Hybrid Electric Engines: Some Information
Have you ever wondered about hybrid cars? They certainly look stylish and modern, but what is it about them that makes them so different and so special? After all, many cars look the same these days, do they not? They are all designed by computer to be aerodynamic and aerodynamic is aerodynamic, so they all end up looking indistinguishable to anyone who is not an aficionado.
Well, the fact is that the difference between a hybrid car and a standard car lies under the bonnet. There are different types of hybrid vehicles as well, but the most common sort has a hybrid electric engine. Therefore, you could say that what makes hybrid cars special from most other, normal cars is their engine.
Or engines really, because hybrid electric cars essentially have two engines. One, the internal combustion engine, runs on petrol, LPG or diesel and the other, the electric motor, runs off electricity stored in an array of heavy-duty batteries. On the other hand, ordinary cars only have an internal combustion engine. It is a good idea to examine these two types of engine separately.
First of all the electric motor. Electrical energy is generated by several components on the car and stored in a large bank or array of heavy-duty batteries. The electricity is created by the turning of the internal combustion engine, just as with a standard car, when it is in use, but also by the wheels or / and the car’s braking system. Different models have different methods of creating this electricity, but they are all very hi-tech and very effective.
When the car’s internal computers decide that the car no longer needs the power of the internal combustion engine, it will turn it off and switch to the electric motor instead. The circumstances where this might happen are, for example, when you are driving slowly in inner-city traffic, when you are cruising at moderate speed on a flat motorway or when you are going down hill. This saves a considerable amount of fuel, which is clearly a great saving to you.
However, there are times when you need more power than the batteries can give you, for instance, when accelerating hard, when overtaking or when climbing a hill. At times such as these, the electric motor will close down and the combustion engine will take over and start supplying power to the accelerator and electricity to the batteries. When the need for extra power has ceased, the batteries will take over again.
These choices are all taken by the hybrid electric vehicle’s (HEV’s) on board computer system and you will not notice much other that a rush of power or a quietening of the propulsion system. This works very well in most scenarios, but some drivers of HEV’s would like to have a manual override for abnormal circumstances, such as an undulating terrain.
All in all, cars with hybrid electric engines work very well at reducing fuel bills but they are still too dear to be much more than a gimmicky toy and a salve to the conscience for the well-to-do.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on many subjects, but is at present involved with hybrid electric engines. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at New Hybrid Vehicles.
Hybrid Cars And Plug-In Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars are on everyone’s minds these days. Twenty, forty, or fifty dollars for a tank of fuel? Who in their right mind really wants to pay that sort of money? But, frustrated, the gas consumer sighs, but pays up. However, hybrid vehicles are being applauded for the little amount of petrol they need to operate, and they are flying off the forecourts of car dealerships each and everyday in ever increasing numbers.
However, what about a plug-in hybrid? Most drivers have heard that these cars are great as well. So, someone might be asking him or herself, what exactly a plug-in hybrid is? How they work, and what the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid is?
Plug-in hybrids are able to run solely on batteries, but they use gas also. These types of hybrid cars have some of the characteristics of hybrid vehicles. They are also are very similar to electric vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles need to be charged externally by plugging them into an electrical power source. The combustion engine of plug-in hybrid vehicles is engaged only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if so desired, but it is to be expected that these types of hybrid cars are recharged daily.
Hybrid cars can go just as many miles as a conventional car. Designed to go the extra mile where fuel-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the highway, in cities, or wherever else a person needs to travel.
On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are designed to be driven commuter-length distances, meaning between twenty and sixty miles between destinations. This way, the plug-in hybrid does not have to use its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using fuel as well.
Hybrids help to reduce pollution, but they do still pollute the air. Compared with plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars still have a long way to go as far as pollution is concerned. Because plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don’t have to emit waste gases at all.
Plug-in hybrids really do fight against greenhouse gas emissions and plug-in hybrids use virtually no oil, imported or not. Studies have shown that electric hybrids emit at least 67% less greenhouse gases compared to petrol cars. Since the electric used to power plug-in hybrids is completely renewable, the difference in greenhouse gas emissions may be even greater than the study showed.
There you have it – the major differences between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It could make a big difference, but you would be surprised at how little it actually matters at the moment, but that’s only because plug-in hybrids are not being sold to consumers yet! But this article should make you excited about the fantastic plug-in hybrid car, which will be featuring soon on a forecourt near you.
And it’s going to be a spectacular debut too – people already like current hybrid cars, but they haven’t seen anything until they see the new plug-in hybrid cars. However, for now, maybe we should just be satisfied with what we already have, because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars come out onto the forecourts, something even better might be introduced onto the market.
If you are interested in the insides of New Hybrid Vehicles, please visit our website on http://new-hybrid-vehicles.com