Defining Hybrid :
A vehicle is hybrid if it utilizes more than one form of onboard energy to achieve propulsion. It will have a traditional internal-combustion engine and a fuel tank, as well as one or more electric motors and a battery pack.
Hybrid cars are sometimes mistakenly confused with electric vehicles. Hybrids are gasoline-burning machines that utilize their electric bits to collect and reuse energy that normally goes to waste in standard cars.
Like the switch that turns off your refrigerator's light bulb when the door is closed, "idle-off" is a feature that turns off your car's conventional engine when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel. The battery provides energy for the air conditioner and accessories while the vehicle idles
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This prevents wasted energy from idling.
Stop-start : Present on all hybrids, the engine's traditional starter motor is absent because the motor-generator takes on that function, too. Hybrid-control software shuts the engine off while stopped at traffic signals and automatically restarts it again with the electric motor when the driver releases the brake pedal. Eliminating the fuel waste of an idling gas engine causes overall mpg to climb significantly and tailpipe emissions to drop, especially in town.
Regenerative braking : An important function of the motor-generator is to generate electricity to recharge the battery as it absorbs a portion of the vehicle's momentum when slowing or coasting downhill. Normal cars waste all of their excess momentum as heat in the brakes. Regenerative braking is insufficient to stop a car quickly, so conventional hydraulic brakes are still necessary.The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric
A mousetrap-powered car is a vehicle that powers up and moves by the energy of a wound-up mousetrap’s spring. Its main components are the mousetrap, long metal rod, and the fishing line. In order to make the car work, the rod was wounded-up (wrapped) around the fishing line that had one end attached to the drive axle and the other end to the arm of the mousetrap, which pulls the snapper's lever arm closer to the drive axle. When the arms were released, the tension of the spring pulled the string off the axle. As a result, the fishing line string unraveled, causing the axle and the wheels to rotate, propelling the vehicle. There are various forms of energy that are involved with this car. First, it started off as potential (stored) energy that came from when the mousetrap was set by wounding the spring around the axle by the turning of the wheels, which caused the snapper’s lever arm to pull closer to the drive axle and the spring in the center was compressed. Since every action has an equal and opposite reaction, when the trap was released, most of the potential energy converted into kinetic (motion) energy, propelling the snapper arm forward. However, not all of the energy was converted into kinetic energy, as some of it was lost to the force of friction. Friction helped to spin the wheels and progress the car forward as when the string was pulled, friction between it and the axle caused the axle to rotate. In addition, the outside forces of friction caused the car to slow down and eventually come to a stop. Since energy cannot be destroyed, when the car came to a stop, the friction converted into thermal and heat energy.
Electric Cars use the energy stored in a battery (or series of batteries) for vehicle propulsion. Electric motors provide a clean and safe alternative to the internal combustion engine. There are many pros and cons about electric cars. The electric vehicle is known to have faster acceleration. They produce no exhaust.
One type of engine is a called a fuel cell. A fuel cell operates like a battery. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around and electrolyte. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat. Hydrogen fuel is used to make all this work. Fuel cell emissions are nothing but water vapor.
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that is powered by two or more power sources to move the vehicle (Lampton 2009). Among the types of power sources are electricity, petrol, and hydrogen gas. As of 2011, the world’s best selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius, on sale since 1997 has sold over 3 million units worldwide. Sales of other hybrids are also picking up. (Schwartz 2011)
Today's hybrids come in many different varieties such as mild or full and series or parallel. Mild hybrids require the use of an electric motor to assist the gas engine when extra power is needed. It can only move from the stopped position if the internal combustion engine is engaged. The mild hybrid can be broken down into 3 sub-systems. The Start/Stop system, which is also called a micro hybrid, will shut off the engine when the car would normally be idling and instantly restart the engine when pressure is applied to the accelerator. This type of system only increases fuel efficiency by approximately 10 percent and is the most basic of all hybrid vehicles.
Hybrid vehicles are gas-electric vehicles. They provide gas mileage that is more efficient than that of conventional gas only powered vehicles. For the Ford Motor Company, an increase in its demand of hybrid vehicles seems to be a double-edged sword. It is profitable that there was an increase in demand; however, they have not been able to keep up with the demand. Ford introduced the first hybrid SUV, the Ford Escape, to auto showrooms in 2004. This was one of the few hybrid vehicles available to consumers. Upon introducing the Ford Escape and increased fuel prices, Ford experienced an unexpected increase in demand for its Escape, which rendered the company unable to keep up with the demand. Dealerships began selling out of this popular hybrid model as soon as it hit the showroom (Freeman, 2006). With gas prices constantly on the rise, consumer interest continued to rise. The demand for the hybrid vehicle became higher than the supply. With Ford Motors inability to keep up with demand, its sales for the vehicle fell from 2,526 in June of 2007 to 1,578 in July of 2007 (Freeman, 2006).
“What we need to do is really improve energy efficiency standards, develop in full scale renewable and alternative energy and use the one resource we have in abundance, our creativity.” (Lois Capps) There are many ways we can utilize our abundance of creativity. Some have yet to be discovered, but some are being sought out today. One of these is the rise of the electric car. Despite a rough start competing with petroleum cars, electric cars will see a spark in popularity in the automotive market within the next few years with new models being developed and more charge stations being installed world wide. With more efficient ways of harvesting energy, the electric car will see more practical use and make its way into the lives of the average
There are two configurations for hybrid cars. The first configuration uses gasoline engine to run a generator. The generator supplies electricity to the motor, which drives the wheels, which allows the gasoline engine to run constantly while achieving optimum fuel efficiency. This thereby minimizes emissions owing to incomplete combustion. A hybrid car with parallel configurations uses both an engine and a motor to drive the wheels depending on driving conditions. "A hybrid car is an automotive equipped with two or more sources of motive energy" (http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car1.htm).
To understand how this motor works, we must understand the relationship between electricity, and magnetism or simply put electromagnetism. Direct electric current in a simple description: There are two requirements for current flow. The first is a source of electrical potential energy or EMF (electro motive force,). The second is a conductor that provides a complete loop to carry the current. The reason a conductor will conduct is found on the atomic level. A conductive atom’s valance shell is not completely full electrons will flow from atom to atom because of this. When these electrons move from one atom to another that is electrical current (a brief description that is).
Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us.
In this case study I will be discussing advantages and disadvantages of electric cars. Electric cars are cars that are powered by electricity. Electric vehicles are an important part of cutting emissions and reducing global warming. The battery of an electric car stores electrical energy. The electric motor is coupled to the wheels through gears; it converts 59-60% of electrical energy into the wheels. The battery runs the motor which allows the car to move. Electric cars are necessary as they will save money, because electricity is cheaper than gas. Also electric vehicles will help reduce global warming and pollution. However, some people say that electric cars still have environmental costs. The electricity used to recharge EV batteries has to come from somewhere in the world, and now, most electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Although electric vehicles are classified as green cars, purists will not appreciate the toxicity of the batteries.
stop, an electric vehicle has no “idle” noises. When an electric vehicle is under power, the
Most people today fill up their car with different qualities of petrol, because that's what the average car takes. They don't usually consider an alternative for the petrol that they load into their cars. Although petrol is widely used, it is not the only source for a car to get its power from; diesel and electricity are alternatives to the general petrol used by most cars. Although different from each other, diesel and electricity are alternatives to the average gasoline received at a gas station. Diesel is a more concentrated type of fuel that is usually used by big automobiles because they require a lot of power in a little amount of time. Electricity is a method that uses the power of batteries to produce a low horsepower but, nevertheless fast automobile. Electric cars are generally created to be soundless and environment friendly. The purpose of this paper is to classify and educate the reader of the different types of fuel available for an automobile to use: petrol, diesel, and electricity. The general petrol, used by most people, is usually the only type of fuel accepted on the average car in the United States today.
...s a sense of assurance and confidence that even if their cars are low on battery power, they will have the chance to charge them and keep on going. Right now, a full charge takes a long time, but as technology evolves that charging time will most likely be shortened to a much more reasonable time.
...o an electric outlet to recharge the vehicle while it is parked. One great thing about this hybrid is the ability to travel in all electric mode for most short trips. This conserves the gas in the gasoline engine for longer drives. This feature helps boost fuel economy into 100 mpg territory. Not only is the Volt a plug-in hybrid, but so are the Ford Fusion Energi, Toyota Prius, and Honda Accord.