http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/4140385.htmlThunderstorms that shake up America's economy are a good indicator that something is not right. The price of oil these days is very unstable at best, and could easily be on the rise for the next years to come. With the struggle in the middle east and their price-gauging, it seems that we have no choice but to pay a high price for transportation and energy. Maybe there is another, more efficient way of dealing with this problem.
Whether the price of oil is high or not, we will still eventually face the potential problem of running out of the substance. Though it may not be in my lifetime, it would be worth investing time, money and education into alternatives to gasoline. Currently, we are paying higher a price than ever to do things like heat our homes and drive our cars. This should be a good indication to us as a nation that we need to invest in other means of energy. I hope that we keep our heads on straight in this area for the future; and though it may be less efficient to use anything but gas, eventually our investments will pay off. Would it not be better to pay a higher price for oil in the short run and in the long run businesses find ways to produce more efficient cars?
Currently, many Japanese and a few American companies offer a hybrid type of car. These kinds of cars are produced mainly by Honda and Toyota. They use small gasoline engines in correlation with electric engines that make the cars extremely efficient. The momentum caused by braking is even used to charge the batteries! The down side is that they have not yet made appealing hybrids for the American consumer. These types of cars are great if you do not mind a small, slow ride. But, for many Americans, we have a comfort zone of wanting something big, luxurious, and powerful. The market is headed in the right direction.
Recently, Honda introduced the new Accord V-6 hybrid. It is a mid-size sedan with a powerful engine, capable of producing 253 horsepower when both the V-6 and electric engines are working simultaneously (Honda.com). The unbelievable news is that this car is still capable of acheiving 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway driving with the standard five speed automatic transmission. The efficiency climbs when one opts out for the available six speed manual transmission. The bad news is that the car starts at $30,000. For an average family, that is a lot to spend on a car, but I think that once they become more popular, prices will drop and used cars will be available for purchase.
In conclusion, it is amazing that a 4-door car can produce 253 horses and still get between 25 and 34 or more miles to the gallon. The next step is to get American car companies to catch up to Honda, who I think has a spectacular idea in offering a powerful, efficient sedan.
Source:
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_full_specs.asp?ModelName=Accord+Hybrid&Category=3
