How Hybrid Cars Work

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How Hybrid Cars Work - By: Anton Rowd.., Posted on: 2007-08-21

The Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is quite the technological wonder. As a work in progress, the Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology has done much to improve the gas-dependence situation and has saved several households and individuals from having to spend so much on fossil fuels.

So what is it under the hood that is creating all these wondrous things that seem to improve the lifestyle of the average consumer? Let's take a look at how hybrid cars work.

A Combination

The secret is in the term, "hybrid." A hybrid car basically just brings out and maximizes all that fuel economy and consumption and electrical power can do together. By putting together both a gas engine and an electrical motor, the combination permits the car to go back and forth between the energy sources. The usual case in a hybrid car though is that it really depends basically on the battery and electrical motors to run the whole vehicle.

What is the gas for? The engine will still require fuel to run a motor that charges the battery. In turn, this motor charged by the engine runs the whole car. However, the beauty of this set up is that only a minimum amount of fuel is needed to charge up those batteries. Hybrid cars only need so much fuel to fill their relatively smaller gas tanks, thus, saving people from having to spend so much money on their gas.

The Distance

In order to actually see how a hybrid car works, one would have to take one for a spin on a full tank and compare the results in mileage with a car that runs only on gas. One will definitely see the huge difference in cars dependent on electric motors. Going a great distance is achieved by the way the hybrid works. There are 3 essential technologies that allow this to happen.

The first is known as regenerative braking and this involves an electric motor that applies resistance to the drive train which causes the wheels to slow down. The energy from the wheels turns the motor which in real time acts as a generator which converts energy wasted during coasting and braking into electricity. That electricity is then stored in a battery until it is needed by functions in the electric motor.

The next technology used in hybrid cars is the elect motor assist. This elect motor assist provides extra power to help the motor in acceleration like ascending elevated terrains or speeding up. Smaller engines are used which is more efficient compared to when internal combustion engine is used.

Another hybrid car technology that is beginning to pick up in a lot of modern hybrid car is the automatic start and shutdown. This technology allows a hybrid vehicle to stop in the middle of traffic or at a stoplight, thus, shutting down the whole engine as well, ultimately preventing the engine from wasting energy and fuel from just being idle. When the accelerator is stepped on again, the engine will start up automatically and acceleration is made available. It's a clever option that is ideal for city driving. When combined, these three technologies spell how hybrid cars work.

Article Source: http://higradesearch.com

Planning to buy your own hybrid car? Find out more how hybrid cars operate or read more independent hybrid car reviews from Anton Rowd now.
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