Entry

What is a Hybrid Car?

Oct 3rd, 2007 19:21
Joseph Then, http://www.hybridcarsmoney.com

An Introduction to Hybrid Cars
Since the introduction of the first car there have constantly been new 
innovations in the automotive industry.  With each new line of 
automobiles there are new ideas and concepts, introduced to help make 
our lives easier and make the vehicles more efficient.
The newest innovation from the automotive industry is the hybrid car.  
This vehicle is designed to use different forms of energy, not just 
gasoline.  There has been plenty of talk about hybrid cars, but still 
many people do not understand them.
What exactly is a hybrid car?
A hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) combines the power of a gas engine 
with an electric motor. These dual engine systems can be configured 
for different purposes such as increasing the car's power and 
improving fuel economy.
An HEV may include a battery, an electric motor, a generator, an 
internal combustion engine and a power split device.  All these 
components make the car able to run on both gas and electric power.
How Hybrid Cars Work
An internal combustion engine is "fueled" by a hybrid's electric 
generator, which acts as the starter, and is used when first switching 
the car on. Once the engine is heated up, it automatically shuts 
itself off and the electric motor takes over. 
A computer within the hybrid is responsible for determining how much 
power is needed from the engine and how much should be used from the 
electric engine, depending on how fast the car is going. Signals are 
sent to a gearbox known as the power split device, which uses a series 
of intricate gears that connect both the gas and electric 
engines/motors together.
The electric portion of the hybrid draws its power from a set of 
nickel hydride batteries. 
Technology and Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars implement some new technology that has not been seen in 
the automotive industry. Most of these advances are strictly for 
hybrid cars, to ensure they operate correctly and safely.
Automatic start and shut-off is a feature that automatically shuts off 
the engine when the car has come to a stop, then restarts it when the 
accelerator is touched. This eliminates the need to waste energy by 
resting the engine.
The hybrid's electric motor gives the car the added power it needs 
when accelerating, passing, or climbing hills, which is called 
electric motor drive. With this extra assistance, a smaller, more fuel 
efficient engine can be used.
Regenerative braking recycles energy when the cars brakes are applied. 
The electric motor is designed to exert resistance to the car's drive 
train, which then causes its wheels to slow down. Energy from the 
wheels is then used to fuel the electric motor, which acts as a 
generator, converting the energy that would otherwise be wasted while 
braking into electricity that is stored in the battery until needed.