Given that the Hybrid car can have it's batteries and electric motor taken out and get better mileage, since it is lighter by about 1000 lbs. Would it not be simply up to statistics that you might save enough gas at stop lights and brakeing to make up for hauling around the extra 1000 lbs all day?
2006-09-08 12:03:15 · 5 answers · asked by hopeprn1 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
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Hybrids get better mileage despite the extra weight because the electric drive is several times more efficient than the gas portion.
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I would phrase this question differently: why not remove the gasoline engine, add a few more batteries for the electric drive, and improve the mileage even more dramatically?
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The cost of electricity to drive an all-electric vehicle is only a penny or two per mile.
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Here's a hybrid calculator, which allows the comparison of various hybrids versus gasoline vehicles:
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http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hev/calculator/single.php
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2006-09-09 03:28:04 · answer #1 · answered by apeweek 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your right. The only way hybrid cars actually save any energy is in progressive braking. Otherwise, all the energy the car has comes from the gasoline engine. Even when it uses it's electric motor, the battery used to run the motor has been charged by burning gasoline. Plus, your losing more energy (as heat) because you have to convert it twice. Instead of Chemical->Kinetic (like a normal car), your going Chemical->Kinetic->Electrical -> Kinetic; and for each "->" you lose a certain amount of efficency. I'm sure with a lot of those hybrids (not all), if you took out the electric motor and batteries, the car would get better gas mileage.
The reason everyone lies about them, is because of politics. It keeps the oil companies happy because everyone is still using oil, and it makes people happy because they think they're driving a more efficent car (and they're too dumb to know otherwise).
Long live electric only cars!
2006-09-08 12:42:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
i own a 2004 civic hybrid and we get 45 or so miles to a gallon on average. that is with mostly city driving. noone is lying about the better gas mileage.
2006-09-08 12:13:57 · answer #3 · answered by Emily E 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The public is told they get better gas milege to make them want to purchase these so called better cars. It's all a marketing ploy really.
2006-09-10 07:51:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's all a conspiracy, mulder...
TRUST NO ONE!
2006-09-08 12:09:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋