The Popularity of Hybrid Cars

Knowing why hybrid cars have become popular might not be easy for many people. For a long time, the price of gas remained low, the consequences of pollution were barely visible, and there were not enough technologies developed that could help reduce the effects of pollution. And, thus, green cars were not considered important. However, many problems related with environment, health, and limited resources appeared and they asked for efficient solutions. In this new scenario, hybrid cars have turned into a “hot” subject discussed by the media and governments. According to Patty Adams (May2007), the combination of an internal combustion engine with an electric-powered battery emanates less damaging gases that hold heat in the air than a traditional car. As a result, different concepts of hybrid cars have been developed and their use become increasingly common among the population, mainly because of the growing concern of the environmental, scarce of fossil fuels, and technological innovations and governmental stimulus.

People have become more aware about the pollution’s serious effects over their health and habitat. Youths are the most concerned individuals, mainly students who have a lot of energy and want to fight for some polemic question. This group is often seen involved in protests because they want a future better, and are not afraid to achieve their goals; the result is that they have been successful changing people’s mind in many aspects. Along youths, there are many other people interested in this issue, such as pacifists, revolutionaries, poor, riches, victims, and people who believe in a World better to live, and create their children. This increasing awareness has been the cause of many changes, including what people drive.  For instance, hybrid car has been an alternative to retrace the global warming since it uses clean energy instead of fossil fuels, one of the main responsible for this phenomenon. Moreover, through green vehicle people have the possibility of driving alone in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and, consequently, can avoid traffic jams, and go faster. According to the Journal of Environmental Planning & Management (Jan.2009), this is the main reason that people in California have replaced their traditional cars by hybrid ones. The rotation of vehicles and the use of collective means of transportation also have grown, mainly in the biggest cities. Indeed, people are more concerned with their present and future, and they have shown this feeling through proactive attitudes. These individuals are the consumers who seek to contribute to environmental causes by driving a less pollution car, as the hybrid one. They hope that they will get advantage for themselves if they do so.  

Also, the idea of finite oil reserves has influenced the way that people live. Nowadays, rising oil and gasoline prices are causing concern to many people. Although the price of fuel is a big issue, having a car is too useful and people are not willing to give them up. Therefore, some alternatives need to be taken if people want to keep this convenience. Hybrid car combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion one. Besides saving fossil fuel, electric energy is cheaper. According to US Department of Energy, while a gasoline vehicle spends 15.9 cents per mile (considering that gasoline costs $3.50 per gallon), a hybrid car spends 7.8. Therefore, hybrid car has been more advantageous, and it is changing the way that people deal with this technology. First, because hybrid car can replace fossil fuel by electric energy and users can save money.  Second, because electric energy can be obtained even in home, so charging the vehicle becomes much easier and comfortable.

Another point about fuel is that other problems can appear if we consider a pessimistic point of view. In the future, the excessive use of electric energy should increase its price, exactly as happened with the gasoline. As a result, this type of fuel would not be the ideal source anymore and a new solution should be figure out. This possibility is not a reality yet but can happen soon. While this scenario does not arrive and new technologies are not developed in order to face that problem, hybrid cars will remain in the market.   

On the other hand, some people are just “going green to be seen”. In other words, there is a social influence that wants to project a “green” image. Griskevicius analyzed how status influences desire for green products (2010). According to his studies, these individuals want to show to others that they care and make a statement about themselves. This way, they feel more important. Thus, many times the acquisition of hybrid automobile has been driven by social pressure and popularity. Whatever the reason, these people have been influenced to buy an environmentally friendly vehicle, and at the same time they are consuming less gasoline and produces lower emissions. Anyway they are indirectly helping the environment and this is a positive fact.

Finally, nowadays it is easier to buy a green car than the time it was launched because its offers increased and its prices fell. This happened due two main reasons. The first one is associated with a boost of investments in tech and research by public and private initiatives. Therefore, technology has become cheaper. The second one is related with the incentives by governments. Since the Kyoto Protocol was established, the major capitalist countries such as United States, Germany, China and Japan need to control the levels of toxic gases thrown into atmosphere. If they do not respect this rule, they can be punished severely. In order to encourage people to get green cars and companies to invest more and more in this kind of technology, some governments are reducing taxes, and facilitating the access to green cars through lower prices and other benefits.

In conclusion, many reasons have promoted the diffusion of eco-friendly vehicles. This new generation of cars is already a trend that has granted many benefits for the whole society. Their popularity is mainly due the necessity to reduce the global warming’s effects. Some people are proactive and feel the obligation to do something in order to contribute to combat this issue. Others are not concerned or even do not have enough acknowledgment. The question is: have hybrid cars already achieved their goal? Also, when will people realize the changes that hybrid cars have caused? What do they hope? They want results and good changes are stimulants that need to be seen. Over there, hybrid cars will be an uncertain bet. Nevertheless, there was a boom in their popularity and they can be found in everywhere nowadays.

Moreover, if car makers invested more in sustainable products, new technologies could be developed and, as consequence, the price of hybrid cars would decrease. So, more people would be able to buy one. If more and more people embraced this smart idea, it would produce good effects to the Earth soon. Children who are born in this scenario and have already grown up conscience about global warming would not pollute anymore. Consequently, this would decrease the healthing problems related with some toxic agents, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Also, Kyoto Protocol would not be a break to big industries from more polluter countries what not necessarily can be defined as a good thing. Therefore, in some points the reduction of regular car in the streets has also not so good results.