Hybrid Cars

BUY A HYBRID, SAVE THE PLANET

Topic: Hybrid Cars

General Purpose: To orally present information by sharing, defining, or explaining.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that hybrid vehicles are an environmentally sensitive and affordable for almost anyone.

Central Idea: Hybrid cars have several advantages over conventional cars.

Introduction

I. Here is an alarming statistic: According to the website GreenerCars.com, the United States is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas that causes global warming (Open with impact/Gain attention).

II. By clapping your hands, how many of you are as shocked as I was to learn this information? (Poll the audience/Respond).

II. There are many ways to promote a cleaner Earth. However, today I will be specifically talking about hybrid vehicles and some of the reasons why drivers should own a hybrid, including the impact these cars have on the environment (Introduce the subject).

IV. After owning a hybrid for three years and doing additional research for two weeks for this speech, I feel competent to speak on this topic. (Establish credibility).

Motivate audience to listen… VISUAL AID/VIDEO AID/MUSICAL AID

V. Good morning ladies and gentleman! My name is (state your full name here). At the end of my speech, you (the audience) will know the main reason why consumers are interested in hybrid vehicles is their fuel efficiency my first main point. Second, learn the difference hybrids have on our environment. Finally, know some benefits hybrid buyers can receive my third main point. (Tell us what you are going to tell us). Also after my speech, I hope you’ll be able to tell anyone and everyone why a hybrid car is a smart and sensible purchase for anyone in the market for a vehicle. (Tell us your persuasive objective).

Body

I. The first and main reason why consumers are interested in hybrid vehicles is their fuel efficiency.

A. The amount of money one can save depends on several factors, including how much you drive, the cost of gas and how long you plan on keeping your car.

B. Comparison of Civic Hybrid and Civic non-hybrid

1. $2/gallon would save $100/year for every 10,000 miles driven. This based on a 10 MPG difference between the two.

2. If your hybrid got 20 MPG over your non-hybrid, your savings would be around $250/year, will all other factors remaining the same.

C. Personal comparisons with a test found on the website allabouthybridcars.com

1. my car вЂ" 1200 miles/month, averaging 25 MPG and gas at $2.50/gallon; annual fuel cost is $1440. Driving a Prius (51 MPG), I would save approximately $734/year on gas and use about 294

gallons less of fuel. After 5 years, savings is about $3600. Civic Hybrid,

numbers vary only slightly, saving $690/year on gas and 276 gallons.

2. my mom’s car (Kia Sorento) вЂ" 1300 miles/month, averaging 18- 20 MPG and gas at $2.50/gallon; annual cost is $2340. Prius вЂ" save $1422/year and 474 gallons; 5 yr savings of over $7K. Ford

Escape (31 MPG) вЂ" save $830/year and 277 gallons; 5 yr savings of over $4K.

Transition: Now that you know the average amount of money the average driver can save

with a hybrid car my first main point, you should next learn the difference hybrids have on our environment, my second main point.

II. As I said earlier, the US is the world’s largest emitter of CO2, but carbon dioxide is not the only thing conventional vehicles emit and not the only thing that leads to global warming.

A. Major Pollutants that are Greenhouse Gases

1. Carbon dioxide вЂ" dominant greenhouse gas. Potential effects of global warming include disruption of global weather patterns and

ecosystems, flooding, severe storm and droughts.

2. Carbon monoxide вЂ" colorless, odorless and poisonous gas that when inhaled can impair flow of oxygen to the brain and affect the central

nervous system. Motor vehicles remain the number one source of carbon monoxide pollution in many countries.

3. Sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides вЂ" these gases contribute to acid rain

B. Other Pollutants

1. Water & Noise pollution

2. Solid waste вЂ" 7 billion pounds of scrap metal and approx. 800 million tires are stockpiled in dumps around the US; fire and environmental hazards

3. Wildlife вЂ" Humane Society estimates around 1 million animals die on US roads EVERY DAY

4. Air pollution вЂ" can cause acute respiratory problems, impair the body’s immune system, increase the risk of cancer-related death, and contribute to birth defects

5. Water and air pollution compromises growth of agriculture

C. Hybrid vs. Non-hybrid emissions

1. As stated on GreenerCars.com, American cars and light trucks alone account for more fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions than the total nationwide emissions of all but four other countries in the world.

2. The quantity of CO2 emitted is proportional to the amount of fuel consumed. When a vehicle burns less gas per mile, it produces less pollution. Hybrid vehicles have the potential to decrease CO2 gas emissions by one-third to one-half. According to hybrid-car.org, hybrids can produce 80% less harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases than comparable gas cars, which leads to a cleaner earth. For example, the Toyota Prius reduces normal tailpipe emissions by up to 90% and greenhouse gas emission by 50%.

Transition: