An Introduction to Hybrid Cars

Since the introduction of the first car there have constantly been new innovations in the automotive industry.  With each new line of automobiles there are new ideas and concepts, introduced to help make our lives easier and make the vehicles more efficient.

The newest innovation from the automotive industry is the hybrid car.  This vehicle is designed to use different forms of energy, not just gasoline. 

What exactly is a hybrid car?

A hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) combines the power of a gas engine with an electric motor. These dual engine systems can be configured for different purposes such as increasing the car's power and improving fuel economy.

An HEV may include a battery, an electric motor, a generator, an internal combustion engine and a power split device.  All these components make the car able to run on both gas and electric power.

5 Common Myths About Hybrid Cars

People often believe these common myths about hybrid cars and sometimes that can cause a person to not even consider a hybrid car.  It is best to understand the facts from the myths so you can develop a correct image of what a hybrid car really is.

Myth: Hybrids must be plugged into an outlet

Fact: When the word of a car that used electricity hit the mainstream, people assumed it must be plugged into an electrical source to be charged. However, the typical hybrid utilizes an advanced technology that recycles energy into electricity, eliminating the need to be charged in an outlet, but now, there is the all-electric vehicle (EV), which does need to be "plugged in" to be charged.

Myth: Batteries in hybrids often need replaced

Fact: A hybrid car's battery will usually last around 150,000 to 200,000 miles or more, which is far longer then the typical car battery.

Myth: Hybrids are a new technology

Fact: The idea for the first hybrid "car" dates back a few centuries as people looked to steam as a way to power a vehicle.

Myth: Hybrids aren't powerful

Fact: Hybrid cars have a distinct edge over conventional vehicles since they have two forces of power working to accelerate the car as opposed to one.

Myth: Hybrids are too expensive

Fact: Besides saving on gasoline, the cost of many hybrid vehicles are coming down as technology as well as interest continues to grow.

How Hybrid Cars Work

An internal combustion engine is "fueled" by a hybrid's electric generator, which acts as the starter, and is used when first switching the car on. Once the engine is heated up, it automatically shuts itself off and the electric motor takes over.

A computer within the hybrid is responsible for determining how much power is needed from the engine and how much should be used from the electric engine, depending on how fast the car is going. Signals are sent to a gearbox known as the power split device, which uses a series of intricate gears that connect both the gas and electric engines/motors together.

The electric portion of the hybrid draws its power from a set of nickel hydride batteries.

Technology and Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars implement some new technology that has not been seen in the automotive industry. Most of these advances are strictly for hybrid cars, to ensure they operate correctly and safely.

Automatic start and shut-off is a feature that automatically shuts off the engine when the car has come to a stop, then restarts it when the accelerator is touched. This eliminates the need to waste energy by resting the engine.

The hybrid's electric motor gives the car the added power it needs when accelerating, passing, or climbing hills, which is called electric motor drive. With this extra assistance, a smaller, more fuel efficient engine can be used.

Regenerative braking recycles energy when the cars brakes are applied. The electric motor is designed to exert resistance to the car's drive train, which then causes its wheels to slow down. Energy from the wheels is then used to fuel the electric motor, which acts as a generator, converting the energy that would otherwise be wasted while braking into electricity that is stored in the battery until needed.

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