Persuasive paper rough draft - Essay Example

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles The hybrid car is an idea that has been very slow in catching on but has gained increasing popularity in recent years. The first hybrid appeared over 100 years ago but the demand for rapid transportation, the need for speed, kept the concept mainly on the drawing board until lately. Concerns regarding the environment, the availability of oil and ever-rising gasoline prices have popularized these alternative fuel vehicles yet car-makers and consumers remain hesitant about the idea.

Part of the problem hybrid cars have had in gaining popularity can be found in the fact that this is too broad of a definition. Hybrid cars are still in the experimental stage, meaning there are numerous different models and types to choose from. While some hybrids do not seem to meet the needs of consumers, offering too many negative attributes to offset the positives, plug-in hybrid cars should be considered a good alternative to partially meet the country’s future energy needs. Plug-in hybrid cars are essentially what they would seem to be; they plug into a normal electric circuit and charge from the same electrical source found in a typical home.

Research shows that most U.S. drivers travel, on average, less than 25 miles per day, which is a range easily reached by the plug-in hybrid vehicle enabling people to get to work at a fuel rate much lower than that of today’s current gasoline prices (Sanna, 2005). This switch would also mean a significant reduction of CO2 emissions and reduces the nation’s need for non-renewable natural resources. While this does classify it as an electric vehicle, the plug-in hybrid has an additional feature that makes it feasible even for long-distance use.

The plug-in hybrids, not intended to run on electricity alone, also carry a liquid fuel tank and combustion engine, which enables owners to fill up when the battery runs dry and continue driving for as long and as far as they wish, all while recharging the electric battery. “The hybrid electric vehicle is a move in the right direction. Its battery/electric motor combination provides the quick starts, so when the vehicle is standing still, the gas engine can be shut off automatically to prevent idling and conserve fuel.

In fact, the hybrid can achieve an increase in fuel efficiency of roughly 30 percent. The battery also boosts the performance of the [internal combustion engine] at takeoff and for passing” (Sanna, 2005). As the combustion engine is running and during the process of braking, the battery becomes charged by the captured energy involved in these actions. The design of these cars has been slow in part because of a lack of evidence that consumers will buy them. Because of the way they are made and the specificity of some of the parts, these vehicles are necessarily priced a bit higher than the average car on the road, causing many to believe it is better to continue building the traditional engine.

By measuring the various elements of the plug-in hybrid – ease of use, comfort level, cost of operation, etc. – one can see that these vehicles compare well with strict combustion engines while the broad range in which this information can be collected validates the sincerity of the results. Customer satisfaction with the plug-in hybrids not only bolsters support for building the vehicles within the car companies, but also encourages increased enthusiasm for them within the greater public, thus increasing popular demand and again bolstering the car manufacturers’ incentives to build them.

“Consumer surveys indicate strong market potential for plug-in hybrids … The majority of those surveyed preferred being able to charge their car at home over having to fuel it at a gasoline station” (Plug-in, 2006). The proof that plug-in hybrids are a good investment exists in the satisfaction of the environmentalists who wish to improve the air quality. Numerous events within the world recently have naturally increased interest among consumers for a vehicle that does not depend upon gasoline as its primary source of power.

Environmental changes are occurring across the country with disastrous consequences for those who live there while skyrocketing gas prices are quickly pricing people out of their livelihoods. Wars in the Middle East keep us aware of our dependence on nations with no reason to like us. Word of mouth, increased fleets and waiting lists for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles all proclaim that, while there remain some issues to work out, consumers are hungry for a means of retaining their way of life without breaking their banks or their living environment.

ReferencesHague, Paul & Nick. (2002). Customer Satisfaction Surveys. B2B International. Available February 7, 2009 from “Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles.” (2006). Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. Available February 7, 2009 from < http://www.iags.org/pih.htm> Sanna, Lucy. (Fall 2005). Driving the Solution: The Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. EPRI Journal. Available February 7, 2009 from OutlineIntroduction Hybrid cars seem like a good idea They haven’t seemed to catch onThesis statement: While some hybrids do not seem to meet the needs of consumers, offering too many negative attributes to offset the positives, plug-in hybrid cars should be considered a good alternative to partially meet the country’s future energy needs.

What are hybrid cars? Plug-in hybrid definition Qualities that make them feasible Reduction in emissionsWhy they haven’t been made more available Automakers concerned with consumer response Higher prices because of specialized parts Comparison to regular carsActual customer response What customers really think of hybrid cars What government thinksConclusion