05-11-2012, 05:14 PM
HYBRID CAR TECHNOLOGY
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A hybrid car definition:
The word hybrid is usually applied to plants and animals which have been cross-bred between species to produce something new.
A hybrid car is a passenger vehicle that is driven by a hybrid engine, which can run on two or more fuel sources.
In other word, Hybrid cars are primarily gas powered cars with electrical motor assist
Why hybrid car? :
Here are the reasons why you should choose a hybrid car instead of normal car:
1. Hybrid cars are environment friendly. They can reduce pollution by 80 percent.
2. Hybrid cars are economical in medium and long run than normal gasoline cars.
3. Hybrid cars are more reliable than electric cars, as they have gasoline as an alternate fuel.
4. Hybrid cars make less dependent on fossil fuels (gasoline).
5. Regenerative braking actually makes city driving more economical than on the highway.
6. Fuel efficiency is greatly increased (twice).
7. Emissions are greatly decreased.
8. New materials can be implemented.
History of Hybrid Vehicles:
The history of hybrid cars dates back to the late 1800s and 1900s.
• 1839: First electric vehicle.
• 1886: Electric powered taxicab in England.
• 1890-1910: Significant improvements in battery technology (lead-acid, nickel-iron).
• 1898: Ferdinand Porsche built a hybrid.
• 1900: Pieper introduced hybrid.
• 1905: Gas-Electric car.
• 1970’s: Arab oil embargo; hybrid VW Taxi.
• 1979: hybrid car built with lawnmower engine.
• 1991: US Advanced Battery Consortium launched major program to produce “super” battery.
• 1997: Toyota Prius available in Japan.
• 1999: Honda Insight released in US (70 mpg).
• 2000: Toyota Prius available in US.
• 2002: Honda Civic Hybrid introduced.
• 2004: Toyota Prius II introduced; Ford Escape Hybrid introduced.
Facts about Hybrid Cars:
Some important facts about hybrid cars:-
Hybrid vehicles are a practical solution to the rising greenhouse gas levels and soaring oil prices. Fuel cell technology may be the technology for the future but it may still be some time till these cars are introduced into the market.
Auto Makers like Honda and Toyota have taken initiatives to improve on the existing Hybrid technology by inventing cleaner engines that also give more mileage. A Hybrid vehicle is one which uses an electric motor to provide additional power along with the conventional internal combustion engine. They have a special mechanism that is capable of recharging the batteries without being plugged in. They can also be charged by the gas-engine if need be.
As a result, the gas engines can be a little smaller as there is an additional power supply for its aid. The advantage is that the gasoline engine can then be quite small, since power is obtained from not one but two sources.
When the car comes to a sustained stop, the gas engine shuts down saving fuel. When the car is ready to accelerate, the electric motor kicks in till the time the gasoline engine can resume on its job.
Hybrid SUVs may be the alternative to those gas-guzzling, pocket-ripping SUVs which could manage very little mileage. EPA mileage estimates about 33 mpg as city/highway average.
The Toyota Prius is estimated to give an average of 55 mpg. Apparently, it has a better mileage in city conditions rather than the highway. That's because the battery pack comes into use more frequently in city conditions than on the highway.
Advantages of Hybrid car:
• Hybrids combine clean energy of the electrical motor with the power of the gas-powered engine which results into lower emissions and better mileage.
• Thanks to the ever improving technology, hybrids perform at par with the normal gas-powered vehicles, if not better.
• Hybrids are reliable and comfortable as any traditional car and they have a tax benefits(only till 2006).
• There are purchase incentives for Hybrid vehicle owners (varies by state).
• Hybrids are much cleaner cars than normal vehicles with lesser CO and other greenhouse gas emissions.
• Hybrids provide a better mileage.
• The future for hybrids looks bright with rapid developments in hybrid technology to improve engine efficiency.
• Due to the Regenerative Braking technology, the batteries need not be charged by an external source.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars:
Hybrid cars, though useful, have some disadvantages. The point to be noted here is that the advantages far exceed the disadvantages.
• High cost: hybrids cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 more their non-Hybrid versions.
• More weight due to battery packs.
• Some states charge additional fees for registration.
• In the event of an unfortunate accident, there is a risk of exposure to high voltage wires.
• They have a complicated system which needs to be taken care of by experienced mechanics only.
• Spare parts maybe hard to find and may be costly.
• Usually, hybrids have a lower acceleration than that their normal counterparts.
Hybrid Car and Gas Mileage:
The hybrid car can be considered to be the car of the millennium. This is a very environment friendly car that hardly produces any combustion at all. This is a car that basically runs on two sources of energy; one being a fuel, and another a battery. With the presence of two sources of energy to the hybrid car, there is obviously a lower requirement of fuel in the car. This is because most of the driving is managed with the energy the battery provides. The battery provides sufficient energy for the driver to use the car for its normal uses of transportation.