The 411 about hybrid-power, the true alternate energy concept.

Many people who are looking to save some gas and the environment, may be put off by the debate on which technology will be the best going forward. First, we can stop waiting for the oil companies to decide what cars we will have. The buyer should make that decision based on facts. There is a reason why hydrogen fuel cells are called the technology of the future. No matter what happens, hydrogen will always be so prohibitive, that it may never be viable. Years from now, hydrogen fuel will still be for the cars of the future. That is just fine for the petroleum industry, as they hang on to an old, dying business plan.

The conventional wisdom of the 1950's was that by the year 2000 we would be zipping around in flying cars, controlled by computers. Of course we don't hear much about flying cars anymore because after numerous prototypes, they discovered the sensory processing and motor reaction speed that comes naturally in humans is incredibly difficult to replicate with a sensors and computers. Today all we really have to show for the billions spent on this pipe dream is the fly-by-wire aircraft, which operate at great expense with dubious reliability and still can't land or take off without human input. Pretty lame!

So now we have the issue of Hydrogen fuel electric as a alternative to the petroleum fueled internal combustion engine. President Bush is all for this idea and so are the US auto makers. Yet the Hybrid cars that are available right now are completely ignored by these same entities. Fortunately some in the press see the potential. The Toyota Prius has garnered many accolades, but the US government is strangely silent on them. Aside for an obscure tax break for the purchase of a high gas mileage vehicle, we hear very little promoting of hybrids from the establishment. Maybe they want to focus on the future that they, the rich and powerful want, not what the common people need and deserve.

Then there is E-85 Ethanol. The fuel that is made from corn is more expensive than gasoline and gets significantly less miles per gallon. The corn needs fertilizer, which comes from petroleum. The corn must be boiled and fermented using even more petroleum and produces greenhouse gases. The net gain is negligible, except for the rich agribusiness moguls that are behind all this. For sure corn prices will increase and as a result all the livestock that feeds on corn will also cost more as well.

The rich see no need for economy cars and in fact fear them because of the financial losses that will be incurred if gas sales drop in any meaningful way. There is really no incentive for the big US manufacturers with ties to big oil, to make hybrids. They don't care that regular citizens may not be able to manage dispensing and storing a dangerous gas like hydrogen. There is no infrastructure to support hydrogen cars, unlike hybrids which are currently in use. I still see people smoking while pumping gas, and I wonder how these individuals would fair around hydrogen fuel. I'm sorry, but when someone starts talking about hydrogen cars, I can't get the images of the Hindenberg out of my head. Oh the humanity!

If history tells us anything, it is that the rich and powerful are often blind sided by reality. Take the introduction of compact cars in the US, after WWII. Once American servicemen saw these state of the art, quality made cars from Europe, they were hooked. The US government and industry did everything to sandbag these great cars here with ridiculous safety standards and actually prohibited the sale of certain compacts. The American people, true to form, revolted by going abroad to buy them and shipping them back. Instead of trying to compete fairly, US automakers decided to use monopolistic tactics to suppress the competition. With weak competition, American car designs continued to be as decadent and arrogant as the bosses of the big three. The quality remained adequate at best and in many cases American cars were inferior to those made in Europe and then later, Asia. This reflected the requirements of those rich executives. The cars were big and powerful with no concern for fuel economy or reliability. These rich guys got a new car every year anyway, what did they care if the cars rusted out before the payments were finished.

The average American was abandoned by Detroit, so he reluctantly turned to the foreign market for relief, very sad! As an American answer to the VW Beetle, the pathetic Corvair is representative of the consequence of poor competition in the early 60's. The Corvair was what GM expected the long-suffering American working man to depend on for transportation. Unstable, unreliable, under-powered and ugly is what he got for his trouble! This was the beginning of the demise of the US as the leading manufacturer of cars in the world. That's what happens when you forget the common worker, the most loyal and dependable of customers. He is not fickle or overly demanding like the luxury car buyer and there are millions of these good souls out there. What's not to like?

Americans are doing it again, voting with their dollars and feel the joy of freedom every time they pass a gas station. Meanwhile, the lumbering Ford and GM are still behind the curve, trying to get in the race while they are being lapped by Toyota and Honda. For those of you who are curious, but still confused about the technology, take heart, for you are not to blame. The media and government have so muddled the explanation with the usual uninformed claptrap, many are left bewildered. Just look at how 60% of Americans think Iraq was responsible for 9/11. They are sandbagging the foreign competition, just like before. Ironically just like before, they will have to reap the sad harvest of what they have sown.

The latest misinformation to be pushed out into the either of a 24-7 news cycle is that there is a shock hazard from the batteries in hybrids. This stems from some isolated cases of rescue workers being shocked while working to free accident victims from hybrids, due to lack of proper training. First of all, the hydrogen vehicle will also be electric drive, so no gain there. Secondly, if you look at the statistical data, emergency workers are more endangered by distracted drivers ignoring warning lights and sirens. I don't hear the hybrid bashers advocating a ban of mobile phones or AV equipment.

Toyota Prius

Here's the bottom line. If you want to save fuel right now, you can't beat the hybrid technology and quality of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. The second best alternatives are the clean burn diesel systems, like those offered by Volkswagen. Both of these choices employ complicated technologies, but don't let that discourage you. Any car you buy today will also have complicated technology, and it will continue as such going forward into the future. That is why cutting edge design, quality and good factory service are more important than ever.

Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen are always as good as advertised. Just remember that whenever you buy a quality product, the decision is tough because your initial cost will be more. But that decision will get easier to live with, the longer you have that quality product.

Or, you can wait until Ford and GM gets around to you, but don't hold your breath, they're too busy defending themselves against SUV lawsuits. The Professor

Honda Civic Hybrid

Master Mechanic available for inspection and appraisals.