- Driven by rising environmental awareness and gasoline prices, the popularity of hybrid cars is growing. One of the keys to understanding this popularity and whether this type of passenger vehicle is right for you is to take a look at how it is made. The first thing to remember is that, when it comes to the technology, not all hybrid cars are created the same.
- Hybrid cars, also known as hybrid-electric cars, are a cross between a conventional gasoline-powered car and an electric car. The internal combustion engine is combined with a battery-powered electric motor, which charges by recovering the energy that traditional cars lose during braking. When needed, power from the gasoline engine can be regenerated to charge the battery. Because the hybrid car recharges in this way, it can be driven without having to plug in for recharging.
- Hybrid cars can be divided into two basic types depending on degree of hybridization, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists: "mild" and "full." Mild hybrid cars such as the Insight, Civic and Accord hybrids by Honda are made using three key technologies: an electric motor to assist a conventional engine; regenerative braking; and engine shut-off at stoplights, allowing the vehicle to save fuel.
- Full hybrid cars feature two additional technologies that provide further energy savings and environmental performance. The electric-only feature seen in the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid uses only the electric motor and battery pack, thus fully engaging the electric side of the dual system. Not least, an extended battery-electric range feature allows the battery to be recharged from a clean energy grid, also called a "plug-in." This allows the car to function solely as a battery-electric vehicle for up to 60 miles, thus improving environmental performance if clean sources of electricity are used.
- Composed of these technologies, the car's drivetrain transfers power to the wheels using one of three designs. In the "series drivetrain," the motor obtains electric power from either the battery pack or a generator run by a gasoline engine. A "parallel drivetrain" is made using both the engine and the electric motor to generate the power that drives the wheels. Finally, the "series/parallel drivetrain" combines the parallel and series drivetrain designs, allowing the engine to both drive the wheels directly and disengage from the wheels so that only the electric motor powers the wheels.
