They are cars with two engines (a hybrid is a mix of two things, like a mule - a mix of horse and donkey - or even a Merlion). Hybrids are vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine like any other car, but with one or more electric motors as well.
These are driven by batteries which recharge both when the car is running on petrol and when it brakes. The car switches from petrol to electricity to save fuel.
WHY ARE THEY BETTER THAN ORDINARY CARS?
They use 15 to 40 per cent less petrol which means they are cheaper to run, and they also produce less carbon dioxide and other gases which seem to be causing climate change and environmental problems.
In Singapore, buyers get a 40 per cent rebate on such cars' open market value - but even so, they cost 10 to 20 per cent more than ordinary cars.
WHO DRIVES THEM?
Singapore Environment Council's executive director Howard Shaw practises what he preaches and owns two Toyota hybrid cars. They are greener and they save money. "I used to visit the petrol station four times a month," he said, but now "it's down to twice or once a month."
Mr Low Teo Ping, Singapore Sailing Federation president and former vice-president of the Automobile Association, owns two Lexus hybrids.
"I made the switch because of my conscience," said the father of two. "My family and I feel good about the fact that we can contribute a little bit to the environment." Another bonus: He saves up to 70 per cent on fuel compared to a regular car.
WHEN WERE THEY INTRODUCED?
They hit the streets of Singapore in 1999, and sales have been slow, but are picking up. In the first 10 months of last year, 516 of these "green" cars were bought up, more than the entire population of 379 hybrids on the road by the end of 2006. Even so, they make up just 1 per cent of all new cars bought in Singapore.
HOW ELSE CAN CARS HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?
Another alternative to petrol is compressed natural gas (CNG), which can also power car engines. Member of Parliament Charles Chong has said he wants more buses and taxis here to run on CNG, which is cleaner than diesel or petrol.
But there is a Catch-22 problem: Few people want to buy them because there are not many CNG filling stations; and there are not many filling stations because so few people have CNG cars. But the best way, of course, is just to drive less, take public transport and walk.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THEM?
You would not know from looking at them as they appear the same as any other car from the outside. The most popular make here is the Honda Civic Hybrid, which attracted over 300 buyers last year.
It was followed by the Lexus RX400h (over 100 cars sold), the Toyota Prius (over 80 cars) and the Lexus LS600h (over 20 cars). Mercedes is getting in on the act, and will launch a hybrid car soon.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 11, 2008.
