History Of Hybrid Cars

The history and technology of hybrid cars: The past and the future

Most people love their cars to the extreme, but with the constant skyrocketing of gasoline prices, a lot of people are pressed to think of alternatives. For those who want to cut back on fuel money, they may consider buying hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars are a combination of the features of gasoline-powered vehicles and electric cars. The advantage that hybrid cars hold over conventional cars is that they produce fewer emissions and adds considerable mileage.

But first, where did these cars came from and how are they made?

The very first electric vehicle was created by Robert Anderson from Aberdeen, Scotland in 1839. Later in 1870, Sir David Salomon came up with a vehicle equipped with a lightweight electric motor, along with storage batteries that were much too heavy. Predictably, the speed and the range of the car were not so desirable.

Over the years, several automobile manufacturers such as General Motors have improved on the concept of the electric cars, which later evolved into the hybrids that we know today. The most popular of these hybrids are the Insight from Honda and the Prius from Toyota.

These two exceptional vehicles can be used to explain the intricate and sophisticated technology of hybrid cars.

1. Honda Insight

The Insight runs on a system called "Integrated Motor Assist," a term coined by Honda to describe its electric motor attached to the engine at the position usually occupied by the flywheel. This model has two kinds of transmission, the regular, manual transmission and the automatic one.

The advantages of the electric motor on the Insight are the following:

-It can support the gasoline engine by giving off additional power while the vehicle is climbing up or going down a hill.

-The motor can start the engine by itself without the aid of a starter.

-Captures energy while on the process of braking.

The Insight relies on three main areas for efficiency:

-It makes use of lightweight aluminum for its body to reduce the total weight of the vehicle.

-Utilizes a small engine which operates efficiently, which weighs around 124 pounds only.

-It makes use of advanced aerodynamics. The teardrop shape of the car has a lot to do with its performance.

2. Toyota Prius

The Prius utilizes the power split device, an ingenious gearbox that connects the gasoline engine with the electric motor and generator. This allows the car to function like both parallel and series hybrids. The car does not need a starter also, because the device can make the generator start the engine.

Since the vehicle is on planetary gear set, the speed of the electric motor combined with the ring gear spin decides how fast the car will run.

These cars does not require their batteries to be recharged, because the generator located onboard the vehicles monitors the right amount of energy in the batteries.

Both Toyota and Honda allot long warranties for their hybrid models. Both the Insight and the Prius are on eight-year warranties, and their batteries and motors usually do not need maintenance over the duration of the vehicle.




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Questions About Hybrid Cars

Deconstructing Information On Hybrid Cars

If you’re someone looking for information on hybrid cars, the internet offers many interesting sites. Below are some examples of information available in the internet.

Basically, hybrid cars are normal, fuel efficient with two motors vehicle. One motor is electric powered, while the other is gasoline powered. Also, hybrid cars have special system to absorb energy produced during braking. This energy is stored in one of the battery.

Another website started its information on hybrid cars by posing the question: “Why go hybrid, why not a straight gas or electric powered car?” It went in explaining about one of the basic rules of science that the more complex the system is, the greater is the tendency to fail.

When used in relation to two motors, this complexity will mean the propensity of the motors to breakdown. Accordingly, this is the reason why boat owners choose one motor instead of two. But this “scientific problem” is a question, provided that is legitimate, is a question that experts have not fully explained.

Still, other websites labored in explaining the “two-motors, two-trouble” concept.

One website based marketing company tried to explain the reason for double-motor as a way to complement both motors’ strength and weaknesses. Electric motors were supposed to shut off, thereby saving on fuel, during inactivity. Gas motors on the other hand, will take over on high speed driving. During this high speed driving, the gas motor can give more power.

This means, the website went further in explaining that during rush hour when stop and go are more frequent, the electric motor will work its wonders. The electric motor during low speed driving does not produce exhaust, resulting in a much reduced smog levels.

Another website adds information on hybrid cars by explaining the benefit of having this type of hybrid vehicle by concentrating on its self-charging battery. This is achieved making it possible for the motor to recharge the battery onboard while it runs. This battery is then used by the electric motor for its use. With hybrid cars, the gas motor starts automatically when the battery is out of power, it gets low and charges it while running.

Still, another site concentrated on its information on hybrid cars by offering an alternative opinion regarding hybrid cars. The site explained that the only draw back of the technology behind hybrid cars is the equivalent expense. It went into explaining that hybrid cars are outright expensive.

The two motors, says the site, is complex enough for maneuvering, because of its ancillary systems to be managed. With this come also the heavy battery and a regeneration system for electricity production during breaks.

This was quickly debunked by another website, on its information on hybrid cars section. It went into explaining that hybrid vehicles are the most fuel efficient of all vehicles.

Much of this efficiency, the site further explained, originates from an improved aerodynamics (less resistance against air), greatly reduced weight, and its smaller gas engine.

Aside from information on hybrid cars mentioned above, some websites focused on the issue of environmental concerns related to hybrid cars. As a whole, hybrid vehicles offer some space for the environment, in the long run. Even a minute addition in fuel consumption would produce huge amount of emission reduction.

Also, the said site continued, hybrid cars will serve as desirable alternative in large cities, where pollution is worst. Since urban or semi-urban driving is usually characterized by slow-driving, hybrid cars are better suited for they give off low emissions during slow driving, particularly during heavy traffic.

The last website reviewed, with information on hybrid cars, concentrated on “performance” aspect of the hybrid vehicles. This performance is based on the assumption that smaller gasoline engine are more efficient than larger ones. Since hybrid cars have smaller engines, hybrids have more efficiency in terms of fuel usage.

In a small engine, the efficiency can be assured by using smaller and lighter parts. This in turn will trim down the number of cylinders. Further, this will allow the engine operate much closer to its maximum capacity.

Information on hybrid cars is not lacking in the internet. Each with different angle representing different interests. But at the end of the day, it is the interest of the consumer that counts.




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Download your Report on Advantages and Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars


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