Hybrid vehicles versus hydrogen vehicles

What is the future of the automobile?

Gas and energy prices are rising higher. Evidence of global warming continues to escalate, painting a very ugly picture of the future, and auto executives throughout the world realize serious change will ultimately be required.

Advanced gasoline engines, clean diesel engines, hybrid powertrains, hydrogen engines and fuel cells have all been promoted as the future of the automobile. Ultimately, however, the discussion always seems to end up as hybrid vehicles versus hydrogen vehicles. Somehow this discussion pits current hybrid technology versus some future technology. Yet a hybrid powertrain has the ability to incorporate advanced gasoline engines, diesel engines, hydrogen engines, and fuel cells into its powertrain.

More important, Toyota sees its current hybrid powertrain as about 75% of the required technology for its fuel cell-powered cars. Thus, the adaptability of hybrid cars creates enormous potential. For example, hybrid battery packs, like laptop computer batteries, will increase their efficiency, and as this happens, hybrids will become even more fuel efficient.

While other technologies might emerge that are as good, or better than hybrids, those that continue to summarily dismiss hybrids have dismissed objective thinking. Dismissing hybrids is dismissing Toyota.

With billions in profit to spend, dismissing Toyota is just plain silly.

More on hybrid vehicles.