A Look At Hybrid Cars

By: Mike Eggert

Are hybrid cars, the cars of the future? Only time will tell. I
am sure most of you have by now heard about the new hybrid cars
in the marketplace today. I'm also sure many of you are saying,
"What the heck is a hybrid car anyway?" Well let us see if we as
laymen people from the old school of gasoline automobiles can
understand these new high tech automobiles.

Firstly we need to know what powers a hybrid. Well a hybrid has
a gasoline engine and also a battery powered generator. The
gasoline engine in the equation is much the same as the cars
most of us are driving today. In most cases it is a bit smaller
than the engines in our somewhat larger automobiles we currently
drive. The reason for this is because the generator helps power
the hybrid car. Both still operate the same as far as having a
transmission to drive the wheels. Albeit a much more
sophisticated version than what is in the typical gasoline
powered vehicle. The difference is when the car begins to slow
down, the gasoline engine stops and the generator motor takes
over, thus saving fuel you would be burning for instance at a
stoplight. Now, not only is this a saving for you as a consumer.
It is also making the air we breathe cleaner. Both are I'm sure
you will agree, a good thing. Now, both engines require a tank
for the fuel, a gas tank the same as most of us have now, but
also a tank for the generator, which is a set of batteries that
must be kept charged. You see, this is the purpose for the
generator.

It takes about 1000 pounds of batteries to equal the energy in a
gallon of gasoline. Sounds like a lot of extra weight, but with
the new designs this is not a problem. The newer designs are
even converting kinetic energy produced by the engine into
electric energy for the batteries. Confused yet? If not, you are
probably reading the wrong article. However, it really doesn't
matter if you understand the inner workings completely. By now
you should at least have a basic understanding of what makes
these little cars more efficient.

I'm sure you have seen some of the new hybrid cars on the street
and were maybe a bit taken back by their appearance at first.
Yes, the new hybrids do take some getting used to, especially
the early models. They are a little smaller in size and very
aerodynamic in design. And, with a driving force of about 60-90
horsepower, don't feel quite as powerful as your current
automobile, but on the horizon are several new models, including
SUV's that are much more traditional in their styling.

I think for now at least, the hybrid cars will take over a big
part of the auto industry and carry us along until the arrival
of the eco- friendly efficient cars of the future.

Take a ride in one of the new hybrid cars and decide for
yourself if they are worth all the hype.

About the author:
For in depth hybrid
car news and reviews visit http://www.hybrid-rides.com