Hybrid Cars Information

The ever rising prices of fuel and the pollution being generated from automobiles are some of the primary concerns that are being faced today. The best option to get rid of these problems is to use hybrid vehicles. What is a hybrid car? Many people have a misconception that hybrid cars are just a concept and nothing else. Note that hybrid vehicles have been around for commercial use for quite a while now.

What are Hybrid Cars?
Hybrids use power generated from two or more sources for the purpose of self-propelled movement. These cars are typically referred to as Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) which use power generated from an internal combustion engine and also from an electric motor fitted in the system. The main benefit of using these type of vehicles is that they are substantially more fuel-efficient and in turn contribute to lessening environmental air pollution.

Types
Conventionally, there are three types; namely mild hybrid, full hybrid, and plug-in hybrid. In the mild hybrid car system, power is generated from the electric motor as well as the battery, for running the engine. In a full hybrid car, the engine either functions in coordination with other power generating sources or works all by itself. In the plug-in hybrid, the engine serves as a backup power source for the electric motor.

Power Sources
Unlike conventional vehicles, hybrid cars have a wide range of power sources from various natural elements. A majority of hybrid vehicles used nowadays utilize gasoline as their basic power source; however, they do have an option of obtaining power from the electric motor. There are few versions which get charged on their own when the car is running. Some models may even use solar energy, hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, or any other natural gas. When it comes to the fuel economy of these environmental friendly vehicles, a standard hybrid car gives a mileage of around 50 miles per gallon, with only using approximately 33% of fuel consumed by gasoline cars.

General Working
Apart from the best fuel economy potential, hybrid cars are no different from their gasoline counterparts and require no different maintenance routines. In the standard working of a hybrid car, when the vehicle is in slow motion, the electric motor provides power; and if there arises a need for acceleration or faster speeds, the internal combustion engine comes into action. There is another process that provides power, which is known as regenerative braking. The power that is lost when the brakes are applied is converted into electricity and stored in the batteries to be utilized later by the motor. For power saving, the engine is also set to shut down when the car is not in motion.

Common Models
Some of the common vehicle models are:

• Toyota Prius
• Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid
• Lexus RX 400h
• Honda Insight
• Lexus HS 250h
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid
• Nissan Altima Hybrid
• Honda Accord Hybrid
• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Audi Q7 Hybrid
• Ford Fusion Hybrid
• Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
• BMW X6 Hybrid
• Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid
• GMC Sierra Hybrid
• Volvo 3CCC
• Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
• Ford Escape Hybrid
• Lexus GS 450h
• Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
• Lexus LS 600h L
• BMW ActiveHybrid 7
• Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

Out of the above mentioned hybrid cars; some models are commercial models, some are discontinued, while others are just concept cars produced by car manufacturers.