| Hybrid cars are the Model T of our century. They are | | | | The one item a hybrid has that neither the electric nor |
| cars produced to reduce greenhouse gases, at the | | | | the conventional car have is the generator. The |
| same time to get better gas mileage than other | | | | generator on a hybrid is used to produce electricity, |
| vehicles which no one probably dreamed would be at | | | | making the hybrid more efficient than an electric car |
| all possible, but a hybrid owner is grateful since the | | | | because it does not have to stop to charge up. |
| huge increase in gas prices in recent months. But do | | | | The part that distinguishes a hybrid from the electric |
| you know what is behind the hybrid cars' ability to | | | | and the conventional car is the generator. This |
| reduce emissions? How do they work? | | | | generator produces electricity, which makes the hybrid |
| A hybrid car is a cross of two kinds of cars: the | | | | car more efficient than the electric car because there |
| fuel-driven and the electric car. Let us see how the | | | | is not need to stop just to recharge. |
| two work and how they can function as one hybrid | | | | A hybrid harnesses the power from electricity and |
| engine. | | | | gasoline using a computer system that commands the |
| Fuel-driven engines of cars have a fuel tank, an | | | | engine to shut off when its speed is 15 miles per hour |
| internal-combustion engine, and a transmission, which | | | | or less. It can also tell the motor to push more when |
| work to let the wheels of the car go round and round. | | | | there is a need in getting uphill. |
| Fuel from the fuel tank is sent to the engine, which it | | | | Let's go back to the smaller engine size to understand |
| processes through the transmission to make the | | | | how the hybrid vehicle works more efficiently. Its |
| wheels turn. | | | | design, as you can see, is for the driver's actual, not |
| The same process goes through electric cars, but | | | | possible, needs. The traditional vehicle normally has a |
| battery packs are used to send electricity to the | | | | heavy engine for times it is really needed. But both |
| motor. The motor then processes this through the | | | | energy and gasoline are wasted because we hardly |
| transmission, which then makes the wheels turn. | | | | need to step on it as much. The lighter and smaller |
| A hybrid car has the parts of both the fuel-driven and | | | | parts of the hybrid engine can meet the actual needs |
| the electric vehicle, including fuel tank, gas engine, | | | | of most drivers. There, so less energy and fuel are |
| battery pack, generator, and transmission. Some | | | | used unnecessarily in moving the heavy engine. |
| differences include the gas engine which is smaller on | | | | Hence, the power from two energies in the hybrid |
| hybrid cars, and developed for more efficiency and | | | | cars, electricity and gasoline, are more efficiently used |
| emitting less harmful gases to the environment. | | | | in the long run. You are being eco-friendly too, the |
| Transmissions can be constructed so differently in | | | | more you use the hybrid. |
| some hybrids, but with the same basic purpose. | | | | |