Hybrid Electric Vehicles By Sara Dahill-Brown, Alicia Dooley, Eve Gaus, Nathaniel Hill, Nick Kaloudis and Kjell Von Snierden

The Problem  Transportation consumes 20% of US energy and 20% of US CO2 emissions  Not sustainable for the next 50 years  “I feel more confident than ever that the power to save the planet rests with the individual consumer.”- Denis Hayes  Consumers can have a positive impact on the environment

The Solution  HEVs and Fuel cell technology are currently the leading solutions compatible to sustainable development  Both have advantages and disadvantages  Barriers to fuel cell economy  Advantages to HEVs over current Internal Combustion engines  The current disadvantages to HEVs

Fuel Cell Technology  Potential solutions to both HEV and Fuel Cell Technology  HEVs, for now, seem to be the the more applicable answer  Many barriers to overcome with fuel cell technology

Barriers to fuel cell technology  Availability  Production, especially in the short run  Reduction of harmful emissions?  Expensive  Infrastructure problems

Advantages of HEVs  Use less oil than ICE  Emit less CO2 than ICE  Fuel efficiency increased  Honda Insight- 700 mi/tank  Toyota Prius- 500 mi/tank  Honda Civic Hybrid- 650 mi/tank

More Advantages  Less overall mass  Regenerative braking  Battery level efficiency  Tax incentives com/how-hybrids- work.html com/how-hybrids- work.html com/how-hybrids- work.html com/how-hybrids- work.html

Fuel (estimate d per year) Vehicle emissions (estimated per year in pounds) Consumpti on Carbon dioxide Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Hydro carbons 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (47.7 mpg, SULEV) 12,500 miles/yr 263Gal 5,089 lb 79.9 lb 0.8 lb 2003 Honda Civic (33.8 mpg, ULEV) 12,500 miles/yr 370 Gal 7,176 lb 135 lb 7.4 lb 3 lb HEV info.

Energy Loss

Disadvantages to HEVs  Maintenance  Towing capacity

Currently…  Ford – Escape Hybrid – SUV – 35mpg – price unannounced  sp?bhcp=1 sp?bhcp=1 sp?bhcp=1  Toyota – Prius – $20,810 – 55mpg  Honda – Civic Hybrid – $19,650 and 45 mpg  ModelName=Civic+Hybrid&bhcp=1 ModelName=Civic+Hybrid&bhcp=1 ModelName=Civic+Hybrid&bhcp=1  Insight Hybrid – $19,180 – 65 mpg  ModelName=Insight ModelName=Insight ModelName=Insight

In the next 5 years…  Growing demand  Greater market  Car companies will respond  More variety

Conclusion  Air pollution is a serious concern  Fallbacks to Fuel Cell economy  In the short run HEVs seem to be a viable alternative