Despite what the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive commercials on TV may suggest, driving a hybrid is not good for the environment, far from it! It’s simply less bad than a regular combustion vehicle.
What really bothers me is those who drive hybrids and talk as if they’re helping the environment, worst yet when it’s a “performance hybrid” or “hybrid SUV”. If you don’t believe me, you’ll want to check out this brief article…
Between 2000 and 2006, the average weight of hybrid vehicles sold in the US rose by 30 per cent, while their power increased by 60 per cent, the researchers found. This trend was driven partly by the emergence of hybrid SUVs, which by 2006 accounted for 29 per cent of hybrids sold. As a result, hybrids’ average fuel consumption has risen by 15 per cent since 2000, they report in Environmental Research Letters.
Source: NewScientist
Next time if you talk to someone who drives a hybrid and acts as if they’re mightier than god, just remind them as long as they’re using dinosaur juice, it’s bad.
IPCC Report #2
On a related note, the IPCC released its second report on global warming and the news is not good… 🙁 People this is a UN body studying the causes and effects of global warming, they have no reason to fib.
Late-stage discussions over the final wording of the IPCC report started with a bang on Monday 2 April, when the European environment commissioner lashed out at US and Australian climate policies. “We expect the United States to cooperate closer and not to continue having a negative attitude in international negotiations,” Stavros Dimas said.
Source: NewScientist
Of course to no one’s surprise the US and Australia continue their insane fight against everyone else in the world. Thanks Mr. Bush and Mr. Howard the issue of global warming will have to be dealt with sooner or later, the two of you are simply making things harder and more expensive for everyone when action is finally taken.
