| What are the new hybrid cars that are available on | | | | hybrid cars/vehicles is generally referred to as mild |
| the market? | | | | hybrids. Examples of cars that fall into this category |
| Any car or vehicle that combines more than a single | | | | are Honda Civic (2004 and 2005) hybrids and the |
| source of power can be called a hybrid vehicle. | | | | Honda Insight. |
| Today most of the hybrid vehicles on the road | | | | On the other hand, once certain conditions are |
| combine gas and electricity to provide the power for | | | | achieved, there are other kinds of hybrid cars where |
| the propulsion to the vehicle. Diesel-electric hybrids are | | | | the electric motor, run by the battery can work |
| the new upcoming hybrid that offers even greater fuel | | | | independently of the gas engine. This happens mostly |
| efficiency with the new VW car being introduced to | | | | when the car is cruising at low speeds, once the car |
| the American market. So how does this most popular | | | | requires more power to run at higher speeds the gas |
| vehicle hybrid (gas-electricity) work? | | | | engine takes over. The third phase where both |
| The basic principle behind the workings of this hybrid | | | | systems work together is when the vehicle is traveling |
| vehicle system lies in the combination of the two | | | | at very high speeds. Another benefit to this type of |
| sources of power-a gas engine and a high powered | | | | hybrid vehicles are known as the 'full hybrids' is that the |
| battery both provide power for running the electric | | | | battery can both get charged and provide power to |
| motor that runs the car. In hybrid cars the batteries | | | | the motor at the same time. Examples of cars that fall |
| don't need to be charged externally because they | | | | into this category are Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander |
| charge themselves by recapturing the energy that is | | | | and Honda Civic (2006 and above). |
| generally lost when a vehicle decelerates or slows | | | | Currently most of the hybrid cars that are available, |
| down. | | | | due to this still being developmental technology, cost as |
| Another seemingly obvious benefit is that they save | | | | much as some of the most expensive cars on the |
| on the amount of fuel giving more miles per gallon of | | | | market, this leaves them out of reach for most people. |
| fuel as opposed to cars that run only on fuel. Even | | | | Until they start being commercially produced in large |
| though in principle the workings of hybrid cars are the | | | | enough quantities to force the prices down they will |
| same (a combination of the gas engine with an electric | | | | they then provide some benefit to the community. |
| motor working in harmony) the combination varies | | | | Another problem that is foreseen with these types of |
| between different kinds of hybrids. | | | | hybrid vehicles is the design of the batteries that have |
| In some hybrid cars, when extra power is required, the | | | | been built to last less than a 10 years. Not a very |
| electric motor is used only to provide assistance to the | | | | ecologically sound design! |
| propulsion created by the fuel engine. The two | | | | One big plus for American owners of hybrid cars are |
| functions (the electric motor and gas engine) have to | | | | that currently they are enjoying tax credits of $2,000 |
| take place separately as the electric motor cannot | | | | to $50,000 from the I.R.S. |
| work independently and the battery also can't get | | | | For more information on how you could by saving |
| charged and provide power to the electric motor at | | | | money on a water hybrid car visit today. |
| the same time. The term given to these types of | | | | |