by Aly Mae

Created on: February 16, 2009

Hybrids are modern day vehicles that are supposed to help people save money on gas and help with the air pollution problems there are today. They have many advantages, including added efficiency, which makes it a better buy than a traditional vehicle. Hybrids combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors, and can be configured to obtain different objectives. Some of these objectives include improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power electronic devices and power tools. The hybrid has many advantages and options available.

The biggest advantage of the hybrid is the added efficiency. There are many things that contribute to the efficiency, such as smaller engines. A smaller engine could make the overall weight of the car lighter, which in turn could also make it faster. At the same time, the engine still has the same amount of power. Regenerative braking, another advantage of the hybrid, means the electric motor that drives the hybrid can also slow the car. In this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down. The electric motor applies resistance to the drive train, which turns the gears to make the wheels move, causing the wheels to slow down. That way there is a little added braking. Periodic engine shut-off on the hybrid conserves energy by automatically shutting off while the vehicle is idling in traffic and automatically restarting when the car is put into gear. Another advantage of the hybrid is the advanced aerodynamics that helps to reduce drag. Low-rolling resistance (LLR) tires also help reduce drag because they are narrow, stiffer tires. The light weight materials also increase their efficiency. Finally, electric motor drive/assist is when the electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This also pertains to the first advantage because it allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. (Eartheasy.com) All of these advantages contribute to the hybrids efficiency, and make the hybrid more appealing.
Another major advantage to the hybrid is that there are several types already available in the United States. The first one up for discussion is the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. This is a 4 door, 5 seat sedan that can come with a CVT automatic or manual transmission. The estimated mileage per gallon (mpg) for this vehicle is 47 city/48 highway. The 2007 base retail price for the Honda Civic Hybrid is

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>