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| Cool | 79% | 282 votes | Total: 357 votes | |
| Uncool | 21% | 75 votes |
Cool
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Add to FavoritesHybrid cars definitely have an associated cool factor, some of which is derived from being environmentally friendly and some of which is derived from being able to put down the extra money it costs to buy a hybrid car.
It is definitely true that hybrid cars are not made to go fast or be fun, and they are not the most comfortable nor the most luxurious. However, there are many hybrid cars available that are shockingly practical. Take, for example, the Lexus LS460h, which is a wonderful car (at least... until you actually have to write out a check for more than most households make in a year). This is an ultra-luxury sedan, and no expense is spared. You get tons of legroom, wonderful features, wonderful ride quality, low noise, and performance comparable to that of a non-hybrid sedan in the same category.
The truth is, though, that most people will not be buying a car, hybrid or otherwise, that costs over $100,000. The more common hybrids are the Prius (of course) and the Honda Civic hybrid. These are both cars that mix hybrid fuel efficiency with a relatively low acquisition cost. So before we begin to talk about these cars, let's get a few things straight. If you wanted a big car to carry around 4 kids and the family dog, you'd buy an SUV that you'd spend $100 a week to fill up. The Prius isn't a big car by any definition, and the Civic Hybrid is the same size as a regular Civic (which is still rather small).
The cool factor, then, doesn't come from grace. With 0 to 60 times over 10 seconds common among hybrids, you're also not going anywhere fast, so don't plan on beating a Ferrari from the stoplight. But at the same time, you do get a car that consistently manages over 40 miles to the gallon and has various luxury options like keyless ignition and satellite navigation. The cool factor here comes from being willing to spend an extra $5000 for a car that's going to save the environment. A comparable car would probably get about two-thirds of the fuel efficiency, which means your $45 a week for gas in your Corolla is now $30 a week for your Prius. With that savings, it's going to take you almost six and a half years to save back your extra initial investment, which means you're really not saving much by buying such a fuel efficient car. What you do save, though, is the environment, and that is definitely cool. Also cool is looking at the dashboard screen and seeing where your car's power is coming from. Also cool is checking out how the regenerative braking recaptures energy from the car and transfers it into battery power.
Hybrids, then, are not fast, graceful, or particularly fun. But cool, hip, and in style? Definitely.
Learn more about this author, Sanjit Datta.
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Uncool
The idea of having a green car, or green anything for that matter, is very cool. I personally find hybrid cars themselves to be very uncool for several reasons. It certainly seems like hybrid vehicles tend to be driven far more often by elitist snobs than are other types of green vehicles. Let me examine just a few observations about Hybrid vehicles that help form my opinion that hybrid vehicles are in fact very uncool.
Hybrid cars do get great mileage, but they cost a lot more to purchase than more conventional vehicles that are also fuel saving and green. Added to the cost of the high sticker price is the fact that hybrid cars have battery banks that need replacing in about 6 years at a cost which would be similar to having a major transmission overhaul done on your conventional vehicle's automatic transmission. Not only to you have the expense of trading out those toxic batteries, you then add to the toxic pollution problems this planet has with heavy metals and other caustic chemicals when disposal of the old batteries takes place. It seems hybrid cars may be only light green if really green at all.
Why is it that a hybrid car also has to be an ugly car? I do not understand why the designers do not at least try to make hybrids look at least a little more cool. I would venture to say at least some people stay away from the hybrid vehicles due to the fact they sort of look like socks on a rooster. The rear tires tend to track narrow compared to the front tires and didn't fender skirts go out in the 1940's? I am sure some needed design tweaks would make them at least appear a little more cool. Look at the Volkswagen New Beetle for example. It is very green with the TDI engine which can run on recycled vegetable oil and gets 46 miles per gallon around town and around 52 on longer trips. The Beetle is very cool looking and is really green in function. When you add the fact the TDI Beetle requires no batteries except the standard starting battery all vehicles require and the need for very little maintenance service, it really seems the traditional Volkswagen is much more cool than the hybrid vehicles are.
True, the experts say the battery replacements will get cheaper when more people use hybrid vehicles. However, what is the incentive for more people to spend lots of extra money purchasing a hybrid when a VW Beetle is far cheaper and gets as good or better mileage? What about the acceleration issue? Hybrid vehicle acceleration is anemic when compared to the acceleration of a VW with a TDI motor and producing the same fuel economy. In my opinion, hybrid cars are at the moment definitely uncool and conventional fuel saving vehicles are very cool.
Learn more about this author, Calvin Robinson.
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