Unique Original Articles » Hybrid Hype and a Small Price Hike

Visit by any car lot in the United States and ask to see the latest hybrid cars. Don’t be stupefied if seven out of ten tell you that they can’t seem to keep enough hybrid cars on the lot. They’re just moving too fast! There is motivation behind the hype: buyers believe in one (or all) of three things, that they’re going to be getting a better deal as long as gas prices exceed $2.50 a gallon, that they’re not sacrificing performance and that they’re helping the environment.

Let’s first take a look at how these vehicles are put together. First, we have to understand the concept of “hybrid”. A hybrid car might be considered to be any vehicle that uses two or more sources of energy to drive. appears simple enough. Hybrid machinery is all around us in the form of diesel-electric, such as city buses, and nuclear-electric, such as those used on many US submarines. So, the idea and the technology have been common for a while—it’s just that it takes another energy embargo like that of the 1970s, to encourage us to begin becoming resourceful and a little ingenious. Hybrid power is on the increase and in demand only because the two different types of propulsion possibilities (gasoline/diesel and electric) working alone have proven an ineffective means to get both power and efficiency in one package. But, working together, there is potential.

A hybrid car, in modern terminology, is usually referring to any car that has a combination of an electric and a gasoline (or diesel) motor. These cars use kinetic energy (referred to as regenerative braking), absorbed by your brakes when you slow down to a stop, to recharge batteries that in turn drive the electric motor. All of this is combined into one carefully tuned schematic — the result is that the power to the transmission and propulsion power (i.e. the wheels move).

Most hybrids contain a gasoline engine, an electric engine, a generator , fuel storage container, batteries and a transmission system.

There are basically two different modes of hybrid engines. The first is a parallel hybrid. This sort of hybrid actually contains both a gasoline and electric motor that both operate independently to push the car forward. It’s designed to have two power systems working with one outcome in mind. In many ways, they are still “connected”.

The second hybrid is often referred to as a series hybrid. In a series hybrid, the gas or diesel powered engine doesn’t connect to the transmission directly, meaning that it doesn’t actually propel the car by itself. It actually works indirectly, powering a generator, which in turn either feeds energy to the batteries or directly feeds energy to an electric motor that connects to the wheels.

As stated above, hybrid buyers are looking for the combination (and compromise) of power and energy that these cars can offer. Many gas-powered cars have a lot of power. This is needed for city driving experience. No one wants to be doing the minimum 45 mph on the interstate and stopping to “refuel” frequently as with electric only systems. Plus, there’s no need to feel like you should have placed your slow-moving reflective magnet on the trunk. However, many gas-powered cars are really “wasteful” resources because out of those 175 horses, you’ll only have to use less than half that power for everyday driving. We don’t even have to get into the harmful environmental factors of pure gasoline engines. We are just now starting to see the results of our apathetic attitudes on this subject.

The engines in hybrid automobiles are usually much smaller (except in some brand new V-6 models). While this reduces fuel consumption, it means that the extra “power” that drivers are looking for has to come from another source. That’s where the electric motor and batteries come into action. In some models, sensors detect that the car is in need of extra energy for going up hill, for example. Then the “hybrid” half of the engine kicks in. It will do a great\fine job of giving the engine that extra go or boost that it needs, without using extra gasoline.

Modern hybrid models do a lot of extra tricks so that your car gets as many miles to the gallon as possible. For example, when you’re stopped at a traffic light, another sensor will trigger the gasoline engine to idle down to a complete stop, while the car stays “running” solely on its electric power. Did I mention ingenious?

Since the idea behind the hybrid powered car is reduced fuel consumption without the loss of speed or power, many cars are being made to move through the streets with the utmost in aerodynamic form; meaning that a hybrid will create less “drag,” simply due to its body structure. Many also use much lighter construction materials, reducing weight and pull. Some models even have wheel covers and no mirrors (replaced with cameras and navigation equipment), which saves an enormous amount of energy.

Hybrids don’t seem to be a fad or some social experiment. Consumers and car enthusiasts alike are appreciating what they’re seeing in the market. Each year it seems a better designed, lighter; more fuel-efficient and powerful hybrid enters. Recently released models are even beating their gas-powered counterparts. One boasts a 255 hp engine with other capabilities including being able to shut down half the cylinders (without notice) while in motion to conserve fuel and energy.

Hybrid-engineered cars cost a bit more too. Usually the price difference is around 5,000 dollars. And, it may take a few years (depending on gas prices) for you to recoup the savings in fuel worthwhile. However, it’s still better for the environment, and that remains (and makes it worthwhile) in some consumers’ minds.

And, if you are still one to wholeheartedly grip the stick of your V-8 without budging, you might evaluate that newer hybrid models are gaining on those pedal-to-the-metal dragsters of yesteryear. Hybrid models are inching nearer to (and even beating!) gas powered cars in 0 to 60 mph road tests.

So, when you decide that a new car might be a viable option in the near future, don’t expect to see too many hybrids in dealers’ lots. You may have to do some across-the-state driving to find a choice. Do some initial research on the Internet and find out what model may benefit you and your lifestyle the most. Keep in mind all that we’ve mentioned and perhaps in the future you’ll have no other choice than a hybrid, which at this time seems to be by far the best option around.

More great articles on saving gas in your car, at www.crazy-gas-prices.info .
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