How does a hybrid car work?

Question

I know that hybrid cars are a combination of gas and electric energy, but I don't exactly understand how it is that it works. How is it that these cars are more environmentally friendly, and why do they get better gas mileage?

Answer 1

check out www.howstuffworks.com check out "auto stuff"
hope this helps

Answer 2

The current hybrids use an electric motor inline with a small gas displacement engine. The electric motor has high torque from the get go thus it is used to propel the vehicle first as a gas engine doesn't get max torque until it is at a higher rpm. The hybrids use batteries to store the energy needed to run the electric motor. Most will use regenerate braking and the gas engine to turn the electric motor into a generator to be used later. The reason they have higher gas mileage is the gas engine stops running once you let go of the gas pedal or when you're stopped. Also, they have a very small engine which also saves on gas. The gas engine is turned on when it needs the extra power by the electric motor so you don't have a starter like a normal car. They aren't necessarily more environmentally friendly in the long run because of the batteries but pollute less due to the gas engine not running constantly. Hope this makes sense

Answer 3

It's all a mystery
It's a Gov't PLOT!
No it's real simple. the vehicle has a gas engine that is used when you are traveling long distances and that same engine also powers an electric motor that runs the car at lower speeds and charges the batteries. the trick is the batteries. when they are fully charged the car just purrs on the electric and uses no gas..Hence better gas mileage, less pollution.
The Escape Hybrid as well as the Malibu Hybrid are good examples of real size cars that do well. The Ford engine is very sturdy. OOPS did I say Malibu Hybrid.. You aren't supposed to know that yet. It may also be a Saturn, We'll see in '08

Answer 4

It works because the electric drive train is more efficient than the gas motor, especially during starts and stops. Gas motors have a narrow powerband, that is, they run most efficiently only at certain speeds. The electric motor is efficient at all speeds, so ideally the gas engine only runs when it's most efficient for it to do so.
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Electric power is cleaner than gasoline because the electric motor emits no pollutants while it's running. The batteries are not an environmental issue as long as they are recycled. Some battery chemistries, like Li-Ion, are not considered environmental hazards at all by the EPA.
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A plug-in hybrid and serial hybrid are two additional variations of hybrids. Both of these hybrid types have enhanced electric drivetrains and additional batteries so more miles can be traveled on electricity alone, for even greater gas savings. Miles run using battery power charged from household current are generally much cheaper than miles run on gasoline. Here's a reference with some more details:
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http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
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