As college students, money counts just as much as time. There is a constant struggle to make space for the million tasks that have to be accomplished. Due to this lack of time, there is often too little time put on how our lifestyles are impacting the planet. This problem, resulting in the average college student not realizing that more often than not, there does not have to a compromise on price and time. There is a way to save money, while saving time and frustration, with an added bonus – helping keep the planet less polluted. The research shows that after spending more money on a hybrid, it only took about two years of driving for a person to get their money’s back.Hybrid cars have been around for approximately twenty years. The official definition of a hybrid car is a vehicle using two different forms of power, such as an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor with a battery and fuel cells for energy storage. Although a hybrid car is often more expensive, it rapidly gives a person their money’s worth, due to the money that is saved on fuel.
College is a stressful part of life. Often when a person decides to go to college, it is not the only thing that they are doing with their lives. They have to go to school while going to work, and somehow have enough time for a personal life. There is not much left in the schedule for any inconvenience, let alone car struggles.
A hybrid vehicle is more likely to not fall apart. This is due to a couple things. A hybrid is composed of two engines: gas and electric. Due to two engines for the car to use, the vehicle is more likely to last longer than a car that has only a gas engine. A hybrid car also contains tow brake systems, which makes the car last long than a regular car. The more the merrier. Although all cars have a battery, the battery of a hybrid much more efficient than a standard gas car battery. All those components make the hybrid less likely to breakdown like a regular gas car would. This gives college students peace of mind while trying to juggle a busy school and work schedule.
As if that was not enough, purchasing a hybrid car is better for the environment. Global warming has long been a concern.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “Our personal vehicles are a major cause of global warming. Collectively, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas…In total, the US transportation sector—which includes cars, trucks, planes, trains, ships, and freight—produces nearly thirty percent of all US global warming emissions, more than almost any other sector”.
By using a hybrid, a person will be able to confidently know that they are contributing to protecting mother Earth. As mentioned previously, a hybrid will save a person money.
Research has discovered that in spite of initially spending more on a hybrid, it takes approximately two years for the extra money spent to be gained back. The vehicles compared were the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid and the 2019 Toyota Avalon Sedan. It is clear that these are both two vehicles that most college students would not be able to afford, but the purpose of this research is to show that, in spite of spending more on a hybrid, a person is quickly able to get back their money back.