The hybrid future

The good news is that the Government is considering granting duty concessions for the import of hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius. This is a welcome move considering today’s escalating oil prices. A barrel of oil hit US$ 142 yesterday and some experts predict it will reach US$ 200 soon.

Hybrids remain a stop-gap solution. Oil is running out, but it will last for at least 100 more years. At a time when oil prices have hit a record high, consumers are trying to gain the maximum benefit from every drop of oil. Hybrids do just that.

Governments and regulatory authorities must encourage the use of hybrid vehicles by making it easier for consumers to buy them. This calls for duty and tax reductions to make them more affordable. Many countries have already taken a policy decision to this effect. For example, London’s Congestion Charge does not apply to the Prius or the all-electric Reva.

There is no denying that fuel efficiency is the answer. And hybrid cars, which combine a gasoline engine with electric motors, have become a viable alternative to gas guzzlers. The Prius and Honda’s Civic IMA have literally led the charge, but other manufacturers are joining the fray almost every month. Toyota, through its luxury arm Lexus, is also making a hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle.

It is worth granting duty concessions to all-electric and hybrid cars mainly because of their fuel-saving capacity. A hybrid car can do around 35 kilometres per litre, as against 18 Km per litre performed by even the most fuel efficient conventional gasoline engines.

Diesel engines can perform better, but even they cannot come close to a hybrid set-up. Just imagine the long-term savings in terms of foreign exchange if most cars on our roads were hybrids.

Electric cars do not require fuel at all, but they have to be charged using the national grid, which depends mostly on fossil fuels anyway. Electric cars are also plagued by limited range and the need for large batteries. Scientists are striving to solve these problems.

In the meantime, the advantage of hybrids is that they do not have to be recharged from mains electricity - braking the car generates power which charges the battery in a process called regenerative braking.

Another major benefit is that hybrids have very low emissions compared to conventional engined cars. In an age in which global warming has become a worldwide concern, hybrids will help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and help save our fragile environment.

Some manufacturers are trying to build diesel hybrids, which will up the ante further. Today’s best common rail diesel engines are already very frugal and clean, but combining one with an electric motor should be sweet music to motorists’ ears.

Automakers are also looking at all-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as an answer to the oil crisis. Several carmakers have released limited numbers of fuel cell versions of their popular vehicles. A couple of hydrogen filling stations have been opened in the US and Europe. Nevertheless, hydrogen-powered vehicles are at least a decade away from full commercialisation.

Petrol cars are not going to disappear overnight, so the Government should encourage the purchase of smaller-engined, petrol cars. Duty concessions could be granted for sub 1,000 CC cars and for smaller diesels such as 1.3 litre diesel cars.

The authorities should also encourage the local assembly of electric vehicles. There already are a couple of local companies making electric scooters. They should be given more concessions that will enable them to price their products aggressively.

They should also consider the possibility of getting down some alternative fuel buses for public transport. India and several other countries have natural gas and electric buses. This too may be costly initially, but the long-term benefits will outweigh such costs.

In any case, a better public transport system will help to wean away at least some motorists from their cars, benefitting the environment and the Exchequer.

Regulatory authorities must keep an eye on these developments and take appropriate measures to popularise alternative energy vehicles for the greater benefit of the public and the economy.