Earth & Environmental Science Journalism

Case Study: Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

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Background Information
Techinical Articles
Popular Articles

Questions to Ponder and Discuss

Does the Bush energy plan appear to create space fir applying HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) to the current market as a conservation method?
Do the two Scientific American articles clearly illustrate how HEVs work? What are some of the techniques used in their explanations? What is used to attract the interest of the readers?
Looking at the 7-09-01 Detroit News article, why would industry want limits on tax credits for HEV purchases?
Critique the 1-8-01 Detroit News article. Does it provide balance? Are there any other articles that are clearly balanced or unbalanced?
Based on the scientific articles do you agree or disagree with the editorial rebuttal by James Clift?
Do you believe the EV Rentals will be a successful or unsuccessful market for HEVs? Why or why not?
Based on Gary Ostby's quote (LA Times 8-20-01), do you believe that GM is taking HEV technology seriously or is GM simply using HEVs for good PR?
What are potential barriers with future developments and advances with HEV technology? What are the potential solutions?

Readings

Background information: Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

Carney, Susan and Liller, Joe and Plungis, Jeff, 2001, Hybrids boosted by Bush, Detroit News, May 18, 2001.

Chen, Edwin and Simon, Richard, 2001, Bush Details Energy Plan, Calls for Boost in Supplies, Los Angeles Times, May 18, 2001.

Heilprin, John, 2001, New Cars Less Fuel Efficient, Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2001.

Nixon, Rob, 2001, A Dangerous Appetite for Oil, The New York Times, Op-Ed page, October 29, 2001.

2001 Toyota Prius information, Toyota website, www.toyota.com.

2001 Honda Insight information, Honda of America website, www.honda.com.

Scientific Articles: Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

Fukuo, Koichi; Fujimura, Akira; Saito, Masaaki; Tsunoda, Kazuhiko and Takiguchi, 2001, Development of the ultra-low-fuel-consumption hybrid car -INSIGHT, JSAE Review, 22: 95-103.

Nakata, Toshihiko, 2000, Analysis of the impact of hybrid vehicles on energy systems in Japan, Transportation Research Part D, 5: 373-383.

Rosen, Harold A. and Castleman, Deborah R., 1997, Flywheels in Hybrid Vehicles, Scientific American, 277: 75-85.