Hybrid cars
From Green Wiki
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a vehicle which combines a conventional ground propulsion system with an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to achieve better fuel economy in automobiles than a conventional vehicle without being hampered by range from a charging unit like a battery electric vehicle, which uses batteries charged by an external source. The different propulsion power systems may have common subsystems or components.
Regular HEVs most commonly use an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric batteries to power electric motors. Modern mass produced HEVs prolong the charge on their batteries by capturing kinetic energy via regenerative braking, and some HEVs can use the combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical generator to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle. Many HEVs reduce idle emissions by shutting down the ICE at idle and restarting it when needed. An HEV's engine is smaller and may be run at various speeds, providing more efficiency.
worldwide[1]
[edit] Types of Hybrid Vehicles
There are two types of hybrids: full hybrids and stop/start hybrids. See also How Hybid Cars Work.
[edit] Full Hybrids
Full hybrids use a gasoline engine as the primary source of power, and an electric motor provides additional power when needed.
In addition, full hybrids can use the electric motor as the sole source of propulsion for low-speed, low-acceleration driving, such as in stop-and-go traffic or for backing up.
This electric-only driving mode can further increase fuel efficiency under some driving conditions. The cars are also very small.
But, the hybrid cars do die out quick and spending alot of money on them would be a waste of time. The are extremely useful while they last, but after that period of time, they die out.
[edit] Stop/Start Hybrids
Stop/Start hybrids are not true hybrids since electricity from the battery is not used to propel the vehicle. However, the Stop/Start feature is an important, energy-saving building block used in hybrid vehicles.
Stop/Start technology conserves energy by shutting off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is at rest, such as at a traffic light, and automatically re-starting it when the driver pushes the gas pedal to go forward.
[edit] Buy a hybrid car?
[edit] Pro hybrid
Neither diesel, nor gasoline, will ever end world oil dependency. Hybrid cars on the other hand is all about batteries, and battery research and development (R&D) will lead to 100 mpg hybrids, well over 100 mpg plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles in the long run.
[edit] Contrabonda hybrid
Hybrid car's energy source is still gasoline or diesel fuel and in that depending on the world's oil resources. More than that, the reduction of the fuel consumtion of a hybrid car depends on the type of the route and driving behavior of the driver. On long distant driving with constant speed, a hybrid car is consuming more fuel than a comparable conventional car, especially a diesel. Additionally to this, the additional components, especially battery and electronics, consume a lot of energy and produce critical waste during production. Looking to the total effect on economy, you must not only look on the well-to-wheel consumption of a car, but to the "dust to dust" consumption for transporting people (see "Dust to Dust" report on CNW research), where relatively simple cars turn out very much better than the hybrid cars.
[edit] Alternatives
The basic problem is the energy source. One alternative to converntional and hybrid cars are electrically powered cars. They dont't produce CO2 at all during driving. But to make them ecologic, the electric power must be produced ecologically. There are possibilities for producing electric power from wind sun or water power, and there are some, which are also economic.
[edit] List of Hybrid Vehicles
[edit] 2004
[edit] 2006
- Lexus GS 450h 2007 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
- Saturn VUE Green Line 2007 model, Mild hybrid
- Toyota Camry Hybrid 2007 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
- Toyota Estima/Previa hybrid minivan, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive (Japanese market only)
[edit] 2007
- Nissan Altima Hybrid (limited sales)
- Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid (BAS) 2008 model, Mild hybrid
- Lexus LS600hL 2008 model Luxury car, went on sale in June
- Toyota Kluger/Highlander Hybrid 2008 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive 2007[2]
- Honda CR-Z Hybrid sports car.
- BMW 1 Series small family car, first in the world with standard mild hybrid technology, Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, electric power steering, electric water pump[3][4]
- Mazda Tribute hybrid, 2008 model, expected to go on sale July 2007
- Chevrolet Tahoe (AHS II) (SUV, RWD/AWD) 2008 model, expected to go on sale Fall 2007
- GMC Yukon Hybrid (AHS II) (SUV, RWD/AWD) 2008 model, expected to go on sale Fall 2007
- Dodge Durango (AHS II) (SUV) 2008 model, expected to go on sale Fall 2007
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[edit] Planned
This section is sorted by expected sale date.
[edit] 2008
- Aptera Motors 2h (three-wheeled, two seat)
- Audi Q7 2009 model
- Cadillac Escalade (AHS II) 2009 model
- Chevrolet Equinox (SUV)
- Chevrolet Malibu (midsize car) 2009 model, Mild hybrid
- Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (AHS II) (fullsize pickup) 2009 model
- Ford Fusion Hybrid (midsize car) 2009 model
- Gaia Transport The Pod One plug-in hybrid sports car
- GMC Sierra Hybrid (AHS II) (fullsize pickup) 2009 model
- Mercury Milan Hybrid (midsize car)
- Roewe 750 (midsize car)First Chinese hybrid car
- Saturn VUE Green Line (AHS II) (SUV, FWD) 2009 model, 45% improvement over non-hybrid version according to GM[5]
- Saturn AURA Green Line Mild hybrid (midsize car) 2008 model
- Toyota Sienna (minivan) 2009 model
- Toyota Prius (5 seat midsize) 2009 model year, third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
- VentureOne Three wheeled vehicle
- Volvo C30 2009 model, diesel electric hybrid
[edit] 2009
- Green Auto Sol, Unnamed next-generation compact hybrid, priced lower than all other hybrids[6]
- Honda Unnamed next-generation compact hybrid, all-new, priced lower than Honda Civic Hybrid[7][8]
- Lexus RX400h 2010 model refresh
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class Mild hybrid[9][10]
- Porsche Cayenne[11]
- Saturn VUE Green Line (AHS II) (SUV, FWD, 2010 model, PLUG-IN capable, Lithium-Ion batteries)
- Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
- Toyota FT-HS Sports Hybrid[12]
- Fisker Karma
[edit] 2010
- Chevrolet Volt production version [13]
- Nissan's original hybrid vehicle is targeted for launch in 2010.[14]
- PSA Peugeot Citroen will market hybrid HDi vehicles from 2010.[15]
- Audi A1
[edit] 2011
- Toyota Camry Hybrid 2012 model, third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive[16]
- Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid concept, diesel-electric engine (under development) in conjunction with new aluminum body
[edit] External links
- Hybrid Vehicle History
- Toyota's hybrid cars information
- Toyota's hybrid car battery systems information
- Hybrid Owners Rank their Favorite Cars
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