Hybrid cars are getting more popular. We see them on the road and in advertisements. The thing is, they look just like regular cars. What makes them a hybrid and why are they special?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a hybrid is something that possesses elements of two different things.
For cars, hybrid means that the automobile has both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. It’s a mashup of a conventional car and an electric vehicle.
What’s under the hood
Hybrid cars run using a gas-powered or internal combustion engine (ICE) and a battery-powered electric motor. It is designed this way to save fuel but also to run more efficiently.
The battery-powered motor runs on low speeds or when the car is coasting or braking. During these instances, a conventional engine would be inefficient because stops and starts and running at low speeds consumes a lot of gasoline.
The gas-powered engine of a hybrid car takes over when more power is needed such as when you need to accelerate quickly or climb a hill.
It is possible to drive a hybrid car on battery alone, but the power will run out after a specified distance at which point the gas-powered engine will kick in.
Does the hybrid car need to be plugged in or recharged?
No. The battery is self-charging.
Hybrid cars have a feature called regenerative braking. When the car brakes, the kinetic energy produced is stored as electricity and charges the battery. This is why hybrid cars are more ideal for city rather than highway driving.
What is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle?
A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) differs from the regular hybrid car in that the electric motor is the main power source and the ICE is the back-up. For this type of hybrid car, you will need to power up the battery using a charging station.
Whichever hybrid car you choose, it will still be an ecologically- and economically-responsible choice. Hybrid cars are designed to wean us away from high gasoline consumption and harmful emissions. Although hybrid cars aren’t completely green, it’s a definite step towards a healthier, greener, and more sustainable future for all.
References:
PHEV: Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Australia | CarsGuide
How Do Hybrid Cars Work? The Truth About Hybrid Car Technology (carsguide.com.au)
How Hybrids Work (fueleconomy.gov)
How Do Hybrid Cars Work? – Consumer Reports
