How Hybrid Cars Work

Advantages Of Owning Hybrid Cars

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:17:00 +0000

More and more people are turning to hybrid cars these days because of their promise of lesser fuel consumption and environmental friendliness. Hybrid cars, because they run on both fuel and battery-powered engines, eat up less fuel, thereby sparing the consumer the pain of falling prey to price pressures in the world oil market. In addition, it also emits significantly less smog pollutants in the air, compared to traditional fuel-operated cars.

Indeed, there are a lot of advantages to owning hybrid cars. This is why even the US government is starting to show support by welcoming more models into the country and by encouraging American auto makers like General Motors and Ford to make more units.

Here are some of the advantages of hybrid cars:

1) Efficiency

Hybrid cars are electrically operated and are thus able to function well and consistently at any motor speed. This is in contrast to conventional gas-powered engines, which tend to produce less power in low revolutions per minute episodes. Hybrid cars do not need to use transmissions to make their engines run at full capacity even at reduced speeds.

2) Economy

One of the advantages of hybrid cars is that the feature called "regenerative braking". Since a hybrid car works using both electric power and fuel power, each can function by itself or conjunction, depending on which is stronger at the time of use. This means that both engines complement each other and do not simply bog one when one of them becomes weaker.

3) Convenience

Because hybrid cars are part battery powered, they do not create huge holes on the pocket, compares to users of traditional cars who feel the pain of the continuing oil price increases. Most hybrid cars, particularly the ones that are made in Japan, are also more compact and lightweight, making them easier to maneuver on the road. Other models, particularly those by American and European car makers also do not deviate from the stylish designs their regular counterparts adopt, so users don't have to feel they are being left out in the style department.

4) Sustainability

Sure, hybrid cars are fairly new, so their immediate impact on the environment cannot be foreseen in the short term. However, over the course of time, the next generations will definitely be thankful for having a clean, pollution free world, thanks to hybrid vehicles.

Most critics say that it is not the time to buy hybrid vehicles because they are expensive. However, when you consider the advantages, you really shouldn't think twice. While you must be discerning in choosing the right model for your needs, this doesn't mean you start hesitating. After all, when more people patronize hybrid cars, manufacturers will see the need to produce more and eventually bring its price at very affordable levels.

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Disadvantages Of Hybrid Cars

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:13:00 +0000

Hybrid cars are one of the most sought after vehicles nowadays, particularly with the growing market concern over the environment and fears of the continuing oil price hikes. People are opting to buy hybrid cars because they do not want to always fall pray to pricing pressures, and because more information is being disseminated over the dangers of fuel-induced pollutants to the surroundings.

However, while hybrid cars are jam packed with all the merits that might instantly bowl the discerning consumer over, it is not without its share of faults and disadvantages. Of course, as with anything in this world, hybrid cars have 'catches' to their name. This is not to discount hybrid cars altogether. We will be discussing each one in brief here and hope that it will be able to help you make your choice if you're considering buying a hybrid car anytime soon.

Disadvantages of hybrid cars

1) Expensive Price

Hybrid vehicles generally cost more than regular cars because not too many of them are in the market yet. Much of this high price tag is attributed to the fact that hybrid cars come with a complicated battery pack and make use of an electric motor to operate. Maintenance tools for hybrid cars are also pretty rare, so expect to spend more on checkups and fix-its when the car bogs down. This can be addressed, however, over time, when more people begin to patronize hybrid cars and prompt manufacturers to make more units.

2) New and untested technology

Since hybrid cars' technology is fairly new, its performance is still untested. This means some of the problems that may be linked with them are still unforeseen. Thus, if a new glitch arises, it is likely that it will take a while for a solution to come up. However, this bit should not deter the buyer from purchasing a hybrid car, because, well, this is how regular vehicles started out in the first place. It is all a trial and error process.

3) Acceleration

Hybrid cars, though they boast of being able to perform as well as traditional vehicles, they are generally slower, making it difficult for drivers to keep pace with other cars especially on the freeway. This lack of accelerative power can be dangerous in certain situations. (However, other car owners can see this as an advantage, because it affords the user better control of his steering.)

4) High voltage

Another disadvantage of hybrid cars is the high voltage it requires to charge itself and get ready for operation. If the hybrid car gets into an accident, the high voltage wires could become open and exposed and could cause collateral harm. It could also cause short circuits.

5) Light weight

Because hybrid cars are lighter than regular vehicles, they are more prone to accidents especially during storms. Also, in the event of a collision with other cars, hybrid cars are disadvantaged because they are likely to spin out more easily than their heavier counterparts.

Reports have shown other disadvantages of hybrid cars, but, again, these should not stop anyone from patronizing the product because, well, everything has a catch. No product is perfect and it is good to know that manufacturers are in the constant search to making hybrid vehicles more user friendly and less accident prone.

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How Hybrid Cars Work

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:12:00 +0000

Combining the power of electric motors and gas engines

Hybrid vehicles operate effortlessly by combining an electricity-run motor, a gasoline engine and maximum-powered batteries. The battery gives off energy for the electric motor and recharges when it recaptures the energy that is usually lost when the car is lessening its acceleration or while it is coasting.

Regenerative breaking is the name coined for this process. If the need arises, the energy coming from the gas engine can be put into diversion to put some charging on the battery at the same instant. Because of this process of charging, hybrid cars do not need to be put in plugs.

It is best to put distinguish hybrid cars into two categories in order to understand better the functions of the batteries, the engine and the electric motor put together. There are two kinds of hybrids: the mild hybrids and the full hybrids. Each of these kinds have different approaches when combining the three components.

1. Mild hybrids

In this type of hybrid car, the electric motor is only an assistant when it comes to operating the main propulsion. It is the gas engine that gives the major energy needed.

In this setup, the motor is dependent on the gas engine for its operation. The electric motor is capable of eating up electricity from the batteries, or it can come up with energy for it, but the electric motor cannot do these functions at the same time. This technology is used for two of Honda's hybrid models, the Insight and the Civic hybrid.

2. Full hybrids

The distinction of the full hybrid from the mild variety is that the electric motor and the gas engine can operate on its own. In most instances, the electric motor can function by itself in low speed, and once it picks up, the gasoline engine automatically takes over. Both the motor and the engine can function together if the car is in hard acceleration.

This combined effort provides the car the power that it needs for that situation. Full hybrid cars can consume and build up electricity simultaneously. The full hybrid setup can be found in models such as the popular Toyota Prius, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and the Escape hybrid from Ford.

As an example, one can look at the way the Toyota Prius functions. The Prius runs on a technology called the Hyrbid Synergy Drive, which involves a power split device to combine the energy of the electric motor and the gas engine. The HSD enables a effortless switching of power sources that the car driver would not notice in the slightest while driving.

Unlike the other mild hybrid types, the Prius can be operated by the electric motor alone powered by the battery pack. As a result, a motorist can drive silently for short amounts of time. The Honda hybrids on this level cannot function just by the electric motor.

While speeding up a highway, the Prius utilizes the gas engine as its main operator, and can get assistance from the generator if needed. Then this hybrid car shuts off the gas engine automatically during stops. This contributes greatly in mileage improvement and produces less emission.

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Download your Report on Advantages and Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars

About Hybrid Cars