Entries from December 2008 ↓

For more info about hybrid engines and an updated version about hybrid electric car visit Hybrid Car Review.

A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses two or even more distinct sources of power in order to get propelled. There are all sorts of alternative power sources among which we can count wind, natural gas in liquid or compressed form, rechargeable units, wood, coal and the like. The term hybrid car or vehicle is used most frequently to refer to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in which an internal combustion engine is combined with one or more electric motors.

As mentioned above, there are other hybrid vehicles beside the hybrid car we will mainly deal with here. Mopeds and electric bicycles make the most relevant of examples here. These are the simplest forms of hybrid vehicles. The combination between a gas engine or a battery and the physical power of the muscles is definitely superior. Then there are hybrid heavy vehicles like railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, ships or mobile hydraulic machinery. Usually, the term hybrid car-vehicle is used to refer to hybrid electric vehicles. This category includes the following types of automotives: AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and many others. A gas-electric hybrid car usually takes its power from an internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel engine) and an electric battery.

The beginnings of the hybrid car date back to the late 1900s when David Arthurs, an electrical engineer from Arkansas, invented the braking regenerative hybrid. Besides the hybrid car as mentioned above, which uses two or more different propulsion devices, there are also vehicles which use distinct sources of energy or input types but only one engine. Though there is a certain similarity to a hybrid car, distinctions do exist. In fact, vehicles with double or multiple energy sources are dual mode automotive systems of the trolley type.

A hybrid car presents a number of advantages from the environmental perspective and there are two sides to consider here. First, there is the aspect of fuel economy, and secondly, the benefit for the environment and, implicitly, for humankind is undeniable in the fight to reduce pollution. These two advantages and benefits brought about by the hybrid car are tributary to at least three elements in the design: the combination of gasoline and the electric motors, a battery with plenty of storage capacity and the possibility to re-capture important amounts of energy, which are normally wasted while braking.

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Go to Hybrid Car Review for an updated version about hybrid engines and more info about hybrid electric car.

What is a hybrid engine? What are the functioning principles of a hybrid engine? The hybrid engine is typically understood as an engine with two complementary sources of energy: thus, on the one hand there is the gas component and on the other, there is an electrical battery that works together with the gas system. Through this hybridization, the result is less pollution due to the electric element and the high power output of the gas engine. What can be said about the variety of hybrid engine types is that there are as many of them as there are hybrid cars. Taken individually a hybrid engine is created as to enable the gas engine and the electric motor to connect to the drive train in order to power the vehicle and make it move.

How does the hybrid engine work? The technical features on which any hybrid engine relies is quite simple. The hybrid engine works as follows: the gas engine and the brakes are used with the aim to recharge the battery of the electric motor; thus the charging necessity misses, as it would be the case with an electric only motor. When you press the brakes, some of the energy otherwise used to stop the car, is collected by the regenerative brakes in the electric motor.

In the case of a typical full hybrid engine, the electric system will take control while the vehicle is riding, when it comes to a halt or when you accelerate it slowly. When extra energy or power is necessary, it is the gas engine’s turn to interfere to give the expected acceleration. In the case of the hybrid engine,we will achieve higher mpg than in the gas-only vehicles by letting the electric motor to take over.

The fact that most of the energy is renewed, and to a certain extent saved when the vehicle is stopped or slowed down, makes hybrid vehicles better and more efficient in city driving. Unlike what happens due to hybrid engine vehicles, for the gas-only engine cars, driving is more fuel efficient when racing at higher speeds, out of the city. The hybrid engine vehicles not only eliminate the need to plug in, but they have also increased the range of technical possibilities. One gets to care for the environment while still taking advantage of all the horsepower of a great car. We could truly say that the making of the hybrid engine represents the first step towards going totally green.

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There are three things now certain in life, death, taxes and rising gas prices.  The cool thing is, we can do something about the rising fuel cost’s.  Did you know that you can become a super gas saver by utilizing key gas saving tips?  Listed below are a few key fuel saving tips that you can utilize right now and begin saving immediately.

You can start off by checking the air pressure in your car tires.  So many never take the time to do this and it takes just a moment to do.By keeping an eye on the air pressure you'll be lowering the wear and tear on your tires thus making them more efficient.  The more workload you put on your car the more fuel it will burn.

The next step involves planning how your car is to be utilized.  I know you have been in a situation where you just get home and remember you needed something else.  In most cases this can be avoided with a little planning.  Here’s what to do, on Sunday make a complete list of where you need to go the following week so you’ll be ready.  If you plan wisely, you’ll be able to take less “needed” trips out in your car.

The third tip is the correct use of your cars cruise control.  Optimum efficiency is obtained when your car utilizes cruise control.  It is a good idea to read your cars owner’s manual to correctly use this feature.  It is not a good idea to keep turning your cruise control on and off as this will mimic the acceleration and braking of daily driving.

The fourth step is to clean out your car of any excess weight.If your anything like me then your car is much like a second home.  As we continue to add and take away items from the car we begin to leave items over time.  Give your car a thorough cleaning and take out anything that is not pertinent to that day’s needs.  At the end of everyday, take out what you bring in to keep the weight and clutter down to a minimum.

Our closing tip is to accelerate gradually and focus on how we drive our cars.  We are not teenagers anymore who drive recklessly and without regard for gas consumption.  By driving aggressively your causing your engine to work harder which burns up more fuel.  You don't have to drive like and elderly person but just be aware of how you drive and act accordingly.

The preceding were five super gas saver tips that you can implement immediately and start saving on gas.  If you are still not satisfied with the savings then you can look for an alternative like hybrid cars.  If you can’t afford a new hybrid then there is one other alternative.  Did you know you can turn your car into a hybrid?It can be done.  If you really want to save a ton on gas then this is just what your looking for.

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