The roar of a powerful V8 engine in a classic American muscle car. It has defined the American auto industry for the past half century, but the age of the American hot rod is quickly coming to an end. With the economy crashing and gas prices rising, the powerful automobile is being muscled out by a more eco-friendly trend, the hybrid.

Hybrid vehicles have been around for decades, but with the highly publicized problems with the economy and environment, they have seen a serious increase in popularity. However, there is a new player in the field of the green transportation, one that could even threaten the popularity of the hybrid.

The electric vehicle is quickly gaining popularity in American markets, but will it have the staying power to usurp the hybrid as American’s green car of choice?

First of all, what exactly is a hybrid? The term specifically refers to any vehicle that uses two power sources as a means of propulsion, but it has become part of the American lexicon as a term used to describe a car using both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
A prime example of this kind of vehicle is the ubiquitous Toyota Prius. When turned on, the Prius utilizes a small electric motor, which can be used for short journeys.

When the motor’s battery is expended, the internal combustion engine kicks in. This method is very similar to the brand new Chevrolet Volt, which is just hitting the market. Like the Prius, the Volt also utilizes both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The Volt is currently ranked by the EPA as the most fuel-efficient compact car in America.
The Volt can run for approximately 35 miles on its electric motor, but once the battery runs out, you’re stuck with the plain old combustion engine to get you home. The other major difference with the Volt is that its electric engine is a plug-in, meaning you plug it into your wall at home and wait 10 to 12 hours for it to charge.

So what, if anything, separates a true electric vehicle from a hybrid? Electric vehicles are missing something a key aspect of hybrid vehicles. The hybrid! True electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, do not have a backup engine, like the one found in the Volt.
This may be a detractor for some buyers, but it is important to note that the Leaf has a range of approximately 73 miles, compared to the Volt’s 35-mile range. The Leaf, while less practical than the Volt for long drives, has absolutely no tailpipe pollution, and emits zero greenhouse gases.

Another key factor for some is the lower cost of electricity compared to gas. The Leaf costs around a quarter of what a standard gas-powered car would per mile ($0.03 vs. $0.12). As of now, the Leaf is the only fully electric vehicle on the American market, but expect there to be an influx of cars similar to it, in the near future.

So what’s better, the hybrid or the pure electric? Both have their merits, as well as their shortcomings. The majority of today’s consumers are likely to pick a hybrid, but the electric is definitely on the rise.

If you want to know what is really the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation, just ask Jerome Krumenacker. You can never beat the environmental efficiency of just walking everywhere.