Hybrid Cars & How They Work

Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the effect of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere. Hybrid cars look much like conventional cars, but the similarity ends once you look under the hood. Hybrid cars use a combination of fuel sources, both conventional fuel and a second, environmentally conscious fuel source. Hybrid cars are usually more fuel efficient than conventional gasoline or diesel-fueled cars.

Fuel Sources

Hybrid cars use two or more fuel sources, usually gasoline and electricity. Hybrid cars come in two varieties: parallel and series hybrids. Parallel hybrids use both the gasoline engine and the electric motor together to propel the car, while series hybrids use the gasoline engine to directly power the electric motor, or use the gasoline engine to charge batteries, which will power the electric motor. Both types of hybrid cars use a process called regenerative braking to store kinetic energy that is generated by the brakes in the batteries. This kinetic energy is used to power the electric motor.

Fuel Savings

Because hybrid cars use much less gasoline than conventional gasoline or diesel cars, hybrid owners can count on substantial savings on gasoline. Switching from a conventional sedan to a hybrid sedan can result in savings of more than $500 per year in gasoline costs. These savings are realized even with no reduction in driving distance.

Fuel Efficiency

Hybrid cars are designed to be aerodynamic. They work by gliding through the air, rather than by pushing it aside. This aerodynamic design is necessary, because hybrid cars usually have an average of only 60 horsepower, in comparison to twice that amount for conventional gasoline-powered cars. Hybrid cars are usually built with lighter materials than conventional gasoline-powered cars, which also adds to fuel efficiency.

Reduced Emissions

Another important consideration is the vastly reduced amount of carbon monoxide emissions produced by hybrid cars, as opposed to conventional fuel cars. Carbon monoxide is a primary element in greenhouse gases, which are believed to contribute to climate change. On average, a hybrid car produces 80 percent less carbon monoxide emissions than conventional fuel cars.

Considerations

Although hybrid cars are generally more expensive than conventional fuel cars, demand has remained high, even with the economic crisis. As a result, hybrid cars tend to retain a higher resale value than most conventional fuel cars. In addition, a number of state tax breaks and other legislative incentives are available for anyone who owns a hybrid car. It is likely that the Obama administration will propose federal incentives for the purchase of hybrid and other fuel-efficient vehicles.

Resources

• 2009 Hybrid Cars: The year ahead
• Hybrid car information and resources