It seems that almost everyone is talking about fuel efficiency these days. Gas prices are higher than they ever have been before. Many people claim that the temperature of the earth is rising and that one of the main causes is emission from combustion engines. A result of this newfound consciousness of the gas guzzling nature of traditional automobiles is the advent of hybrid cars.

With all of the hype and talk about them, one question still remains: how do they work? How is it that a car can run on gasoline and electricity? Even more importantly, if they are supposed to save everyone so much money, why in the world are they so expensive?

“Hybrid,” when used in terms of an automobile, usually refers to a “hybrid electric vehicle,” which is a vehicle that runs on a traditional combustion engine and a rechargeable energy storage system. This combination allows the vehicle to achieve far better gas mileage than traditional vehicles, and it also allows the vehicle to avoid the necessity of recharging its battery, something that all-electric vehicles must do.

A number of different methods can be employed in order to recharge a hybrid electric vehicle’s (HEV’s) batteries without forcing it to charge from a direct electrical feed. Regenerative braking is the method most commonly used in modern, mass-produced HEVs. Regenerative braking is a process that converts kinetic energy acquired while the vehicle is actively reducing speed into electric energy. This electric energy is then either fed directly back into the system of stored for future use.

One of the primary drawbacks to HEVs is the reduction in engine power that results from greater fuel efficiency. Manufacturers are able to control the amount of fuel efficiency vs. power that will be present in any given hybrid. Plans are in place for owners to eventually be able to adjust this variable at their convenience. Indeed, some manufacturers have started using the added power from the electric engine to increase power and performance rather than fuel efficiency.

A hybrid has a gasoline engine much like that of traditional vehicles. The main difference is that the hybrid’s gasoline engine is much smaller. A hybrid also has a gasoline tank. It takes almost 1,000 pounds of batteries to equal the energy present in one gallon of gasoline, so it is no wonder that gasoline is still needed. A hybrid also has a transmission similar to that of standard gasoline vehicles.

Unlike a standard gasoline vehicle, a hybrid car also has an electric motor. The electric motor performs a variety of functions. It acts as both a motor and generator for the vehicle. It can take electric energy from the brakes and apply that to powering the car. Furthermore, it can slow the car down and return power to the batteries. An electric generator is also present with the function of producing electric energy. In terms of batteries, the hybrid’s electric motor can put energy into the batteries and remove energy from them right on the road, keeping a perfect balance of both processes.

While many people hope for a silver bullet for the current energy crisis, hybrid vehicles are a real middle step between traditional vehicles and those that will completely use alternative fuels. Continued research and technological advances will help lower the price of hybrids until they are as affordable as any other vehicle.

Source: http://www.abccarparts.com/