- Most of the hybrid cars use both gasoline and electricity to power the transmission. While gas-powered cars are easy to refuel and can travel long distances, they also create excessive air pollution and rarely get good gas mileage. Electric cars are easier on the environment, yet inefficient, requiring battery charges every 100 to 200 miles. A hybrid marries the best aspects of both gasoline and electric cars.
- A hybrid vehicle contains an electric motor that plays the part of both a motor and a generator. The motor pulls energy from the battery, which then causes the vehicle to move forward. When the vehicle slows down, the motor disperses energy back into the battery, storing it for later use.
- One of the key differences between conventional cars and hybrids is the size of the car's gasoline engine. In a hybrid, the gasoline engine is much smaller, which increases the vehicle's overall efficiency. Most of the parts in a hybrid vehicle are lightweight, causing it to expend less energy while attempting more strenuous tasks, such as climbing a steep grade or carrying a heavy load.
- Hybrid cars have a secret weapon: the battery. Unlike a conventional car, a hybrid's battery is constantly drawing in energy when the car's brake is implemented. This energy is recycled and put into action when the car suddenly accelerates or drives up an incline. Thanks to this stored energy, hybrids average more than 50 miles per gallon.
- There are two different types of hybrid cars, the parallel and the series. The more popular of the two, the parallel hybrid, optimizes both the electric motor and the engine, causing them to turn the transmission at the same time. This means that power can be used from either source at any time. With the series hybrid, the gas tank provides fuel to the electric motor, which then provides energy to the transmission or stores the energy for later use.
- Since hybrids don't require the use of a gasoline engine at all times, the engine can be shut off when the car is idling at a stoplight or stuck in traffic. Hybrid cars also use special tires that are inflated to a higher pressure than tires on conventional tires. These tires are also stiffer, creating a smooth, high-traction driving experience.
