Hybrid-Electric Cars

Hybrid-electric cars got their name because they run on two different power sources--often at the same time. Contrast that with an electric vehicle or a gasoline only vehicle, which run on only one source.

One dictionary definition of the word, "hybrid" is "something of a mixed origin or composition." This pretty much describes hybrid-electric cars, which come from the marriage of two entirely different technologies--electricity and internal combustion.

Hybrid Cars, otherwise known as HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) or Gas Electric Hybrid Cars, are fast becoming the choice of more and more people. Many folks just want better gas mileage. And some folks not only want better gas mileage, but want to do their part to fight global warming along with fossil fuel dependency and depletion. Now, while that's a noble concern, are their efforts nothing but tree-hugging idealism?

Well, you don't have to be a tree-hugger to appreciate this: Many U.S. citizens are realizing that hybrids are one way to help the U.S. escape the choke-hold that the Middle East has on our economy. But it turns out that other hardcore 'non-tree-huggers' are starting to buy hybrids. Why? For better gas mileage? No, performance. That's right, you read that correctly--performance! Read on, you may be surprised.

1st Generation Hybrids were weak as a kitten and slow as molasses. They had small gasoline-powered engines--often 2-cycle like in lawn & garden equipment--that helped charge hundreds of pounds of lead-acid batteries. This sent power to the electric motor. The electric motor propelled the vehicle. These were called "series" hybrids. The little little gasoline engine's job was to charge the batteries, making the series hybrid more of a pure electric vehicle than not.

They were low on power, cramped, and had a short range. They weren't very practical and it would be unrealistic to think that these early designs would be accepted by the public--especially Americans who are used to going fast and far in their cars.

Now, however, most hybrids are made with a "parallel" setup; they can be propelled by the electric motor alone or the gasoline engine alone or by both working together. With much better battery technology, hybrids are now becoming very practical indeed.

The new hybrid electric cars have been designed to take advantage of the best features of the electric motor in combination with the best features of the gasoline engine. What am I talking about here?

Some of today's "muscle car hybrids" have large gasoline engines--not much smaller than non-hybrid cars. As a matter of fact, some have gas engines up to 200 hp or so. The 2007 Lexus GS Hybrid has a total of 350 hp, with 192 hp coming from the gasoline engine. Yet it gets 32 mpg on the highway and accelerates faster than their big V-8 gasoline-only Lexus!

So no longer do you have to settle for low power to enjoy the benefits of owning a hybrid car.

Charles Brown is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Hybrid-Electric-Car.net. You can find more information on hybrid electric cars and other hybrid car facts on his website.