| div id="body"> | | | | slow-moving reflective magnet on the trunk. However, |
| Drive by any car lot in the United States and ask to | | | | many gas-powered cars are truly "wasteful" |
| see the latest hybrid car models. Don't be stupefied if | | | | resources because out of those 175 horses, you'll only |
| eight out of ten tell you that they can't seem to keep | | | | have to use less than half that power for everyday |
| them on the lot--that they're just selling too fast! There | | | | driving. We don't even have to get into the harmful |
| is reasoning behind the hype: consumers believe in one | | | | environmental factors of pure gasoline engines. We |
| (or all) of three things, that they're going to be getting a | | | | are just now starting to see the results of our |
| better deal once gas prices hit $2.50 a gallon, that | | | | apathetic attitudes on this subject. |
| they're not sacrificing performance and that they're | | | | The engines in hybrid automobiles are usually much |
| helping the environment. | | | | smaller (except in some brand new V-6 models). While |
| Let's first take a look at how these cars are put | | | | this reduces fuel consumption, it means that for the |
| together. First, we have to understand the concept of | | | | extra "power" that drivers are looking for has to come |
| "hybrid". A hybrid car might be defined as any vehicle | | | | from somewhere else. That's where the electric motor |
| that uses two or more sources of energy to propel | | | | and batteries come into play. In some models, sensors |
| itself. Seems simple enough. Hybrid machinery is all | | | | detect that the car is in need of extra energy for going |
| around us in the form of diesel-electric, such as city | | | | up hill, for example. That's when the "hybrid" half of the |
| buses, and nuclear-electric, such as those used on | | | | engine kicks in. It will do a dandy job of giving the |
| many US submarines. So, the idea and the technology | | | | engine that extra oomph or boost that it needs, without |
| have been around awhile--it's just now that another | | | | using any more gasoline. |
| energy scare like that of the 1970s, that we start | | | | Newer hybrid models do a lot of extra tricks so that |
| becoming resourceful and a little ingenious. Hybrid | | | | your car gets as many miles to the gallon as possible. |
| power is on the up-rise (and in-demand) only because | | | | For example, when you're stopped at a traffic light, |
| the two different types of propulsion possibilities | | | | another sensor will trigger the gasoline engine to idle |
| (gasoline/diesel and electric) standing alone have | | | | down to a complete stop, while the car stays "running" |
| proven an ineffective means to get both power and | | | | solely on its electric power. Did I mention ingenious? |
| efficiency in one package. But, working together, there | | | | Since the idea behind the hybrid powered car is |
| is promise. | | | | reduced fuel consumption without the loss of speed or |
| A hybrid car, in modern terminology, is usually referring | | | | power, many cars are being designed to move |
| to any car that has a combination of an electric and a | | | | through the streets with the utmost in aerodynamic |
| gasoline (or diesel) motors. These cars use kinetic | | | | form; meaning that a hybrid will create less "drag," |
| energy (referred to as regenerative breaking), | | | | simply due to its body structure. Many also use much |
| absorbed by your breaks when you slow down to a | | | | lighter building materials, reducing weight and pull. Some |
| stop, to recharge batteries that in turn push the electric | | | | models even have wheel covers and no mirrors |
| motor. All of this is combined into one finely tuned | | | | (replaced with cameras and navigation equipment), |
| schematic--the result being power to the transmission | | | | which saves an enormous amount of energy. |
| and propulsion power (i.e. wheel movement). | | | | Hybrids don't seem to be a fad or some social |
| All hybrids contain a gasoline engine, an electric engine, | | | | experiment. Consumers and car enthusiasts alike are |
| a generator (mostly on series hybrids), fuel storage | | | | enjoying what they're seeing in the market. Everyday it |
| container, batteries and a transmission. | | | | seems a better designed, lighter; more fuel-efficient |
| There are basically two different types of hybrid | | | | and powerful hybrid enters. Recently released models |
| engines. The first is a parallel hybrid. This sort of hybrid | | | | are even beating their gas-powered counterparts. One |
| actually contains both a gasoline and electric motor | | | | boasts a 255 hp engine with other capabilities such as |
| that both operate independently to propel the car | | | | being able to shut down half the cylinders (without |
| forward. It's designed to have two power sources | | | | notice) while in motion to conserve fuel and energy. |
| working with one goal in mind. In many ways, they are | | | | Hybrid-engineered cars cost a bit more too. Usually the |
| still "connected". | | | | price difference is around 3,000 bucks. And, it may |
| The second hybrid is often referred to as a series | | | | take a few years (depending on gas prices) for you to |
| hybrid. In a series hybrid, the gas or diesel powered | | | | actually make the savings in fuel worthwhile. However, |
| engine doesn't connect to the transmission directly, | | | | it's still better for the environment, and that lingers (and |
| meaning that it doesn't actually propel the car by itself. | | | | makes it worthwhile) in some consumers' minds. |
| It actually works indirectly, powering a generator, which | | | | And, if you are still one to wholeheartedly grip the stick |
| in turn (controlled by computer monitoring systems) | | | | of your V-8 without budging, you might take into mind |
| either feeds power to the batteries or directly feeds | | | | that newer hybrid models are gaining on those |
| power to an electric motor that connects to the | | | | petal-to-the-metal peelers of yesteryear. Hybrid |
| transmission. | | | | models are inching nearer to (and even beating!) gas |
| As stated above, hybrid buyers are looking for the | | | | powered cars in 0 to 60 mph road tests. |
| combination (and compromise) of power and energy | | | | So, when you decide that a new car might be a viable |
| that these cars seem to provide. Many gas-powered | | | | option in the near future, don't expect to see too many |
| cars have a lot of horsepower. This is useful for | | | | hybrids in dealers' lots. You may have to do some |
| modern driving experiences. No one wants to be doing | | | | across-the-state driving to find a choice. Do some |
| the minimum 45 mph on the interstate and stopping to | | | | preliminary searching on the Internet and find out what |
| "refuel," as with purely electric motors. Plus, there's no | | | | model may benefit you and your lifestyle the most. |
| need to feel like you should have placed your | | | | |