We all know someone with a Prius, who like to brag about how they can use the HOV-lane on the freeway in rush hour and how they get 40 MILES TO THE GALLON!!! We all know about Leonardo smugly showing the world that he cares, and we all know that there was a waiting list for Priuses for quite a while. Yup. We’ve even rolled our eyes at the bumper sticker on the back of one that says “ My car starves terrorists. WHAT DOES YOURS DO?”
1. Yes, they are lower on their emissions, and yes 40 to 60mpg is quite good.
2. They use electric batteries that power electric motors. The engine (a combustion engine like in a regular car) generates electricity to charge the battery when you accelerate too fast, but if you’re going slow no gas is being used.
3. Contrary to common perception (started by a rumour from.. well those who have a lot to lose from less gas consumption), they do handle just as well as a gas-powered car (*ahem* EXXON) AND they won’t have you stranded on the highway, unless you ran out of charge AND gas, in which case, it’ll happen just as easy in a regular car, and it’s less about the car and more about you paying attention.
4. The controversy: The mining of the materials in the batteries is extremely damaging to the environment, and the substances used to power the batteries are extremely poisonous to people, animals and nature.
Sure, they may save you a juuuuust noticeable amount in your account from gas, but being very pricey and toxic to the environment, you may want to wait a few years until technology and the infrastructure allows for fully electric cars to be more easily purchased and used. Otherwise, buy one, be a smug Prius owner and go get yourself a Co-exist bumper sticker or the one that says “ Chicks dig a man with a big Prius” to slap on the back of it, but, make yourself feel even better by making sure that when it is time for little ole Betsy to kick the bucket, that it is a hazardous waste bucket and disposed of in an eco-friendly way.
-Alexandra Bwye-
For Co-Opera
Sources:
1. http://www.automotoportal.com/article/all-you-need-to-know-about-hybrid-cars
2. http://www.driversense.com/driversense/column/369
3. Uliano, Sophie. Gorgeously Green. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2008
4. Krupp, Fred. Earth: The Sequel. New York, NY: Norton & Co, 2009
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