A hybrid has two components that produce the same results. In automobiles this is a gasoline or diesel engine and an electric engine. Traditional cars are powered by an internal combustion engine that burns gasoline or diesel to produce the power that drives the car. These are fossil fuels that have a side effect of producing carbon monoxide which is harmful to the environment. Cars that are powered only by electricity need powerful batteries that take a long time to recharge and produce less power than gasoline, so the cars are usually slow. A true hybrid car must provide traction to the wheels from both engines. It must also recharge the battery when braking as well as turn off the gasoline engine when idling.
A Hybrid Solution
A car that uses two different types of technology that share the demand for power, usually a gasoline engine and a set of batteries, is a good solution for the owner and the environment. Hybrid cars use gasoline more efficiently, sometimes double the efficiency of conventional cars. This offers a great savings when the price of gasoline is high. Also, these engines are less polluting, because the companies that manufacture them are more environmentally conscious and have designed cleaner burning engines. The batteries power the car at low speeds and while idling and may also supplement the other engine at high speeds. They get charged when the car is slowing down or breaking.
Different Types of Hybrid Cars
In 2004 the owners of some hybrid cars converted them so the batteries could be recharged by plugging them into an electric outlet. This was such a popular idea that several car companies offered a plug-in option for the batteries. With this option, cars could go much farther than conventional electric cars because there was the gasoline backup and for town driving the gasoline engine was often not needed.
If a hybrid car can use either a gas or electric motor it is called a parallel hybrid car and both motors are connected to the transmission of the car. A series hybrid car only uses the electric motor for the transmission and the gas engine is used to charge the batteries. Another type of hybrid car is a fuel cell and electric hybrid. Fuel cells use hydrogen as the fuel that powers the depleted electric battery.
Benefits and Features of Hybrid Cars
The first benefit of hybrid cars is the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This saves money and reduces air pollution, because there are less harmful emissions. This is especially true when the car is stuck in traffic because the gasoline engine switches off. When making long commutes and at high speeds the internal combustion engine is used more than in stop and go city traffic, so the benefits are reduced. There are other design features including minimal-drag tires made from lightweight materials such as carbon fiber that reduce weight and drag making it easier to accelerate while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
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References:
WiseGeek: What is a hybrid car?
Tech FAQ: Hybrid Cars
- How do Hybrid Cars Work?
- Used Lexus RX Hybrid
- How Does a Hybrid Car Work?
- What is a Hybrid Car and How Does it Work?
- Used Honda Civic Hybrid
