The hybrid car uses battery power and gasoline to power the vehicle. this means that less gasoline is burned to power the vehicle. when burned, gasoline emits pollutants into the air. evaluate the statements and choose the statement that best describes how this technology benefits the environment.?
a electricity is cheaper than gas; hybrid cars use more electricity generated by the battery they carry. therefore, hybrid cars will save people money in fuel costs.
b gasoline is a nonrenewable resource that, when burned, produces pollution that can harm the environment; therefore, because hybrid cars emit less pollution than regular cars, they do not cause as much damage to the environment.
c hybrid cars are becoming more popular all the time. this means that sales of hybrid cars are going up. when sales go up, this creates jobs for people in our country and beyond.
d hybrid cars run totally on a renewable resource. this means that as these cars become more popular, we will decrease our dependence on oil. using less oil will reduce the amount of certain pollutants in the environment.

b)

Explanation:

The hybrid vehicle typically achieves greater fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, resulting in fewer emissions being generated. These savings are primarily achieved by three elements of a typical hybrid design:

   Relying on both the engine and the electric motors for peak power needs, resulting in a smaller engine size more for average usage rather than peak power usage. A smaller engine can have less internal losses and lower weight.

   Having significant battery storage capacity to store and reuse recaptured energy, especially in stop-and-go traffic typical of the city driving cycle.

   Recapturing significant amounts of energy during braking that are normally wasted as heat. This regenerative braking reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into electricity, depending upon the power rating of the motor/generator;

Other techniques that are not necessarily 'hybrid' features, but that are frequently found on hybrid vehicles include:

   Using Atkinson cycle engines instead of Otto cycle engines for improved fuel economy.

   Shutting down the engine during traffic stops or while coasting or during other idle periods.

   Improving aerodynamics. Improving the shape and aerodynamics of a car is a good way to help better the fuel economy and also improve vehicle handling at the same time.

   Using low rolling resistance tires (tires were often made to give a quiet, smooth ride, high grip, etc., but efficiency was a lower priority). Tires cause mechanical drag, once again making the engine work harder, consuming more fuel. Hybrid cars may use special tires that are more inflated than regular tires and stiffer or by choice of carcass structure and rubber compound have lower rolling resistance while retaining acceptable grip, and so improving fuel economy whatever the power source.

   Powering the a/c, power steering, and other auxiliary pumps electrically as and when needed; this reduces mechanical losses when compared with driving them continuously with traditional engine belts.

These features make a hybrid vehicle particularly efficient for city traffic where there are frequent stops, coasting and idling periods. In addition noise emissions are reduced, particularly at idling and low operating speeds, in comparison to conventional engine vehicles. For continuous high speed highway use these features are much less useful in reducing emissions.

Hybrid vehicle emissions

Hybrid vehicle emissions today are getting close to or even lower than the recommended level set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The recommended levels they suggest for a typical passenger vehicle should be equated to 5.5 metric tons of CO

2. The three most popular hybrid vehicles, Honda Civic, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, set the standards even higher by producing 4.1, 3.5, and 3.5 tons showing a major improvement in carbon dioxide emissions. Hybrid vehicles can reduce air emissions of smog-forming pollutants by up to 90% and cut carbon dioxide emissions in half.

More fossil fuel is needed to build hybrid vehicles than conventional cars but reduced emissions when running the vehicle more than outweigh this.

Environmental impact of hybrid car battery

Though hybrid cars consume less fuel than conventional cars, there is still an issue regarding the environmental damage of the hybrid car battery. Today most hybrid car batteries are one of two types: 1) nickel metal hydride, or 2) lithium ion; both are regarded as more environmentally friendly than lead-based batteries which constitute the bulk of petrol car starter batteries today. There are many types of batteries. Some are far more toxic than others. Lithium ion is the least toxic of the two mentioned above.