Hybrid Vehicles for Sale, New and Used
How Do Hybrid Cars Work? That depends upon what you mean by hybrid and and also depends upon which type of hybrid vehicle. In general, hybrid vehicles use electric motor drive/assist, regenerative braking and automatic start/shutoff technologies to improve vehicle fuel economy. The electric power is stored in a battery and is generated from the gasoline engine and regenerative braking. The most common hybrid vehicles today use gasoline (petrol) internal combustion engines and drive trains combined with electric propulsion and battery storage systems, though diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas or propane can also be used to power the internal combustion engine. This is an example of a Parallel hybrid, with two complete propulsion systems. An advantage of Parallel hybrids over Series (Serial) hybrids and over full electric vehicles is they have smaller sized batteries, which means less weight and takes up less space. Hybrids combine the flexibility of extended range from the gasoline engine with the efficiency, the use of domestic energy and lower emissions of a battery/electric motor from an electric vehicle to produce a more efficiently powered vehicle without having to constantly be plugged-in to an outlet like a traditional full-electric car. |
Types of Hybrid Vehicles
There are two types of Parallel hybrids being currently produced; Full (or Strong) Hybrids and Partial (or Mild) Hybrids. Full hybrids are capable of driving on electric power only, but use the gas engine when more power is needed or the batteries need to be charged. Example: Toyota Prius and Yaris, Ford Escape hybrid, Ford Fusion hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Lexus RX 450h, GS 450h and LS 600h, Porche Cayenne S Hybrid and Panamera S Hybrid and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Full hybrids can use the electric motor solely to power the vehicle for low-speed, low-acceleration driving, such as in stop-and-go traffic or for backing up. Also, the electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. Because there is this electric motor assist, a smaller, more efficient engine can be used in a hybrid car.
Partial Hybrids can not drive on electric power only and the internal combustion engine almost always runs. When extra power is need, the vehicle gets a boost from electric power to climb hills or to accelerate. Example: The Hybrid version of the Honda Civic, Accord and the Honda CR-Z.
Plug-in Hybrid - is a rechargeable Full hybrid version that allows the batteries to be recharged directly from your existing power supply at home, though it is recommended that you have a certified electrician install a 240V charging station. No clue yet what people that live in condo's, town homes and apartment complexes are supposed to do. Examples: Chevy Volt - claims to be able to travel about 35 miles before re-charging.
Series (serial) Hybrids are basically electric vehicles with an energy assist and increased range provided by internal combustion engine. Though we tend to think of hybrid technology as "new" technology, the "new" only refers to automobiles. Most trains (locomotive engines) and ships are hybrids (diesel-electric hybrids), which were first produced in the 1920s. The giant military aircraft carriers and submarines are also hybrids - (nuclear - electric hybrids), which replaced the diesel-electric hybrid technology. Currently, the only example of a Series Hybrid vehicle in production is the Chevy Volt.
Additional Hybrid Energy Savings Technology
Stopping a vehicle has traditionally been accomplished with disc or drum brakes that create friction. This converts the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle into heat, which is dissipated into the atmosphere. Regenerative braking technology captures that energy by generating more electricity as the vehicle is stopped and uses it to recharge the batteries.
Besides being more efficient due to the combined use of the electric motor/gasoline engine for power, hybrid cars will automatically shut off the engine when you come to a stop and restart when you step on the accelerator again. This prevents wasted energy from idling. Additionally, the latest models of hybrid cars are now providing software packages, graphics and monitors to provide feedback about energy saving driving habits.
Gas Mileage Tips for Driving Hybrid Vehicles
The "old school" thinking about saving fuel is to accelerate slowly. This prevented the accelerator pump from dumping as much as an additional "tea spoon" of extra gas into the carburetor to keep the engine accelerating smoothly. I know, I know... You have never driven a carbureted vehicle, but a heavy foot that worked the gas pedal like a base drum in stop-and-go driving, could waste a lot of gas. It turns out, that hybird vehicle drivers get better gas mileage if they zoom up to cruising speed as quick as possible.
Since the Toyota Prius Hybrid, for example, gets low mpg at low speed, the faster you get out of that low mpg zone, the better. One "old school" gas saving trick that should still work is to coast up to a stop sign or stop light. It should save on brake pads too, but since many hybrids now have regenerative braking, is it better to apply brakes smoothly and evenly from farther away from the stopping point or to jam on the brakes very hard at the last minute?
Additional hybrid models:
BMW Activehybrid 7 & X6, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid, GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid, GMC Sierra Hybrid, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Infinity M35, Hybrid, Kia Optima Hybrid, Honda Fit Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercedes ML450 Hybrid, Mercedes S400 Hybrid, Mercury Mariner, Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, VW Touareg Hybrid, Saturn Vue Hybrid no longer being produced, Saturn Vue Aurora no longer being produced and the Chevy Silverado Hybrid 2011.
For a complete explanation, go to FuelEconomy.gov at How Do Hybrid Vehicles Work. The above link will explain how a hybrid car works when starting, at low speeds, cruising, passing, braking and stopped.