is this?

Even if you're driving a continental hybrid for that matter, people are going to want to know if there's any logical reason for getting a hybrid. Why? Because that's just the way people are.

So do I hate hybrids? I don't. I just feel better when they're not around.