Hybrid Cars

• This article outlines the role of hybrid vehicles as a climate solution and provides details on the potential impact of hybrids to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
• Students will learn about the benefits of hybrid cars compared to internal-combustion engine vehicles and how hybrids can support a transition to fully-electric cars.

Positives

• This article gives a thorough description of what makes hybrid cars a good mid-term solution in the transportation sector, while also providing comparisons to other related solutions.
• It provides two different scenarios to show varying levels of an increased adoption of hybrid vehicles.

Additional Prerequisites

• Familiarity with the term ICE, or internal combustion car, would be helpful before reading this article.
• A basic understanding of units of measurement used in the article, such as gigatons and passenger-kilometers, are important to discuss for further comprehension.

Differentiation

• This article is written in a scientific paper format, which could be used in language arts or science classes practicing writing scientific papers or reading research papers.
  
• Provide students with a graphic organizer that allows them to take notes on the similarities and differences between electric, plug-in, hybrid, and combustion vehicles. Have them use information from the introduction of this article or other resources about vehicles with lower impacts on climate change.
• Economics classes could discuss factors that relate to the adoption of this solution, including purchasing cost, maintenance, tax incentives, and fuel costs.
• Using the links provided in the article, have students research and then compare other transportation solutions, such as bicycle infrastructure, electric cars, and carpooling, focusing on factors such as emissions, space requirements, and energy efficiency.
• Pair students up and provide them with time to research the related solutions listed below the article, either allowing groups to choose their topics or assigning topics for a jigsaw share-out.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.