Pay Less at the Pump: The Hybrid Revolution
(Page 2 of 8)
October/November 2005
By John Rockhold
At the heart of every hybrid is the tandem of an internal-combustion engine (powered by gasoline) and an electric motor (powered by batteries). In conventional vehicles, automakers size gas engines to provide enough power for peak acceleration, but that level of power isn’t needed most of the time. The addition of an electric motor allows for a smaller gas engine that uses less fuel and can run more often at its peak efficiency.
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In most hybrids, when the vehicle idles, the gas engine shuts off and the electric motor is the sole source of power. The electric motor also powers the hybrid at low speeds and supplements the gas engine with extra oomph when the driver accelerates quickly.
To recharge their batteries, hybrids capture kinetic energy as the vehicle slows down, a process called regenerative braking. In conventional vehicles, this energy is lost as heat when brakes apply friction. But in hybrids, the electric motor helps slow the car and transfers some of the kinetic energy to the batteries, which store the power for future use. Hybrids’ conventional brakes kick in when needed, such as with sudden stops. Because hybrids recharge themselves, there’s no need to plug them into an electrical outlet overnight. (But plug-in hybrids are on the horizon — see The Prius You Can Plug In, below.)
TYPES OF HYBRIDS
The 10 hybrid models available today utilize these characteristics in different ways and to varying degrees. There are gray areas among the different types, but the foremost distinction is whether or not the electric motor can operate independently from the gasoline engine. In full hybrids, the gasoline engine remains off for short periods at low speeds and the electric motor alone powers the vehicle. The net effect significantly boosts city fuel economy, and while moving in electric-only mode, these hybrids release almost zero tailpipe emissions. Full hybrids available today are those from Ford — the Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid — and those from Toyota — the Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h.
Mild hybrids have all the hybrid features except electric-only drive. The gasoline engine kicks on once the vehicle begins to move and continues running until the driver turns off the ignition. The electric motor lightens the gas engine’s load and boosts power when needed. Two of Honda’s hybrids — the Insight and Civic Hybrid — are in this category. The 2006 Civic Hybrid, though, will be a full hybrid — it will include electric-only drive at low speeds.
Some hybrids do not have smaller gasoline engines in conjunction with their electric motors. These muscle hybrids deliver improved horsepower and acceleration, with slightly improved fuel economy. They also have idle-off and regenerative braking. The main example is the Honda Accord Hybrid, which has a six-cylinder engine and delivers up to 255 horsepower with fuel economy estimates of 29 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg in highway driving. The nonhybrid Accord with a six-cylinder engine has 15 less horsepower and achieves about 21/30 mpg. Some consider the Highlander Hybrid and RX 400h muscle hybrids because of their six-cylinder engines.
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