ALT-1 Are Hybrid Cars Cool or Uncool – Uncool
To put it simply: hybrid cars are NOT cool.
Let me firstly point out that I am not denying the eco-friendly trends that have evolved over recent years. I think it is only natural that we, as humans, feel compelled to be eco-friendly following the warnings about the "greenhouse effect". I, myself, feel cool about purchasing reusable bags and eco-friendly washing up liquid. Why? Because everyone else is doing it, so it must be cool.
Eco-friendly cars, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely. Most people have the sense to stick with a standard diesel or petrol engine, thus showing that normal cars are cool. Now don't get me wrong: being a minority case and being different can sometimes be cool too. Sometimes, it can even result in the start of a new fashion trend. But in many cases, different can be very uncool indeed.The same goes for hybrid cars. What could have been the start of a new fashion trend in the world of cars has flopped and failed considerably. Why? Because nobody wants a hybrid car. Why? Because they're too expensive, too slow, and too reminiscent of an OAP's run around.
The ecologically-friendly hybrid car costs from $2000 to $5000 more than that of their non-hybrid versions. For this amount of extra money, one would at least expect more horsepower, or something to that effect. In reality, hybrid versions are actually slower than that of their petrol or diesel-engined siblings, primarily due to their choice of battery power instead of fuel.
Hybrid cars are never, ever spotted breezing past everyone else on the outside lane of a motorway. Instead, they cling to the inside lane like a frightened invalid, looking as though they shouldn't really be there at all. What use is this to anybody? What fun is a hybrid car if it means you never get to push the speed boundaries once in a while? This is exactly why hybrid cars are neglected and associated with the sensible and the elderly. If hybrid cars were consistently faster and lighter, there would be a significant rise in the numbers sold.
Hybrid cars have also been claimed to be significantly heavier than normal, cool cars due to the weight of the batteries they contain. If hybrid cars already have a slower acceleration to that of their petrol/diesel counterparts, then surely they don't need the added burden of a heavy battery to add to the problem? Perhaps I should also mention that the heavy battery itself only lasts a maximum of 5 years, after which vast expense must be made to replace it. However, considering the cost of a new hybrid battery the driver can most probably afford a new car for the same price!
To add to the blatant uncoolness of all things hybrid, such cars pose more dangers to their drivers than that of normal cars. This is because of the various high voltage wires which run throughout the car's chassis. These have the potential to be fatal if left exposed and in contact with a driver following an accident.
To conclude: hybrid cars are still uncool. Maybe one day they will be fast and cool and make great noises when a foot is applied to the accelerator. In this day and age, though, they are slow, heavy, dangerous and too quiet, thus allowing me to conclude that hybrid cars are in effect not cool and never be considered above their normal and much cooler counterparts.
