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How Hybrid Cars Work
Gas prices are going up. Certainly this isn’t news to many Americans. What is news is the fact that Americans are choosing to do something about this by selecting vehicles with improved efficiency and increased gas mileage. At the top of the heap in terms of improving gas mileage are the hybrid cars. But ho do these technological wonders really work?
First, what is a hybrid vehicle? Really, any vehicle that combines two forms of power is a hybrid. Most locomotives use diesel engines to turn generators that power electric motors attached to the large steel wheels. Some bicycles can be equipped with small gasoline engines or electric motors. At the peak of complexity are the nuclear submarines. These vehicles use nuclear power from reactors to generate steam which is then used to drive turbines for propulsion and generating electricity. So, it seems hybrid vehicles are not new. However, it wasn’t until Honda’s release of the innovative Honda Insight in 2000 that the notion of a hybrid car was really presented to mainstream America.
All hybrid cars available to consumers in the United States currently use electricity and gasoline as sources of power, although several companies are researching the feasibility of producing diesel-electric hybrid vehicles.
Today’s hybrid cars share some common components that make them gasoline electric hybrids. A gasoline engine converts the energy in gasoline into motion by turning the heat of burning fuel into pressure on moving pistons. One or more electric motors convert electrical energy stored in a battery pack into motion. On most gasoline-electric hybrids the gasoline engine and electric motor(s) both drive the same wheels. It is also possible to use a gasoline engine and electric motors to drive one set of wheels while the remaining wheels are driven solely by electricity. This setup is found on today’s all wheel drive hybrid SUVs and on Lexus’ GS 450h sport sedan.
What makes hybrid cars different from electric cars is also what makes them a viable option for so many. Because the vehicles use gasoline engines in tandem with electric motors, the vehicles can charge themselves, negating the need to plug cars in when not in use. The electric motor is controlled by sophisticated computers to drive the wheels when it is efficient to do so and power is available in the battery pack. This is called discharging the battery. When the computer determines that it is more efficient to run solely on gasoline power, the motor shuts off and actually produces electricity as it spins. This is charging the battery. The electric motors can also be used to slow the wheels when braking. This, too, generates electricity and charges the battery. This feature is termed regenerative braking.
That, in essence is how hybrid cars work. Gasoline engines and electric motors team up in a single vehicle to utilize the best features of both. The net result is great mileage, fuel expense savings and comfort in knowing that these vehicles are minimizing impact on the planet’s atmosphere.
Topics: How Hybrid Cars Work | 2 Comments »
June 21st, 2008 at 5:59 am
I found this information very useful. I always ask my girlfriend how the hybird works?! Now I know!!!! It was easy to understand. Thank you!
November 9th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I have alot of safety issues that relate to the Hybrids of today in reference to technical issues that nobody wants to address. To leave the media to misinform the public at large or at the front door of the local county court house is where it
will probably end up. I will get rich selling handkerchiefs to the love ones at fatality acci-
dents due to the lack of education of the
drivers of Hybrid cars. Our society wants all of our enviromental problems solved overnight.But
nobody is committed to the disipline & respect
of proper Hybrid education and/or technology.
For all those tree huggers out there that think
that I am full of balony, I would like to have you
do any,any factual research about a Hybrid car that has been in an accident,abandoned,or used in
criminal activity all over the country.Our law
enforcement and fire & rescue operations are short
or improperly staffed, underbudgeted, overworked,
and have no idea what they are getting themselves
into when they have do deal with a Hybrid vehicle.
Only 3% of fire and rescue depts all over the U.S. have been trained in Hybrid vehicles. What has happened to the other 97% of the training on
this application of Hybrid technology? If you think this is a short term problem with the lack
of public funds,good luck! See you at the court
house.