How Hybrids Work(Requires Flash 6.0 or higher)Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors. They can be designed to meet different goals, such as better fuel economy or more power.Most hybrids use several advanced technologies:. Regenerative Braking. Regenerative braking recaptures energy normally lost during coasting or braking. It uses the forward motion of the wheels to turn the motor.
This generates electricity and helps slow the vehicle. Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more-efficient engine to be used. In some hybrids, the electric motor alone propels the vehicle at low speeds, where gasoline engines are least efficient. Automatic Start/Stop.
Conventional cars use more gas and produce more exhaust than hybrid cars. A hybrid car captures energy from braking and other tasks to charge its batteries. Chevrolet Volt at a charging station. Traditional car batteries cannot be used in hybrid or electric cars. Hybrid cars can still use gasoline for some driving. Electric Vehicles: Benefits and Drawbacks. Electric vehicles offer several advantages over plug-in hybrids. The main attraction is that electric vehicles benefit the environment more than plug-in hybrids, since they don't use any fuel at all. That's a big deal for shoppers looking to minimize their carbon footprint as much as possible.
Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This reduces wasted energy from idling.For hybrid fuel economy estimates, please visit.
How Do Hybrid Electric Cars Work?Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which uses energy stored in. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through and by the internal combustion engine. The extra power provided by the electric motor can potentially allow for a smaller engine. The battery can also power auxiliary loads like sound systems and headlights, and reduce engine idling when stopped.
Together, these features result in better fuel economy without sacrificing performance.