With fuel prices that keep going up you are probably driving a lot less kilometers and still paying more... But how would feel about driving 1,000 km before refueling?
Well, that is possible now. The Insight and the Prius are now offering the hybrid car technology which is both more economical but mostly greener, or less polluting. In fact the Insight and the Prius got the highest scores. You can compare their fuel consumption on the Natural Resources Canada's auto $mart Web site.
The hybrid vehicle is a compromise between the electric car and the gas-powered car. Its autonomy is its greatest advantage over the electric car. No need to plug in overnight to fill up!
Vehicle Types
In a traditional vehicle the power produced by the engine drives the transmission which then drives the wheels. In a hybrid vehicle there is a combination of two sources of motive power.
These two sources of energy are, on one hand, a combustion engine connected to a gasoline tank, and on the other hand, an electric motor connected to a series of batteries (144 volts for the Insight, and 274 volts for the Prius). Both motors can be laid out in tandem or in parallel.
Hybrid in tandem:
The gasoline engine drives a generator that either charges the battery or drives the electric motor which in turn drives the transmission. Thus the gasoline engine never drives the transmission directly.
Hybrid in parallel:
Both the electric motor and the gasoline engine can drive the transmission. An electronic control module determines which is to be used depending on the power required by the accelerator.
How does it work, and why is it more fuel efficient?
First of all, hybrid vehicles are equipped with smaller engines using the newest technology, so they are less polluting and better on fuel efficiency. They are also made from lighter materials, have improved aerodynamics, and some specifications are unique to them:
Regenerative braking system:
When you apply the brakes on a traditional car, the accumulated kinetic energy of the vehicle in motion is turned into heat on the brake pads. In a hybrid car, part of this energy is recycled. The electric motor also functions as a generator and recharges the batteries while slowing down the car.
Engine off:
The hybrid vehicle runs on electricity as well. When you stop at a red light, the gasoline engine is not needed and turns off automatically. The electric motor gets you moving again, and the gas engine joins in when you need to pick up more speed.
Honda Insight
The electric motor is used as a helper to the gasoline engine and supplies added power when accelerating. This allows for a small 1-litre engine with a very low fuel consumption. It also serves as a generator when braking, and as a starter. The Honda Insight cannot run with the electric motor only, the gas engine must be on for the car to run at all.
The gas engine does most of the work once at cruising speeds since maintaining constant speed does not require much effort. When accelerating or going up a hill, the electric motor will kick in to give some extra push, and when you slow down?or simply cruise along for that matter?the batteries get recharged. So the Honda Insight never needs to get plugged in...
Toyota Prius
The electric motor is more powerful in the Prius and is also used as a starter. In fact it is the only motor on when the vehicle is moving no faster than 25 km/h. The gas engine kicks in as soon as speed picks up. So the Prius produces no emissions in traffic jams. Plus the electronic control module prevents excess strain on the engine by modulating the charge toward the electric motor thus saving fuel. There is a generator between the two motors that charges batteries when braking or cruising so the Prius never needs to be charged from a wall socket.
The Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius are designed differently. The Insight is designed for best fuel efficiency: it is smaller, lighter, and offers less space. It is a 2-door 2-passenger car. The Prius is designed for the purpose of reducing emissions in large cities while keeping a more useful dimension. It is a 4-door sedan.
These two vehicles are the only ones of their kind for now but very soon other manufacturers will join the competition. Surely, with oil companies that keep raising their prices, and with our growing concern with the well-being of our world, hybrid vehicles will soon gain widespread acceptance.