Fuel For Thought

A recent New York Times article alleging that automakers may have an ulterior agenda regarding the use of hybrid technologies might just be considered a case of letting the cat out of the bag. To call the recent flurry of hybrid technology controversial is probably overdoing it, but many industry experts have done a good job debunking the myth that this is the one thing that will absolutely change the world as we know it, as a few manufacturers would like us to believe.

As optimistic as I would like to remain, hybrid cars are simply not going to completely curb US dependence on foreign oil and in turn remove us from all future international conflicts, reverse the output of noxious gas and carbon dioxide stemming both ozone depletion and global warming, or provide additional jobs and tax breaks to North Americans and create a happy-go-lucky partnership with foreign and domestic automakers alike.

We have clearly seen that, yes, hybrids do offer better fuel efficiency than their non-electric counterparts (in varying degrees from just barley to significantly), and no, they don't get the stratospheric mileages the EPA suggests. They definitely do cost more, and whether or not savings in fuel justifies the additional cost is still debatable.

Now, however, there's a new wrinkle in the situation. It has been suggested that manufacturers may be even more interested in the technology to feed the continual horsepower wars by squeaking a few more out of the supplemental electric motors. Several new hybrids, including the Lexus RX400h and Honda Accord, seem to like to tout the "increased low end torque" or quicker 0-60 sprint times in their advertising, even before listing the fuel economy. To be able to do it all under an environmentally friendly, politically correct, trendy guise is really icing on the cake.

Where hybrids were originally thought of as both impractically small and anemic in performance (sacrifice was the name of the game), technology has turned that model on its head by actually offering more horsepower and at least the potential for additional fuel efficiency. If asked, the people at Honda will flatly tell you that the selling point of their new Accord Hybrid isn't so much the actual gains at the pump as it is "the appeal of a hybrid."

So curiously, as was the case with electronic fuel injection, multiple valves per cylinder, and variable valve timing, the market still dictates the ultimate use of automotive technology. Wherever there is potential for efficiency gains, there must be potential for performance, and as long as our society demands more power our overall fuel efficiency will likely stay about the same.

Fuel for thought. Just don' throw out those plans for fuel cell technology just yet.