Auto Trends

Hybrid vehicles would appear to be as close to perfect as you can get these days. They are becoming increasingly safer, easily available, increasing in horsepower, and can range over 600 miles per fill-up. With gas rates at around $3.00 a gallon, this has changed a lot of peoples minds about how they feel when they hear the word hybrid.

Soon, when you hear the word hybrid you won’t automatically think about the Prius, Altima, Acura, Fit, Tribute, and Camry… Lexus, for one, has stepped into the picture and in 2010, Porsche is scheduled to release their version of the performance based Cayenne SUV hybrid.

*Photo Courtesy of Jalopnik

There would seem to be no stopping the phenomenon… well, almost nothing.

While hybrids are gaining respect from the general public on the one hand, they are currently losing it in another… with the blind public. Currently, the (NFB) National Federation of the Blind, is requesting auto makers to change the sound levels on hybrids, as they claim they cannot hear them coming and it poses a threat to them.

 What it really all comes down to, is people do not pay attention when they are driving (cell phones, tv, laptops, etc.).

With the new hybrids, all that is going to have to change. Either that, or sound devices (similar to a deer whistle- which incidentally have been proven to not work) are going to need to be installed to warn pedestrians these vehicles are approaching.

‘Nothing is perfect’ and right now as we are faced with oil shortages and possible destruction of our ozone, we need to at least be trying to find solutions to better transportation. As Newton’s Law states: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite action.” Everything we implement to solve this problem is going to cause another reaction somewhere along the lines.

…and thus the search continues for a better solution to the transportation vs. pollution issue that has plagued man for over a century!