Are Hybrid Cars the Solution to Building Cleaner Cities?

Do you know about what's called air pollution? For those of you who are curious, air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases, particulates, and biological molecules.

Did you notice that the air pollution in Jakarta today, October 17, 2021 is P.M 2.5. What does it mean? The term fine particles, or particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns or less in width. Like inches, meters and miles, a micron is a unit of measurement for distance. There are about 25,000 microns in an inch.

The jaw-dropping fact is that PM 2.5 is harmful to humans. PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) can penetrate deeply into the lung, irritate and corrode the alveolar wall, and consequently impair lung function.

From that fact, gasoline from gasoline-based vehicles and transportation contribute to 84% air pollution. It is the main contributor to the PM 2.5 and should be solved.

There is one question whether hybrid cars are the solution to the massive production of emission and carbon pollution. Surely the answer is yes.

And did you know that gasoline alone makes up 22% of the US carbon emissions from energy consumption. Vehicle emissions from burning gasoline and diesel fuels contain toxic pollutants including carbon monoxide, smog-causing volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, formaldehyde and benzene.

And do you still wonder if you should get a hybrid car or a petrol car? By using and transforming to hybrid cars, 84% air pollution will be reduced. How does it happen? Because those cars are using electricity to operate and produce zero emission

Bibliography

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Fine Particles (PM 2.5) Questions and Answers. (2018, February). New York State Department of Health. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/air/pmq_a.htm

H, R. K. (2021, August 25). Kabar Baik! PGE Bisa Kurangi Emisi Karbon 2,6 Juta Ton/Tahun. CNBC Indonesia. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20210825194548-4-271284/kabar-baik-pge-bisa-kurangi-emisi-karbon-26-juta-ton-tahun/amp

Xing, Y.-F., Xu, Y.-H., Shi, M.-H., & Lian, Y.-X. (2016, January). The impact of PM2.5 on the human respiratory system. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 8(1), E69-E74. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740125/