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Hybrid Cars

For a car to be considered a hybrid, it must use two or more distinct power sources. The majority of hybrids combine internal combustion engines with an electric motor.

Hybrid Power Sources

  • Rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS)
  • Compressed air
  • Coal
  • Electricity
  • Compressed natural gas
  • Liquefied natural gas
  • Hydrogen
  • Liquid nitrogen
  • Petrol fuel
  • Diesel fuel
  • Waste heat from internal combustion

Hybrid Electric Vehicles and PHEVs

When discussing hybrid vehicles, most of the time you will be referring to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) which include the AHS2 made by Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Saturn; the Toyota Prius; the Camry hybrid and the Honda Insight.

HEVs increase gas mileage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

There are also PHEVs, or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, which are fuel-electric hybrids that can be connected to power supplies to avoid charging with the on-board internal combustion engine. An example of a PHEV is the Ford Escape hybrid model.c

Fuel Cells

Fuel cell hybrids are electric vehicles equipped with fuel cells, which is an alternative mode of power that uses hydrogen as fuel. An example of a fuel cell hybrid is the Ford Edge Hyseries Drive or the Honda FCX.

Hybrid Emissions

One of the major reasons to have a hybrid vehicle is for environmentally-friendly purposes. Hybrids get close to or are lower than the recommended emission levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. While recommended levels for passenger vehicles are around 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide, most hybrid vehicles produce 4.1 metric tons or less.c

Hybrid Car Timeline

  • 1899: Ferdinand Porche develops the Mixte a series hybrid with a top speed of 31 mph.
  • 1906: Belgian engineer Henri Pieper develops the system to recharge a battery using an electric generator run by a gasoline engine.
  • 1913: The advent of the self-starter all but wipes out steam and electric-powered vehicles.
  • 1968-1971: Baruch Berman, George H. Gelb and Neal A. Richardson develop a practical hybrid powertrain.
  • 1976: U.S. Congress enacts the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act.
  • 1979: David Arthurs creates a stir when he converts his Opel GT into a hybrid car using only $1,500 worth of standard components.
  • 1989: Audi develops the experimental Audi Duo.
  • 1993: The Clinton Adminitration enacts the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles initiative.
  • 1997: The Toyota Prius is introduced in Japan.
  • 1999: Honda releases the Insight.
  • 2001: The Toyota Prius is made available in the United States.

References

Cars, Money and You Course

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Fast Facts

  • Hybrid Car

    A vehicle that has two or more power sources

  • Term often used for

    HEV, PHEV and flex-fuel cars

  • Makers

    Toyota, Honda, Ford, Lexus and Nissan

  • Flex-fuel

    Is a car that uses more then one type of fuel

  • First electric car

    Invented in the U.S. by William Morrison

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