Understanding Hybrid Technologies

Hybrid technologies are rising in popularity all across the world. Since the global warming awareness began, there has been increased research on carbon and other toxic chemical emissions. Most of these toxins are given off through the cars we drive. There are millions of cars on the road, all adding to the pollution of the Earth. Hybrids have been gaining steam because they are low emission vehicles and they also save gas compared to their regular counterparts. Hybrids save vital natural fossil fuel resources such as gas and oil. Hybrids also allow us to save these resources. Here is how hybrid technologies work.

Engine
Hybrid cars typically have two different motors; a gas engine and then an electric motor. The electric engine works when there is no need for a gas engine, such as in traffic, going at low speeds, or even up to a range of miles. This is a direct way to save gas money because you will be using much less gas. Less gas means fewer emissions. Hybrid cars do use gasoline, at higher speeds or when the electric battery runs out of charge.

Fuel Economy
Hybrid car fuel economy is typically much better than standard cars. There are many reasons for this. Hybrid cars not only have superior technology installed, but they are also made incredibly light and aerodynamic compared to other cars. This does cause some of the cars to look a little unorthodox, but it saves you fuel in the end. Most hybrids get at least 30 miles per gallon, but some of them boast a fuel economy of over 50 miles per gallon. Some have eclipsed the 100 miles per gallon mark, like the Chevy Volt.

Plug In Hybrid
The Chevy Volt, for example, is a plug in hybrid. This type of hybrid allows you to plug in your car to any outlet to charge the battery. It can go up to 50 miles without going into the gas tank, at no loss of power or speed. You can drive to a food store, your job, post office, anywhere close, and then back to your home without using gas. It really is something, and filling up your tank in an outlet costs about 4 to 5 times less per gallon than a tank of gas.

Overall, hybrid technologies are starting to become more visible on the road. More people are switching to these cars from their old gas guzzlers for reasons such as the environment, but probably most importantly, to save money.

Hybrid Technologies vs. Unleaded and Diesel Engines

Lots of drivers are looking at hybrid technologies and how they compare to unleaded and diesel engines.

Unleaded and Diesel Engines
In the traditional gasoline engine, the engine block is the "single power driver" for the vehicle. A fuel and air mix powers the engine, which routes power to the various components of the vehicle that require a constant source of energy. A certain amount of fuel is burned while the engine is on, even if it is idling.

Hybrid Engines
The hybrid engine revolutionizes MPG, often providing up to 50 or 60 miles per gallon. But how does a hybrid engine accomplish this?

A common type of hybrid engine is a dual power system that uses a gasoline engine in conjunction with a battery panel to power a vehicle. When the vehicle needs to accelerate, the gasoline engine provides the high horsepower that cars were traditionally built to provide. However, in between times of acceleration, the gasoline engine can actually shut down. An electronic power system takes over to move the vehicle at slow speeds or to eliminate gas needs while the vehicle is idling.

The Results
With a conventional gasoline engine, MPG dips as the vehicle idles. With the hybrid engine, all of that MPG loss is contained, because the engine is shut off when it is no longer needed. In addition, many types of hybrid vehicles have what's called "regenerative braking." In this kind of system, power generated by the friction of the brakes is routed into the battery system to be used later.

Drivers looking to purchase either a hybrid vehicle or a conventional gasoline powered vehicle can use the above to understand how these two technologies differ. Look for advanced MPG monitoring systems in newer vehicles that will show you more about how a particular car or truck achieves high miles per gallon through competitive engineering.