2006-06-25 21:56:37 · 6 answers · asked by rakhinmika 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Often a Hybrid car will use a continuously variable transmission or CVT. Instead of gears in the traditional since. It has two pulleys that drive a belt and they can change diameter thus allowing for an infinite number of gear ratios. This allows the engine/motor to run at its most efficient speed and further increase efficiency. That is why most hybrid car engines don't have the same feel as a gas powered engine. Also use regenerative breaking. This is when the car uses the momentum it gives up during breaking to generate power. The power is used to charge the battery and therefore is recaptured and reused, instead of just being wasted as friction generated heat at the wheels as in a traditional auto break system.
2006-06-25 22:13:58 · answer #1 · answered by youknowkennio 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As said above, hybrid cars use the saved electrical energy in order to move the car. The small gas powered engines act as both a charger for the battery packs of the hybrid, and also as a back-up power source for the car when the battery runs low.
I know that the Toyota Hybrids actually use the inertia of the stopping power of their vehicles in order to charge the batteries.
Honestly, I do feel that hybrids most definitely save the World gas, but they are usually over priced, and the people buying them "feel" as if they are saving money in the long run, but actually are paying an average of $4000 extra for the hybrid technology. More than likely someone with a Hybrid car would have to drive an average of more than likely 50k-100k miles in order to make up the cost they paid to buy a hybrid.
For the individual, it purely isn't worth it, but for a nation it is. Then again, looking at those whom are in power, the idea of "alternative fuels" is so very far fetched!
2006-06-25 22:32:08 · answer #2 · answered by TORCH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are various technologies. Is it a serial or a parallel hybrid? Or a combination (like the Toyota design)? Mild hybrid or full hybrid? gasoline, electric, fuel cell, or something else? Plug-in hybrid?
How Hybrids Work:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybridtech.shtml
An Overview of Hybrid Vehicle Technologies:
http://www.eere.doe.gov/cleancities/toolbox/pdfs/LarsenWashDay04.pdf
Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles:
http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/hev/
more good links can be found at:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_links.shtml
2006-06-30 20:46:17 · answer #3 · answered by mrvadeboncoeur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instead of the gas powering the car and the battery powering the accessories, a hybrid car is powered by the battery and the gas is used to re-charge the battery.
2006-06-25 22:02:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alot of the fuel savings comes from regenerative braking. In stop and go driving, you are breaking alot. Instead of converting the energy to friction/heat (what normal brakes do), the energy is used to turn a generator which stores the energy in large batteries.
The batteries store enough enery to move the car with the gas engine turned off.
2006-06-26 05:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by A4Q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they use battery or gas instead of fuel
2006-06-26 21:38:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋