Green cars are in

Hardline tree-hugging environmentalists or just plain eco-conscious folks have reason to loathe fossil fuel-burning, air-fouling cars less. That’s because auto manufacturers are building eco-friendly cars. It could be the wave of the future too.

At the 35th Tokyo Motor Show, for instance, leading manufacturers exhibited a significant number of both production and concept models of environment-friendly cars. In fact, the motor show’s theme focuses on the future of the automobile, with special emphasis on low-emissions, alternative-fuel vehicles.

At the moment, hybrid vehicles are hot, if not exactly in sales, at least in the more valuable political-correctness image quotient. Hybrids, as the term suggests, are cars that run on combinations of different sources of power. Presently, under the skins of hybrid cars already on the market, like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, lie conventional gas engines coupled with electric motors.

Touted as eco-cars, the Prius and Insight essentially use two drivetrains to propel the car. Which drivetrain to use is dictated according to the abilities of each, all managed on the fly by computers. As a result, both vehicles are rather stingy on fuel, at times doubling the mileage of conventional gas-powered cars while producing virtually zero emissions.

On the road, the cars may perform similarly as all the other regular cars, if the Toyota Crown THS-M is any indication. Using a "Mild Hybrid System," the Crown we tested on Tokyo streets never showed signs that its power comes from other than its gas engine. Coming to a halt at stoplights and such, the engine switches off, as it is designed to do. But step on the pedal and the electric motor initially takes care of propelling the car until the gas engine switches on again. All accomplished in seconds, and without the list hint of snag or jerky movements.

Of course, other car manufacturers are scrambling to put their own hybrid vehicles on showroom floors. According to The Auto Insider, American giants Ford and General Motors have both announced plans to come up with its own versions of hybrid vehicles. Instead of building hybrid cars, though, the two companies vowed to develop hybrid-powered trucks and SUVs, a clever move to further cash in on the popularity of trucks and sport-utes.

But while hybrid gas/electric cars have churned out impressive eco-friendly figures, what carmakers are apparently aiming for is the fuel cell/electric hybrid car. Hyped as the "ultimate green car," a fuel cell hybrid vehicle emits only water in its exhaust pipes.

Converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and water, electricity generated by the fuel cell is used to power a motor. Generally, there are two types of fuel cell cars. A car may have a tank or an absorption alloy to store hydrogen, or a car may have a system designed for methanol, natural gas or Clean Hydrocarbon Fuel (CHF) to be used to produce hydrogen.

Fuel cell systems, though, require advanced technology and huge research expenditures, which has led the major manufacturers to seek strategic partnerships, particularly with firms in other industries. For one thing, one cannot simply pull up in a gas station and ask for hydrogen. Another is the proper disposal of fuel cells and batteries. Clearly, additional infrastructure is needed to support fuel cell vehicles. Which is the reason hybrid cars of whatever type may take some time before it reaches local showrooms.

Another reason is that our government slaps hefty duties on completely built-up imported vehicles, discouraging manufacturers in the country. Toyota Philippines’ president Takeshi Fukuda said he hopes the government will give imported eco-friendly cars a tax break to serve as an incentive for manufacturers to bring in hybrid vehicles.

For all its requirements, though, manufacturers are still bent on investing in hybrid vehicles, believing the market share of these vehicles will be quite significant in the next 10 years. Also, most governments, particularly the US and Japan require manufacturers to build certain number of green cars. In the US, some states require automakers to agree that 4 percent of cars and trucks sold by 2003 emit no tailpipe pollution. Electric cars or hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles are qualified.

In Japan, manufacturers are encouraged that in the next few years, everything will qualify as low- or zero-emissions vehicles.

Besides government requirements, however, manufacturers cite the demand for green cars from more environment-conscious consumers. While walking may be good exercise, it does have certain limitations, foremost of which is mileage. Bicycling, too, isn’t always practical. (Try picking up your date on a bike.)

So green cars may be the answer. After all, even hardline environmentalists go on dates.