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Auto
Hybrid Vehicles
Automobiles have become essential to our daily lives and many of us find it nearly impossible to live without one. With the rising cost of gasoline and concerns about the detrimental effect that tail pipe emissions have on the environment, automotive manufacturers are developing alternative power train technologies for automobiles. Any vehicle that uses two or more sources of power for propulsion is labeled a hybrid.
Recently, consumer interest has peaked in vehicles with hybrid power trains. However, hybrid technology is not generally understood, which probably accounts for the difference between those who say they would consider a hybrid vehicle (as many as 48% of all buyers) and those who actually buy one.
Hybrid vehicle technology represents the bridge between today and the electric vehicles of tomorrow. While more costly to purchase, these vehicles get better fuel economy and emit fewer harmful emissions than a comparable gasoline-powered car.
What is a hybrid vehicle?
A hybrid is any vehicle that use two or more sources of power for propulsion. In most applications, a conventional gasoline combustion engine and an electric motor along with a high voltage nickel metal hydride battery (Ni-MH) is used. At the present time the high voltage battery volts can be between 150 to 330 volts.
There are two common types of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) systems in use today:
- Parallel or full hybrid: The gasoline engine and electric motor can operate independently of each other - meaning the vehicle can be powered using only electricity.
- Series or mild hybrid: The electric motor serves only to assist the gasoline engine.
Since manufacturers of these vehicles believe these names may cause confusion among consumers, terms "full hybrid" and "mild hybrid" are most commonly used.
Hybrid vehicle technology represents the bridge between today and the electric vehicles of tomorrow.
Hybrid vehicle efficiency
Hybrid vehicles use a technology called regenerative braking. While the technology itself is quite complex, the concept is quite simple: when decelerating or braking, kinetic energy (heat energy) that would normally dissipate to the air is captured and subsequently converted into electric energy. This energy is then used to recharge the battery, further increasing the hybrid system's efficiency.
The regenerative braking system is especially effective during stop-and-go city driving. It is estimated that regenerative braking can eventually be developed to recover about half the energy we now waste as braking heat.
Depending on the type of vehicle, this would reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 25 percent below current levels.
Other fuel saving features on a hybrid vehicle include the use of low-rolling resistance tires and the ability for the gasoline engine to occasionally shut off when coasting at low speed or when temporarily stopped.
Hybrid vehicles on the market
There are now plenty of hybrid cars on the market, with many more on the way within the next year. Hybrid vehicles currently available in Canada include:
- Ford Escape
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Lexus GS 450H
- Lexus RX 400H
- Nissan Altima
- Saturn Aura Green Line
- Saturn Vue Green Line
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Prius
For more information on hybrid vehicles, contact CAA Consumer and Technical Services.
Before you buy a hybrid...
Many people are curious to see if their rates would go up or down with a hybrid vehicle.
