How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

Webster's Dictionary defines a "hybrid" as something derived from heterogeneous sources, or composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds: a hybrid of the academic and business worlds for example. But, how does a hybrid automobile actually work? What is it that takes place while driving that can give you 20 or 30 more miles per gallon than the standard automobile?

Considering the definition above, a hybrid powered vehicle is a vehicle that is composed of two or more different and/or incongruous kinds of propulsion. In this way a hybrid powered vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle. They operate by combining an electricity-run motor, a gasoline engine and maximum-powered batteries. These batteries provide energy for the electric motor and recharge when they recapture the energy that is usually lost when the car is decelerating or while coasting.

Regenerative breaking is the term for this process. In specific driving instances, the energy coming from the gas engine can also charge the battery simultaneously. Because of this, there is no need to plug in hybrid cars. Although hybrid powered vehicles have smaller engines than most conventional cars, an extra boost of horsepower comes from the electric motor. Therefore, hybrid cars rely less on the gasoline engine and as a result provide increased fuel economy and lower air pollution. HEVs also convert energy normally wasted when the car coasts or brakes into electricity that gets stored in the battery until utilized by the electric motor.

For our purposes, let's classify hybrid cars into two categories to better understand how the battery functions and how the gas engine and the electric motor work when put together. There are two kinds of hybrids: the mild hybrids and the full hybrids. Each of these kinds have different approaches when combining the three components.

Mild Hybrid Cars and How They Work

In this type of hybrid car, the electric motor is only an assistant when it comes to operating the main propulsion. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the gas engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine to be used. It is the gas engine, however that provides the major energy needed.

The motor depends on the gas engine to be able to operate. The electric motor is capable of eating up electricity from the batteries, or it can come up with energy for it, but the electric motor cannot do these functions at the same time. This type of sytem is used in two of Honda's hybrid models, the Insight and the Civic hybrid.

Full Hybrid Cars Work and How They Work

The distinction of the full hybrid from the mild variety is that the electric motor and the gas engine can operate on its own. In most instances, the electric motor can function by itself in low speed, and once it picks up, the gasoline engine automatically takes over. Both the electric motor and the gas engine can function as a team, so to speak, if the car is in hard acceleration.

This combined effort provides a hybrid powered car the power that it requires for each different situation. Full hybrid cars can consume and build up electricity simultaneously. The full hybrid setup can be found in models such as the popular Toyota Prius, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and the Escape hybrid from Ford.

For example, you can look at the way the Toyota Prius works. The Prius runs on a technology called the Hybrid Synergy Drive, which involves a power split device to combine the energy of the electric motor and the gas engine. This technology, known as HSD, enables an effortless switching of power sources that the car's driver would not notice during normal driving situations.

Unlike the other mild hybrid types, the Prius can be operated by the electric motor alone powered by the battery pack. As a result, a motorist can drive silently for short amounts of time. The Honda hybrids on this level cannot function just by the electric motor.

While speeding up a highway, the Prius utilizes the gas engine as its main operator, and can get assistance from the generator if needed. Then this hybrid car shuts off the gas engine automatically during stops. This contributes greatly in mileage improvement and produces less emission.

To sum up, the main goal of hybrid powered cars are to provide options for economy and efficiency amid the growing need for better forms of transport. Environmentally-conscious individuals would find heaven with hybrid cars. However, since they are just being introduced in the market, they can come at quite an expense. With increased sales numbers, it is hoped that more hybrid cars will become accessible to everyone in the future.

How does a hybrid automobile actually work? What is it that takes place while driving that can give you 20 or 30 more miles per gallon than the standard automobile? Information about the Author: For more information on how Hybrid Cars Work, please visit http://www.HybridPoweredCars.com Environmental Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

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