Question about the future hybrid cars

Hybrid Cars - Are Hybrid Cars Really The Wave Of The Future?

The future, a wonderful, mysterious, awe-inspiring time has promises for us. Many dream of ending cancer and other diseases. Others dream of bicycles that fly. And could we someday be able to transport ourselves from one place to another? Perhaps. But some of us have dreams that aren't that big. All we want is a car that runs on something other than fuel.
Maybe one nice sunny day, we could all drive up to the pump and put some interesting chemical in our car that would make it run forever. Maybe we could gas up on some cooking oil or even oxygen. But for now, we have hybrids. Maybe they are the answer to our dilemma. Are these cars the wave of the future?

It seems like they are for many reasons. These cars are electric. "Electric" is a word that is linked with innovation and imagination. Electric signals "power." This of course means the power to run for mile after mile. That's what a hybrid car is all about. When you get in one, you'll know you'll get to where you need to go and you won't have to stop at ten gas stations on the way.

Remember when Edison came out with the electric light bulb? Everyone thought it was a great invention, and it has changed the lives of all of us. So a hybrid car is also changing all of our lives. It's new, and very technologically advanced. Hybrid cars should get the same kind of recognition Edison did. However, hybrid cars do take some fuel to run them, but that doesn't mean we should applaud them for being able to run on both electricity and fuel.

With all of the above reasons, hybrid cars seem to be the wave of the future, but there are a couple of reasons why that may not be true. For instance, there must be some reason why hybrids are not selling more than conventional cars. That's because the average customer who looks at the sticker price on a hybrid car is stunned. It's just too much money for the average car buyer. And how can a car be the wave of the future if it scares people away every time they come to look at it on the dealers' lot?

Since the cost possibly overrides the benefits of the hybrid car, a hybrid car may just be a transitional car, and the actual wave of the future might be a car that is fueled by something other than "fuel." Whatever that "fuel" is, I'm sure we will all like it and then we'll be calling that fuel the wave of the future.

Some people today are already fueling their cars with cooking oil, but that doesn't seem to have caught on world wide like hybrid cars have. Therefore, cooking oil does not seem to be the solution for us. But, maybe some day, people will start fiddling with their hybrid cars and come up with something much better than the design that is before them.

I hope you find this article interesting. Please feel free to reproduce it if you want without alteration and the usual reference to the author.

HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE

Clearing the world's most stringent emissions regulations

HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE pursued outstanding fuel efficiency with the goal to reduce CO2 emissions, and also realized a significant reduction in emissions of other substances in its exhaust gas.

For example, Prius sold in the US complies with the world's most stringent regulation, "AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) Regulation" of the State of California of the USA, while Prius for the EU market complies with "EURO-IV" regulation implemented in EU from 2005.*
Highlander Hybrid has also been certified "SULEV" compatible, meeting the most stringent of California's automobile exhaust emissions regulations "LEV II".

All the models equipped with HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE, including the two models mentioned above, have cleared the stringent exhaust gas regulations enforced in various countries of the world.

* Based on calculations derived from in-house measurements.

http://www.hybridsynergydrive.com/

Toyota To Expand Its Hybrid Offerings

Posted by JoshCalkins on Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Posted in: Hybrid Cars, Toyota.

The Toyota Prius has been king of they hybrid hill for a while now, but with the recent introduction of the Honda Insight (check out our head-to-head comparison here), that may change. The Insight has a base level price tag of under $20,000, and it could very well lure away many hybrid buyers who can’t afford the Prius, which costs about 15% more. Not to be outdone, Toyota says they will be expanding their line of hybrid cars.

The spcific segment that they will be expanding into is the small and compact car markets. Toyota already offers an array of hybrid options for popular models like the Camry, but none of their hybrid models are priced as low as Honda’s Insight. One of the ways that Toyota will be rolling out a cheaper hybrid is to take their compact Yaris model and give it an electric motor to help the gasoline engine.

Price-wise, this makes sense for Toyota. The most expensive options with a Yaris only brings the price tag up to around $16,000, so adding a hybrid drivetrain won’t push the price over the $20k mark. While Toyota hasn’t given a definite date for the Yaris Hybrid’s introduction, inside sources hint at the 2011 model year.

http://www.greencarplanet.com/2009/04/26/toyota-to-expand-its-hybrid-offerings/

Subaru Hybrid Planned For 2012

Posted by JoshCalkins on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Posted in: Hybrid, Toyota.

Subaru will be introducing a new hybrid car in 2012 according to a statement made by Fuji Heavy Industries LTD., the company that owns the Subaru brand. However, while they announced their intention to create a hybrid, they did not say whether it would be a hybrid version of an existing vehicle in the Subaru line or a brand new model. The above pictured Subaru is the B5 TPH (which stands for Turbo Parallel Hybrid), a concept model that premiered in 2005 but hasn’t received much news coverage since. Will the B5, or a newer version of it, be Subaru’s entrant vehicle to the hybrid market?

One thing that is known about the upcoming Subaru hybrid vehicle is that it will be heaviliy influenced by Toyota’s line of hybrids. Toyota owns a 16% stake in the brand, so a lot of Toyota’s hybrid technology will likely find its way into a new Subaru model. The B5 TPH concept had a 2.0-liter fou-cylinder boxer engine mated to an electric motor and provided a sporty, fun drive with improved fuel economy. While the B5 TPH definitely fits in with the Subaru image, don’t be surprised if the first hybrid from the company is a hybrid variant of an existing popular model, such as the Legacy or Outback.

http://www.greencarplanet.com/2009/05/23/subaru-hybrid-planned-for-2012/

Benefits of HYBRID CARS

> PERFORMANCE Nothing is lost in performance by combining an electric motor with a gas-powered engine in hybrid electric cars. Advanced technology like the Toyota hybrid synergy drive powertrain, offers improved power and performance over many non-hybrids. The additional boost in power from the electric motor in certain driving conditions also guarantees maximum performance.

> ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Air pollutants contribute to the global warming of the planet and cause a variety of serious health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightly regulates the emissions coming out of a vehicle's tailpipe. Thanks to efforts from both the EPA (on the regulation side) and the automotive industry (on the compliance side), today's vehicles are significantly cleaner than in the past. Electric cars and hybrid electric cars offer the lowest emissions available, with hybrid vehicles being the most practical. If emissions performance are an important environmental consideration, reconsider one of the hybrid cars.

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Coming in 2009

Volkswagen has decided to launch its first hybrid car, entering therefore in competition with Toyota and Honda in a almost unexplored field for the European houses.

Are Hybrid Vehicles Safe?

The most common question asked by the many buyers that,

Question: Are Hybrid Vehicles Safe?

Answer:

Yes, hybrid vehicles are just as safe to drive as any gasoline-powered vehicle. Manufacturers design them to withstand the same crash specifications as normal cars and they come with the same airbag and restraint systems. Really, the only area that is of any concern is the high voltage circuits for the drive motor assembly. These components are clearly marked with the cables wrapped in bright orange casing and are not located in any areas where the vehicle occupants would ordinarily encounter them.

about.com

Maintaining Your Hybrid Vehicle

Sometimes it helps to get the basic questions out of the way before you dive into the technicalities. We get lots of the same questions about hybrids over and over (Don’t hybrids cost a lot to maintain? Aren’t the batteries expensive to replace? Are hybrids safe to drive?) So if you have these and other hybrid questions burning in your brain, pop on over to our hybrid FAQ corner and put your mind at ease.

Hybrids differ little from regular vehicles when it comes to routine maintenance items. Other than the systems that control the on-board storage batteries and the additional electric drive motor, routine maintenance for hybrids follows pretty much lock step with your father's Oldsmobile. Follow our routine vehicle maintenance schedule to make sure you have all of the basics covered.

If operated as designed, full hybrid vehicles have the ability to shut off their internal combustion engines and operate on the electric motor only under certain conditions. (e.g. low speed maneuvering and light cruising). Needless to say, the engine doesn’t work as hard resulting in reduced wear and tear. Hybrids also often employ regenerative braking systems that both charge the batteries and reduce wear on brake components.

So What’s the Difference?

Well, much of the drive train is different. Because of the way that the internal combustion engine, the electric drive motor and the transmission are mated together to work more or less as an entity, a malfunction in one component can affect the way the others function. Serious troubleshooting, diagnosis and repair of this system is best left to professionals.

Maintenance tip:

You can check the transmission fluid, change out spark plugs and fuel and air filters, but delving much deeper does require specialized training.

Sophisticated Electronics

The complex electronic modules that control the electric drive motor for both propulsion and regenerative braking can generate enormous amounts of heat, so those often have their own dedicated cooling systems.

The battery control modules regulate both charge and discharge rates as well as the state of charge of the entire bank. To operate consistently under all conditions, these systems will often employ both heating and cooling systems.

Maintenance tip:

When performing the regular maintenance on the engine cooling system, remember to check the individual hoses, pipes and clamps as well as any additional filters that may be used on the motor and battery cooling/heating system.

Be Safe - Beware the Orange

Hybrids generally are equipped with dual voltage systems. Though most of the electrical system is safe standard 12-volt, the drive motor and related components operate well in excess of 100 volts. The safety threshold is low and narrow, an electrical shock with as little as 50 volts can prove fatal. To warn technicians and operators of these high voltage circuits, the cables are wrapped in a bright orange casing. To safely maintain and repair these components, the system must be de-powered, a task that is absolutely best left to trained technicians.

For routine maintenance on your hybrid vehicle, see our General Routine Maintenance for Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

about.com

What is a hybrid vehicle?

Hybrids are vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor as the power source. Add a sophisticated transmission and powerful batteries and it's a recipe that makes the most of gasoline, the one fuel that's available in all fifty states--at more than 180,000 stations. Hybrids utilize the electric motor and battery storage to maximize the fuel economy from standard gasoline-burning engines. Depending upon the design and usage, hybrids can boast up to 30 percent fuel savings (sometimes more) over a comparable gasoline vehicle. And that translates into less greenhouse gases spewed into the environment also. Best of all, hybrids are designed for ease of use--just hop in and go.

Hybrids may be classified as the following:

• Mild – uses the electric motor and battery as an assist to the internal combustion engine
• Full – the two propulsion systems (electric motor and internal combustion engine) can work independently or in conjunction with each other
• Plug-in – the internal combustion engine acts only as a back-up to the main rechargeable motor and battery system

http://about.com

Hybrid Cars & Alternate Fuels

Question: Why Should I Care About Using Alternative Fuels Anyway?

After all, it’s the big question on your mind, right: What's the big deal?

Answer:

The reality is that driving your vehicle is the one regular activity that has the single largest impact on the earth regarding climate change.

Yes, think about it: Every gallon of alternative fuel burned is a gallon of petrol not burned. That’s 20 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide not released into our atmosphere, not to mention carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur and more. Plus, each one of those gallons strengthens a nation’s economy and energy independence.

Fossil Frenzy

Did you know that cars and trucks are a significant source—27 percent—of the United States’ carbon dioxide emissions?

Many countries, including the United States, currently depend heavily upon coal, oil and natural gas for energy. The United States actually generates 70 percent of its electricity from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil, but only two percent from renewable sources such as solar and wind. What gives? It’s a complex situation, one that we address in political considerations, in walking the tightrope between industry, government and policy-making.

Yet the facts remain: Fossil fuels are non-renewable which means they utilize the sunlight captured millions of years ago—and are ultimately finite resources that will go extinct, much like the prehistoric creatures for which they’re named. It’s not a pleasant thought: Eventually (and there is great dispute as to when), these supplies will run low and the expense, labor and ability to obtain them will surpass their value.

It’s only a matter of time.

Powered by the Sun

So let’s take a look at renewable resources: Think solar, biomass and biofuels. They are called renewable since they are naturally replenished or re-grown, thanks to the power of the sun, in the natural course of the seasons.

And the power of the sun is a force to be reckoned with: 127 trillion kilowatts (kW) of solar energy reaches the earth each hour, and a mere 92 trillion kWh of energy are used worldwide for an entire year.

The sunshine on our faces, the wind through the trees—have the answers been closer than we thought all along?

Using it Well

And it’s not only how we obtain our energy, it’s how we use it. Have we had so much of a good thing we’ve become mindlessly wasteful?

Energy efficiency is all about using less energy in accomplishing the same amount of work. Economy and energy usage—they’re closely tied. For example, in 2002 the carbon dioxide from energy use rose 15 percent above 1990 levels. And during that same period, energy usage had also risen 16 percent.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to catch all those dollars and "sense" leaking out from homes, businesses, schools, industries and government—to funnel it back into needed goods, education and services? It’s all about getting more bang for your buck.

We’re not into scare tactics—don’t get us wrong. It’s all about starting to solve the problems and not leaving them for the generations following in our footsteps.

Alternative fuels are one step in that direction. After all, if we’re all part of the problem, we can all be part of the solution.

about.com/hybridcarsandaltfuels

Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars combine two technologies, usually a battery and a gasoline or diesel engine. With a large battery, the engine doesn’t have to produce as much power, and doesn’t have to be built to operate over a large range of power requirements, from driving at a constant 30 mph to merging into freeway traffic. The battery assist allows the engine to operate more often in its most efficient range.

Plug-in hybrids use an even larger battery. If they are charged up at night, they can go short distances (20 miles or more) during the day with battery power alone. On average, cars are expected to get about 100 miles to the gallon with a charging cost of $1/gallon.

There are several obstacles to plug-in hybrid cars. The car costs much more, and batteries need to be replaced and disposed of. New coal power plants will spew pollution and greenhouse gases. Batteries are polluting under the best of conditions.

There are advantages as well. Utilities would be able to use more base load power plants (running 24/7) and less of the more expensive peak load plants (not true where hydroelectric power is used for baseload). Oil use would drop dramatically if all vehicles are plug-in hybrids, bringing down both the price of oil and the amount of money going to oil powers.

From National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Standard hybrid electric vehicles contain a small- to medium-sized battery pack and electric motor. These devices help the engine operate more efficiently and enable normally wasted braking energy to be recaptured. While hybridization helps improve the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles, all of the energy used still comes from the fuel tank. Even the energy stored in the battery was once fuel.

In contrast, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have the ability to recharge their batteries with electricity from the utility grid. They typically have larger battery packs and will use the stored electric energy instead of gasoline whenever possible. Under some conditions, a plug-in hybrid may even operate on electric power only. When needed, the engine and liquid fuel will be used to extend driving range and enhance performance. An onboard computer decides when to use which fuel.

Hence its name, a plug-in hybrid features a plug, which can be plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet for recharging the batteries.

Hybrid Cars and Pollution

It may seem excessive to spend so much time and money developing more economical cars as an alternative to gasoline automobiles, especially since the general population seems to be perfectly happy with current automotive technology, but hybrid cars offer another great advantage; far lower emissions.

When emissions or tailpipe emissions are mentioned in a discussion about cars, the terms refer to the gases released by the burning of gasoline that pollute the atmosphere. These gases are Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and Hydrocarbons. These gases, commonly referred to as greenhouse gases, are of particular concern, because of their effect on the earth's climate by trapping heat in the atmosphere that would normally be deflected back to space. The National Research Council performed a study in May 2001 on the effects of greenhouse gas.

“Greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and sub-surface ocean temperatures to rise. Temperatures are, in fact, rising. The changes observed over the last several decades are likely mostly due to human activities, but we cannot rule out that some significant part of these changes is also a reflection of natural variability.”

To see how many pounds of greenhouse gases your vehicles emit every year, click here.

Hybrid cars have been accepted as an intermediary solution to the current emissions problems that we face, as they offer lower emissions than gasoline automobiles.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3835129787356416121

Hybrid Car Facts

• Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius produce 90% less pollutants than comparable non-hybrid cars. By putting less harmful chemicals in the environment, the harmful effects of pollution can be halted or even reversed.
  
  
• The United States government supports hybrid car ownership by allowing a tax write off. In 2005, this rebate may be as high as $5000!
  
  
• While it is true that hybrid cars do have expensive parts, they also have warranties that provide free replacement of the most expensive parts for many years.
  
  
• Hybrid cars show much lower depreciation rates than standard gasoline cars. They are now and will continue to be in extremely high demand, so hybrid cars keep their values very well, making a hybrid car a sound investment.
  
  
• Though hybrid cars have not been on the US market for very long, they have been sold in Japan since 1997. Some consumers worry that hybrid cars may not last as long as other cars, but it is not abnormal for a hybrid car to run like new when it has 250,000 miles on it. The best part - hybrid cars don't require any more maintenance than gasoline cars.
  
  
• Hybrid cars aren't a fad. Nearly every major automobile manufacturer has announced either the launch of a hybrid car or plans for a launch. A large part of this is due to the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) regulation, by which an automaker must maintain a minimum mileage of 27.5mpg across its product line. By investing in hybrid technology, they can offer faster, larger engines in the rest of their line.
  
  
• You don't have to be an environmentalist to love hybrid cars. Consider the following: ACME Construction has a fleet of 10 work trucks that together drive 2500 miles a week, and guzzle $308 of gas a week. A new hybrid truck offered by a major manufacturer can save ACME Construction nearly $7000 per year, in gasoline costs alone. When factoring in lower depreciation and tax incentives, this number skyrockets. Capitalists can love hybrids too.

The Benefits of a Hybrid Car

You might wonder why anyone would build such a complicated machine when most people are perfectly happy with their gasoline-powered cars. The reason is twofold: to reduce tailpipe emissions and to improve mileage. These goals are actually tightly interwoven.

Let's take the example of the California emissions standards, which dictate how much of each type of pollution a car is allowed to emit in California. The amount is usually specified in grams per mile (g/mi). For example, the low emissions vehicle (LEV) standard allows 3.4 g/mi of carbon monoxide. The key thing here is that the amount of pollution allowed does not depend on the mileage your car gets. But a car that burns twice as much gas to go a mile will generate approximately twice as much pollution. That pollution will have to be removed by the emissions control equipment on the car. So decreasing the fuel consumption of the car is one of the surest ways to decrease emissions.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is another type of pollution a car produces. The U.S. government does not regulate it, but scientists suspect that it contributes to global warming. Since it is not regulated, a car has no devices for removing CO2 from the exhaust. A car that burns twice as much gas adds twice as much CO2 to the atmosphere.

Auto makers in the United States have another strong incentive to improve mileage. They are required by law to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The current standards require that the average mileage of all the new cars sold by an auto maker should be 27.5 mpg (8.55 liters per 100 km). This means that if an auto maker sells one hybrid car that gets 60 mpg (3.92 liters per 100 km), it can then sell four big, expensive luxury cars that only get 20 mpg (11.76 liters per 100 km).

You can actually take steps to drive your car in ways that increase its gas mileage. In the next section, we'll look at some tips for increasing the efficiency of your hybrid (or just gas-powered) car.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3835129787356416121

How much voltage does a hybrid car produce?

Hybrid cars have become a popular alternative to traditional gasoline-only forms of transportation. These automobiles combine an internal combustion engine with a battery pack and electric motor. These additional components allow the vehicle to travel longer distances on less fuel and emit fewer emissions.

The battery pack consists of many small, low-voltage batteries called cells stacked on top of each other to create one larger high-voltage (HV) stick [source: Honda]. These sticks are then connected to form one high-voltage battery module. Most hybrids use a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack that can both give and receive power; it gives power to the electric motor and receives power from the generator when recharging. On an eco-friendly note, these batteries can be recycled -- although car manufacturers are working on developing even greener batteries to use in their hybrids.

The amount of voltage in these cars, however small, has raised some concerns about driver and passenger safety.

Why you should not buy hybrid cars?

With the global financial crisis and the unstable gas prices, many people are now turning to fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. The hybrid vehicles have less gas emissions, which will go a long way in reducing the effect of the emissions on the environment. These cars are fuel-efficient and those using them will be able to save on gas expenses. Another reason why hybrid cars are preferred is that they are much faster than the average cars. Buying of these types of cars will depend on the reason why the person wants to have one.

It has been said that hybrid cars offer an excellent way of investing. People have been told that buying these cars will enable them save on the expenses, which they would have otherwise used to buy fuel. However, since hybrid cars are expensive, the benefits will not be felt at once and may take a period of years, before one can feel the tangible benefits of these cars. However, with advancements in technology the costs of the cars will likely fall. Those who cannot wait for that long should not buy the current high costs hybrid cars.

Furthermore, the cars that will be produced with the improved technology are likely to be more efficient than the current ones. Apart from concerns about high gas prices, those who buy hybrid cars do so because of the need to preserve the environment. The amount of gas emissions released to the atmosphere by users of non-hybrid cars is on the rise. However, if one is not driven by the need to preserve the environment and is not worried about the emissions their cars give out, then they are not the right candidates to buy this type of car.

Most of the hybrid cars are available in small sizes. This has been a factor that has made many tall people, who would have preferred using hybrid cars not to buy them. The comfort and the amount of space available in non-hybrid SUVs have prevented many people from using the hybrid cars. For instance, users of Prius have raised safety issues concerning the car model. This model has a curvy interior, which reduces the users' headroom and can cause extensive injuries if an accident occurs.

Even if the one decides to buy the hybrid car because of its potential to save on costs, it will be difficult to know the actual amount of money that will be saved. This issue arises since most hybrid cars do not have alternate non-hybrid cars. For example, the Prius can only be found as a hybrid car and thus it cannot be compared with any non-hybrid Prius car. Another reason why you should not buy this type of car is that, not all hybrids are the same. The ones that are fuel-efficient are normally expensive, while those that are not that expensive do not give the level of fuel efficiency desired. Those who are not technology minded or environmentally conscious should not worry about the trend of buying hybrid cars.

http:// hybridcars.com

Are Hybrids Worth Buying?

While hybrids have plenty of advantages, there are a few things that some people might consider enough of a drawback to steer them away. So, it's always good to learn both sides so your decision is balanced.

The main dissent you will find in the consumer press and the blogosphere involves two basic issues: price and gas mileage. The first makes sense. Just browsing sticker prices of the hybrid sedans and SUVs will reveal that they cost more than many other vehicles. But, the gas mileage issue might throw people for a loop.

After all, hybrids are designed to reduce gasoline intake and to be exceptionally fuel efficient. They are―if compared to a mass of vehicles manufactured each year, especially the likes of the Hummer, Chevy Suburban, or Cadillac Escalade.

But up against other models, the mileage difference is not, these critics say, worth the price difference. For example, the Honda Civic is about $4,000 less the Honda Civic Hybrid. Yet, the mileage difference is separated by only one mile per every eight gallons. The critics conclude that it would take around four years for savings at the pump to make up the cost variable between these models.

Is there truth to this? Definitely. If you look at highway miles, the hybrid acts much like other vehicles. Hybrids burn gas. The electric motor is busy pumping energy back into the battery at that point. Where hybrids really save gas is in the city. That's when the electric motor really goes to work and when idling in traffic causes the engine to power down.

But there other things to look at, and ultimately the debate is a bit like the organic food debate. Is there really a difference? Yes and no. But, the consumer needs to measure whether the pluses outweigh the minuses. Much of this comes down to personal choice and lifestyle.

What we know is that hybrids do burn less gas. They cost more, but there are other financial incentives such as tax cuts offered from the IRS. Perhaps the biggest plus is the emissions factor. Hybrids release much less pollution into the air than a car that runs solely on gasoline.

But, is it better than, say, biodiesel or hydrogen? Well, probably not. However, while the former is really starting to hit the market; the latter appears years away. The best bet is simply to do plenty of research on all types of vehicles until you have a firm enough grasp of the pluses and minuses to make your own choice.

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/hybrid-cars.php

The Makings of a Hybrid.

So what is the hubbub all about? What makes these cars so special that South Park will devote an entire episode to them (and the people who drive them)? There are two types of hybrid vehicle: parallel and series. Both essentially function on the same principles, with only slight variations. Both are equally complicated, but here are the basics.

Parallel Hybrid

This type of design involves the two means of generating power: an engine fueled from a gas tank and an electric motor supplied by batteries that generally reside under the floorboards. Both connect autonomously to the transmission, which in turn propels the vehicle. The electric motor also functions as a generator that amasses excess energy derived from the heat of braking and returns it to recharge the batteries. The power to make the vehicle function comes from two independent sources (although not necessary equally), thus you have a parallel arrangement.

Series Type Hybrid

In this setup, you have one system affecting the other. The engine (also attached to a fuel tank) in this case powers a separate generator. The generator then employs the electric motor, which runs the transmission that drives the vehicle. The generator, much like with the parallel hybrid, also gathers and stores energy from the brakes and dumps it into the batteries to keep them fresh.

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/hybrid-cars.php

How a Hybrid Car Works?

Hybrid means a mix or fusion. In the case of hybrid cars, it refers to the employment of dual means to power a vehicle.

In 1997, Toyota introduced the groundbreaking Prius hybrid automobile. The futuristic-looking car was still powered by an engine. You still had to take it to the pump and fill it with gasoline. But something was profoundly different about this vehicle, which had managed to come out of production two years ahead of schedule. The buzz had to do with the electric motor that worked in unison with the engine, allowing for efficiency that until this point was associated only with mopeds and cars you plugged into the wall.

The press was curious; drivers were perplexed. Wasn't this still half an electric car? It had batteries, after all. So didn't it need to endure the same critical feature of the electric car: the recharge; the long power cord stretching from the car to a portable generator or electrical outlet?

But that was the key behind the new technology: A consumer now had many of the benefits of the electric car, without having the nuisances. The batteries in the Prius recharged internally. Thus, no need to hook the vehicle into a wall. Another drawback associated with the electric car―power―was also solved with the inclusion of a regular, albeit small, gasoline engine.

Much of the technology for the hybrid vehicle had been floating around research centers and hobbyists' garages for decades. Now a vehicle was finally available to the public (at least in Japan) that blew away the miles-per-gallon (mpg) averages of standard vehicles. Instead of 15 to 20 mpg, the Prius was getting in the neighborhood of 50 mpg. That was pretty close to the electric car. Plus, the emissions were greatly minimized.

Of course, during the booming 1990s, the bigger the vehicle the better―and the fact that gas was cheap made the mileage issue a moot point. Honda came out with the Insight a couple of years later, which topped 70 mph on the highway. Still, the big SUVs ruled the road.

In 2000, hybrids became available in the United States and were an instant hit, especially with the environmental crowd. The vehicles were so popular that dealerships couldn't keep them in stock―and still can't. There is generally a waiting list of up to six months before the car is delivered.

Today, things have changed, and bigger only means you will have a big hurt at the gas pump. Gas tops $3 in many parts of the country, and the demand for vehicles with better fuel efficiency could not be higher.

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/hybrid-cars.php

How can hybrid cars utilize solar power?

One thing some drivers like about fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrid cars is that they attempt to save as much energy as possible while the car is running. When you're stopped at a stoplight, for instance, many hybrid systems will switch off the gasoline engine completely; as the car starts once again and begins to moves forward, it uses only the electric motor, which creates little or no emissions and saves fuel until the driver reaches higher speeds.

But what if hybrid cars could save energy and promote eco-friendly driving even while the car is turned off?

Of course, some hybrid cars do this already. Plug-in hybrids, when they're parked, can charge their batteries using common electrical outlets to increase the vehicle's range. This buys the driver a little more time before the gasoline-powered engine kicks in and improves overall fuel efficiency. But charging a plug-in hybrid still involves consuming energy from the electrical grid, which, in most cases, generates power by burning coal and other carbon-based fuels that pollute the environment and contribute to global warming.

But some automakers are thinking about getting energy from a source that's located far, far away from the Earth -- the sun. Solar panels that gather energy from the sun's light have been around for many years at this point. In fact, some people even install solar power in their homes as a way to remove themselves from the power grid. But solar panels on cars haven't always been practical, mostly because of how expensive the technology is. Some carmakers, however, including Toyota and Audi, are introducing solar panels onto their hybrid models.

And as people worry about the price of gas and the impact fossil fuels have on the environment, solar panels might seem like a novel solution to increase fuel economy and make green driving easier for commuters. But how can a hybrid car make good use of solar panels? And to what extent do they power a hybrid car? Can they help power a hybrid's electric motor, or would solar panels assist other systems throughout the vehicle? How much would adding solar panels to your hybrid car cost, and would it really be worth it? Keep reading to find out.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/hybrid-technology/hybrid-cars-utilize-solar-power.htm

Hybrid Cars

The one consumer decision most people make which impacts the greatest on the environment is the choice of car we drive.

Hybrid Cars offer drivers an innovative, efficient, and affordable option. After years of 'on the road' development, gas-electric hybrid cars have become a practical choice for consumers.

A hybrid car features a small fuel-efficient gas engine combined with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge automatically while you drive.

There are two types of gasoline-electric hybrid cars: the parallel hybrid and the series hybrid. In a parallel hybrid car, a gasoline engine and an electric motor work together to move the car forward, while in a series hybrid the gasoline engine either directly powers an electric motor that powers the vehicle or charges batteries that will power the motor.

Hybrid cars also gain efficiency from:

Smaller and more efficient engines.
Regenerative braking - the electric motor that drives the hybrid can also slow the car. In this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down.
Periodic engine shut off - when a hybrid car is stopped in traffic, the engine is temporarily shut off. It restarts automatically when put back into gear.
Advanced aerodynamics - to reduce drag
Low-rolling resistance (LLR) tires - narrow, stiffer tires have less drag
Lightweight materials - increases the efficiency of hybrid cars.


2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

4 door/5 seat sedan
transmission: CVT automatic or manual
mileage (mpg): 40 city/ 45 hwy
range per fillup: 650 miles
2009 US Base Retail Price: $23,550


Features
Full climate control, Micron air filtration
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
Speed-Sensitive Volume Control (SVC)
New USB Audio Interface
Keyless Remote Entry

Specifications
110-hp, 1.3 litre SOHC i-VTEC® Engine 4-Cylinder Engine with Integrated Motor Assist IMA®
Drive-By-Wire™ Throttle System
Electric Power Steering (EPS), variable-assist rack-and-pinion
Fuel Capacity/Type Required: 12.3 gallons (46 liters) / Regular Unleaded
Brakes: Power-assisted ventilated front disc/rear drum with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Tires: P185/70R14 LLR (low rolling-resistance) on 14" aluminum alloy wheels; All-Season Radials


2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid

4 door/5 seat SUV
transmission: 4-speed CVT automatic
mileage (city/hwy): 25/32
range per fillup: 585 miles
2009 US Base Retail Price: $27,930

Features
Two-Mode Hybrid gas/electric powertrain
AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player; 6 speakers
Solar-Ray deep-tinted windows
Tire-pressure monitor system
Steering wheel integrated audio control

Specifications
ECOTEC 2.4L 4-cylinder, Hybrid (172 hp [128.3 kW] @ 6500 rpm, 167 lb-ft of torque
Steering: Rack-and-pinion with electric power assist
Drivetrain: Front Wheel Drive
Fuel Capacity/Type Required: 18 gallons / Regular Unleaded
Brakes: 4-wheel disc brakes with standard 4-wheel Anti-lock Brake System
Wheels: 17" w/ aluminum alloy rims; Tires: P225/60R17 all season, blackwall, LLR

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