What is a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car, by definition, is any car with multiple power sources. In most cases, there are only two power sources, but there can be more. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) comes about when an internal combustion engine (ICE) is mated with an electric power source (generator/motor) to move the car along. But there are other possibilities, including a fuel cell coupled with an electric motor, or a fuel cell mated to a gas engine, or you name it. For the most part, though, HEVs have become synonymous with the term hybrid.

Hybrid Car Features
Hybrid cars tend to come with several things. Regenerative braking helps restore power to the large battery packs necessary for the electric motor (more on that later). Some people claim that the regenerative braking makes the braking feel different.

Also, HEVs tend to shut down the gas engine when the car is stopped. Which means you won't hear the engine start when you turn the key (or push the button, or whatever starts your car up). Also, it can be disconcerting for some people to come to a stop sign and have the engine turn itself off. But, as soon as you start up, or when you attain a certain speed, the gas engine will turn itself back on again.

It's this stop-start feature, or in full hybrids the low speed electric motor only mode, that gives hybrid cars those strange EPA fuel economy ratings. For most ICE cars, the city mpg rating is lower than what the EPA rates the car for on the highway. In hybrids, it's reversed. This causes some people to argue that hybrids are best if you are going to do a lot of city driving. (Read more about the new EPA ratings and how they affect hybrid cars).

Benefits of Hybrid Cars
But why build a hybrid car in the first place? For an answer, check out this previous post on the pros and cons of hybrid cars. I'll summarize the benefits here.

The electric engine allows the gas engine to shut off when the car is stopped. That means you're not wasting gas when you're not moving. Also, electric engines are better suited for low speed engines, while gas engines are better suited for high speed situations. Hybrids allow you to optimize these operations. Fuel economy is higher (one of the more obvious benefits), but you also tend to pollute less. Pollution levels depend on the hybrid car, though, so be warned.

Mating the Two Engines in a Hybrid Car
The mating process between the two engines can be in series or in parallel. When the two powertrains are mated in series, only one of the motors controls the cars movement. The other one simply assists the first, dominant engine. This occurs most often in mild or assist hybrids. The Saturn Vue Green Line Belt Alternator System (BAS) is a good example. The concept vehicle named the Volt from GM is another good example of a series (but not a mild) hybrid.

When the hybrid engine is in parallel, both engines can propel the car alone or together. A good example would be Toyotas' Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). Capable of being propelled at low speeds by the electric motor, the gas engine takes over at higher speeds. This allows both engines to perform in their optimal situation.

Hybrid engines tend to be symbiotic. The gas engine powers the car and the electric motor by powering up the battery. Regenerative braking helps power up the battery pack, which powers the electric motor. The electric motor assists the gas engine or moves the car by itself. It's all quite complicated, but fun to watch happen in the nice graphical screens Toyota gives you in their hybrid cars.

Battery Packs in Hybrid Cars
Obviously, ICE are powered by the gasoline you buy when you fill up at a gas station. The electric motor/generator is powered by a large (and by large, I mean large and heavy) battery pack. Most hybrids on the road today have large Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery packs somewhere near the trunk, or under the seats. (Read about the Lexus Hybrid battery pack).

Most automakers would like to see Lithium-Ion battery packs (you probably have a Li-Ion battery in your cell phone) which can store more energy. But as of right now, they are still too volatile/unreliable when placed in large packs for major carmakers to use. But that should be changing in the next few years. Both GM (with their Plug-In Saturn Vue) and Toyota (next generation Prius/ Hybrid Systems) believe the next generation of hybrids will come with Li-Ion battery packs.

These large battery packs take up a lot of room and are pretty heavy, which adversely affects the fuel economy and the storage space in most hybrid cars. These batteries get their power from regenerative braking and/or from the gas engine. Also, they are very expensive, costing thousands of dollars to replace. Which is why they are guaranteed for the life of the car (read you warranty, some states make automakers guarantee the battery for 100,000 miles).

There are some concerns when it comes to these high powered batteries and how good they are for the environment. But all hybrid batteries are set to be recycled (Toyota has a $200 bounty on each battery pack), and so unlike some lead batteries from conventional cars, they shouldn't end up in landfills.

Plug-In Hybrid Cars
Some groups are advocating the concept of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Plug-ins are capable of recharging the large battery packs by plugging into wall outlets. This brings together the best of two worlds (all electric and all gas engines). By plugging in at night, you get much higher fuel efficiency (on the order of 2 to 3 times what you get with current generation hybrids), because you are able to drive farther on the electric motor alone.

But, plugging in requires larger battery packs, which means Lithium-Ion, which isn't quite ready. Also, some claim that switching the pollution affects from gas engines to power plants isn't going to help much. Advocates claim it's easier to regulate the power companies.

The future of hybrid cars
In the past few years, hybrid car sales have taken off. Despite being only 1.5% percentage of the overall car sales market, hybrid car sales are still seeing phenomenal growth (a 28% increase over last year).

More discounts on hybrid cars are already being seen. The reasons I see for this are 1) federal tax credits are lapsing, 2) production costs are coming down, 3) there's more competition, 4) sales goals are still high, and getting higher, and 5) inventory is up.

Used hybrid car prices should start dropping. While they are still high, they are not as high as they used to be. Consumers don't have to wait three to six months to buy a new hybrid, so they won't be as willing to pay new car prices for a used hybrid car.

Tax credits from the federal government are starting to lapse.
Toyota/Lexus, which sold about three out of every four hybrid cars last year, has already had it happen. Anyone who buys a Toyota hybrid car today is only eligible for half of what they could of gotten six months ago. As of March 1st, that is going to be cut in half again. Then, in September, it will be gone. Honda will hit the 60,000 car limit sometime this year, which means consumers of hybrids from Honda will start losing their tax credit at the beginning of next year.

Michael Doherty writes about hybrid cars at http://hybridreview.blogspot.com. Get the latest news and reviews at Hybrid Car Review.

How You Can Save Money and Energy With the New Plug-in Electric Hybrid Car

A new prototype hybrid car was revealed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Not only does it save on gas, but it can be used to power homes and businesses during blackouts or during hot summer days when energy prices soar.

In addition to reducing energy cost, V2G technology will allow consumers to be able to sell back energy to the utility during the hot summer months when energy demand is the highest. Hybrid vehicle owners may sell energy at the price threshold they select. When the price reaches this point, the utility will automatically take energy from the vehicle. The owner will have enough energy left over for the drive home. Payment to the vehicle's owner can be made in the form of earned credits from the amount of energy used by the utility toward their monthly energy bill.

V2G technology can increase the availability of renewable energy used during peak energy hours. Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) may charge their batteries at night when energy is inexpensive and is generated with a larger percentage of renewable resources. While electrical utilities usually have to buy power from expensive, less efficient, fossil fuel power generating sources during the day or times of maximum demand. But with PHEVs, utilities may purchase the renewable energy stored in the vehicle batteries.

PG&E demonstrated the first-ever utility Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology at Silicon Valley Leadership Group Alternative Energy Solutions Summit in California. The PHEV, a converted Toyota Prius, featured a 180 pound lithium battery that takes up the bottom of a back trunk where a tire would go. The vehicle produces about 9 kilowatts of electricity while the average house uses about 2.5 kilowatts of electricity on hour.

The PHEVs charge by plugging into a three-prong 110- to 120-volt outlet. Flipping a switch sends the charge to the home from the car, if the home needs energy during a blackout or high energy consumption days.

For the demonstration, the Prius ran several lights and appliances after reversing the flow of energy from the outlet to the vehicle.

The plug-ins, like the traditional hybrid, have both electric motors and batteries as well as a gasoline engine which turns on when the car runs about 20 to 25 miles per hour.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle with its larger battery, uses its gasoline engine less often and gets about 100 miles per gallon. In contrast, a 2007 Toyota Prius reaches about 55 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving.

PG&E officials did not release a timeline of when V2G hybrid cars would be available to the general public. Since the auto industry is not yet increasing production of electric vehicles which require larger batteries, the PHEVs are not likely to be produced before 2012.

What this means to you, is that you will have way to turn your vehicle into a power storage system that will conserve energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Nancy Val Verde writes about about hybrids among other topics. You can learn more about hybrids when you visit my blog, Hybrid Technology Reviewed at http://hybrid-technology-reviewed.blogspot.com

The 2 Types Of Hybrid Cars

Many automobile companies have spend millions of dollars each year in research and development of more efficient fuel consumption for cars. Each year more and more cars are rolled out the production plants and there is an urgent call by consumers and environmental groups to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles.

With the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental concerns regarding harmful emissions of toxic gases into our atmosphere, automobile companies are forced to developed radically different types of cars. One of which is the hybrid car

A hybrid is powered by conventional fuel as well as uses electric energy. Hybrid cars have lower fuel consumption and are more environmentally friendly.

All hybrid cars are powered by two engines : a gasoline engine and a electric engine. Typically, they work in tandem with each other. The gasoline engine is used during starting and stopping the car. Once the car is travelling at a certain speed, the electric engine will take over automatically.

In the current market, there are 2 types of hybrid car. The first type is the series. Typically, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Once the hybrid car has attained a certain speed, the electric engine will take over. The gasoline engine is also used to charge the electric engine?s batteries. As you can see, both engines are used in tandem with each other but never together.

The second type is called the parallels. It has the same physical configuration of the series hybrid however the operation is quite different. Both the electric engine and the gasoline engine can be used to start and stop the car. The electric engine is used to boost the power of the car when required. Parallel hybrid cars are more suited for long distance travelling.

Usually, hybrid cars are built using very lightweight materials in order to reduce the load on the hybrid car when travelling. This help to save fuel by requiring less energy to move the vehicle. The tires are made more rigid than conventional vehicles with higher tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency.

In on whole, a hybrid car consumes 50 to 60 percent less fuel than a conventional car. The only obstacle is the high cost at the present moment but I am sure as consumers start to recognize the benefits of hybrid car, the prices will start falling and become more affordable.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology and hybrid car manufacturers articles regularly.

Renault Kangoo Hybrid Car Review

Renault is a car company that has been around the block and back again since their creation. Not all of the history of this company is great. In the early 1980's the Renault company produced some fairly disappointing models, most of which were built in conjunction with other car companies like was the practice of the time. This proved to be one of the largest down turns in the entire world for some of these car companies. Most of the merging was on the part of Dodge, who was seeking a way to cut costs. These cost cutting measures included a partnership with Renault which ended up nearly bankrupting both companies in the end. The cars that were produced at this time of the world were nothing short of terrible. The engines were second rate and most people found that they would not be happy with them because of the major problems that most would find. The problems were then solved as the companies ended the partnerships and today Renault is a highly respected car company all over the world.

The Renault Kangoo is a rather interesting hybrid version. It has been produced constantly since 1997 and has always been pushed as a standard activity vehicle and not one for the every day driving. This has not stopped the sales of this rather strange looking cross between a car and a minivan, just the opposite actually. Viewing this vehicle makes one think of the older style cars from the UK and the other European nations. The box type cargo area is strange looking but it is also very impressive in the amount of room it offers. There is also the matter that most of these vehicles that are produced come standard with four wheel drive. This has made this one of the more popular hybrids in the foreign markets around the world where four wheel drive is much more important. The Kangoo has the electric assist hybrid system that has become standard with most of the vehicles in its class.

The Kangoo is popular with the crowd of mobility impaired persons because there is more then enough room in the vehicle to add a lift and store for wheel chairs and other such devices. This is coupled with the fact that the ride height on this vehicle has been increased, making the extra weight from the lift not even a factor as it has been in other cars.

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Hybrid Cars How They Operate

There are two main types of hybrid cars: series hybrid cars and parallel hybrid cars.

Parallel hybrid cars work by using a combination of a traditional gas engine and a high output electric motor. The different elements of the engine start working at higher or lower levels of output are required. If the car is being driven carefully and accelerating at a reasonable level the electric motor will work on its own until a greater output is needed at a higher speed. Then the small high performances, in terms of fuel economy that is, gas engine takes over. This is a seamless almost unnoticeable process with a smooth transition of control from electric to gas power. Hot Car Forum

As the acceleration is powered by the electric motor the gas engine can be much smaller and more economical. There is no need for a great deal of energy, merely enough to keep the car at a steady speed, or to move the car from a mid range, around 40 mph to a higher speed. This requires a lot less energy than the initial movement from a standstill and consequently can be achieved with a lower level of power.

The parallel system of using both the gas engine and electric motor for hybrid cars means that there is less loss of power as when the car is traveling at higher speeds. As the energy is not required to go through the batteries and electric motor before providing power to the car. When traveling in this mode there is no need for the electric motor to operate and this also allows it to be recharged by the gas engine as the vehicle is traveling along. All ready for when the hybrid car slows and switches back to the electric motor.

Series Hybrid Cars: a series design works by powering the vehicle through an electric motor. The batteries supply the power to the motor. As the power arrives at the motor through the battery, series hybrid cars need a substantially larger reserve of power and consequentially a greater amount of batteries need to be carried in the car.

The motor only uses the exact amount of power required for the task in hand. If you spend hours in a traffic jam, you may get a little hot under the collar but your car will not be overheating. An electric motor does not need to tick over or idle when sitting in a jam; it will simply start turning when you start moving. When driving hybrid cars there will be no power (although maybe a little hair) lost even in the most extreme of gridlocks. As the motor will not be working when the vehicle is still, there is no need for the batteries to be recharged until power is again being lost when the car starts to move forward.

The large battery supply that is required for series hybrid cars is kept supplied with energy by a generator that runs from the main gas power unit. This only needs to operate when the batteries are in need of extra power so for much of urban driving there is no need for the motor to operate as only low levels of power are required. This allows the hybrid cars engine to run without emissions for city driving, especially if some higher powered driving, as for highways or main routes is done, and the consequent loss of power means that the hybrid cars batteries are brought upon to their full power supply by the gas motor when out of the urban environment.

There are advantages to both systems, but overall the parallel system is the most flexible for hybrid cars as it allows for the option of either power source to be transferred directly to drive the car without going through another separate means of transmission to the wheels.

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