Source : http://www.thesundaily.com
Why I won’t get a hybrid car
Columnists :: Oon Time By Oon Yeoh
WE’VE all heard of hybrid cars. They are supposed to be ecologically friendly, producing far less emissions than normal cars. They are also supposed to help you save on petrol. So, why don’t we see more hybrid cars on the road?
In a word: Price. Hybrid cars are expensive. OK, so they don’t cost as much as a sports car but they are by no means cheap, though they should be.
And the choice is limited in Malaysia. Basically, if you want one it’s either a Honda Civic Hybrid or a Toyota Prius. I’ve been inside both and they are marvels of technology. As a tech-centric guy, I love the idea of driving a hybrid. But I won’t be getting one because they are still too costly.
If the government really wants to be environmentally friendly and to reduce people’s dependence on petrol (and thus not have to spend so much on subsidies) there are a number of things it can do. But before we get into that, let me explain what a hybrid car is.
The typical car that you and I drive is powered by petrol. The engine turns a transmission which turns the wheels. A fully electric car has batteries that power an electric motor which turns a transmission which turns the wheels.
The petrol-electric car is a hybrid of the two. There are two types of hybrids: Parallel and series.
The parallel hybrid involves both a fuel tank (to supply the petrol to the engine) and batteries (to supply electricity to the motor). Both the engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission at the same time, which then turns the wheels.
In a series hybrid (which is less common) the petrol engine turns a generator which charges the batteries. These batteries then power an electric motor that drives the transmission.
Both the Civic Hybrid and the Prius use a form of the parallel hybrid system although they are different in terms of complexity.
Let’s start with the Civic Hybrid, which uses what is commonly referred to as a "mild" hybrid system that involves only a modest degree of hybrid technology. They are sometimes called "power assist" hybrids because the engine is still the primary source of power. Propulsion cannot be accomplished on electric power alone.
The Prius uses a full hybrid system which is sometimes referred to as a "strong" hybrid. As its name implies, it can be powered by just the petrol engine, just the electric motor, or a combination of both. Not surprisingly, high-capacity batteries are needed for this system. The vehicles also need to have a power split device that toggles between mechanical and electrical power.
Whether you choose a Civic Hybrid or a Prius, you will get lower emission and fuel savings. There’s no doubt about that. But both cars are well over RM100,000. To be more precise, the former is slightly under RM130,000 while the latter is slightly under RM180,000.
Cost is a major barrier to adoption. If the government is serious about encouraging hybrids, it should exempt excise duties for all hybrid cars. That would encourage other brands to bring in hybrids. Competition will drive prices down even further.
Another thing the government could do, especially in the beginning to encourage uptake, is to impose a lower road tax. It can also allocate special parking spaces in cities for hybrids.
There are numerous incentives the government could do if it wanted to encourage hybrids. But until it does so, hybrids are going to be a rarity when they should be common place. Imagine if Malaysia had the highest number of green cars per capita in the world. Now that’s a No. 1 spot worth having.
Oon Yeoh is a new media consultant. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
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