Now its a well known fact that most of the save the planet claims regarding hybrids is just nothing more than shrewd marketing.But what's most interesting is the company which rides on the green tag has actually performed the worst when it came to real world conditions.
Auto express UK tested various hybrids under standard road conditions and the results are quite startling.Unlike manufacture claims Hybrids are nowhere as environment friendly or fuel efficient.Infact these green cars are emitting 56% more carbon dioxide than what the manufacturers claim.Auto manufacturers are taking undue advantage of the scare regarding global warming and are misinforming customers.Its upto federal agencies to ensure that consumers are not taken for a ride.
Of the cars tested not a single hybrid lived upto expectation and such was the Honda civic hybrid performance that the hybrid tag is called nothing but a marketing gimmick.Neither did it live upto its fuel efficieny claims but also polluted the environment much more than claimed by the company[Instead of the 109g/km of CO2 claimed in the makers' specifications, it was found to put out 171g/km. ].Now we know why Honda says it has taken nature for a ride.So if any of you are interested in the Honda civic hybrid[which in anycase is overpriced at Rs.20-25 lakhs] may this be an eyeopener.
But its not only the civic hybrid,even though other hybrids like the Toyota prius did not do so badly at the tests they certainly do not live upto the environmental friendly tag and all incentives by governments for such petrol-electric hybrid vehicles need a serious relook.
Whats the way forward,thankfully we have cars like the Honda Fcx,now that's an environmental friendly car true to its name but for the moment its best to stick to diesel and not get carried away by the manufacturers marketing brilliance.
[source: sify]
