Hybrid Cars

A hybrid car (also commonly known as a hybrid electric vehicle or HEV) is an automobile that uses two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle, mainly the combination of a conventional propulsion system with an on-board rechargeable energy storage system. Most can be classified on the basis of their structure, fuel type and mode of operation. Today’s hybrid cars prolong the battery’s charge by capturing kinetic energy through regenerative braking. Some hybrid cars use a combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical motor-generator to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle.

Hybrid cars tend to be efficient as they’re usually smaller and can run at various speeds. Fuel consumption is reduced by minimizing wasted energy during idle/low output, by turning the internal combustion engine (ICE) off, recapturing waste energy by regenerative braking, and by reducing the size and power of the ICE. Plug-in hybrid cars can be recharged using an electric outlet, instead of petroleum refueling only.

With gas prices still high (and expected to go higher again), the excellent gas mileage of hybrid cars can be a very real economic perk and that’s been a big motivator in the increase in hybrid vehicle sales, but the biggest benefit hybrid cars serve is to the environment, lowering emissions and your individual carbon footprint.

As with everything, hybrid cars do have their downsides. For one thing, the batteries in hybrid cars, like those in conventional vehicles, are toxic, adding to the more than 1 million metric tons of lead dumped by the auto industry every year. Another common complaint with HEVs is that the actual gas savings of the vehicle can vary wildly from the EPA estimate, which is an approximation based on “ideal road conditions”. When driving in extreme temperature or on the highway, the batteries are less efficient and mileage may be similar to conventional fuel efficient vehicles.

If you’re considering purchasing a hybrid car, you’ll have plenty of options as car companies are on a race for mass production of hybrid cars. To help you decide if a hybrid is right for you, evaluate where you drive; a moderate climate and mostly stop-and-go driving (usually city driving) will translate into the biggest savings and help you make back the higher costs of purchasing a hybrid car. You can also utilize corporate and government incentives for extra savings.