In a world with ever increasing worry as to global warming and mankind’s responsibility to the well-being of future generations, younger consumers like us have become more eco-conscious. Recycling, eliminating wasteful actions, and considering the use of alternative forms of energy have become notable cornerstones in our lives. Among such environmentally friendly responsibilities is the option of purchasing a hybrid vehicle. However, in truth, hybrids are not the only way to go. In fact, if you are a cash-strapped college student seeking transportation that sips unleaded and leaves a carbon footprint as big as a your pinky, smaller compact and sub-compact vehicles should not be overlooked. Here’s why:

For one, hybrid vehicles are complicated machines. Nearly half, if not more, of the vehicle’s components are controlled by computers. Unlike their counterparts, hybrids utilize electric motors, in unison with a gasoline engine, to achieve movement. To get all of these systems to work together is no simple technological achievement. Because of its complexity, repairing hybrids that “break-down” will not be cheap, and mechanics and technicians approved to work on hybrid vehicles are in scarce supply. Furthermore, because hybrids have been on the market for such a short period of time, little data has been collected as to their reliability. To buy one can prove to be a bit of a leap of faith.

Secondly, hybrid vehicles can do more damage in the long run than conventionally powered vehicles. The big issue here has to do with the batteries they use. Though batteries have become smaller, more powerful, and cheaper to build, they still contain highly toxic chemicals. The batteries in hybrid vehicles are very large, and the disposal of these batteries – which have a life span of less than ten years – will definitely become an environmental issue.

Lastly, hybrids are not cheap. According to sources like Kelly Blue Book, hybrids can cost upwards of three to eight-thousand dollars above their non-hybrid counterparts, sometimes even higher. If you were to do the calculations yourself, you’d find that it would take several years of owning a hybrid to justify the added cost of buying one. Cars like the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Aveo, Toyota Yaris, or even the Volkswagen Jetta diesel earn comparable fuel economy ratings and meet similarly strict emissions regulations as hybrid vehicles, but cost thousands of dollars less to purchase and maintain.

Kapena M. Landgraf - Rainbow Connection Staff Writer