Hybrid Cars

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When gas prices started to rise, along with the concern about the long-term availability of fossil fuels, interest in hybrid cars increased quickly. They have significantly higher fuel efficiency compared to their standard gasoline counterparts, and make more effective use of the energy produced by the engine. In the early 2000’s several celebrities started driving hybrids, which also helped make them fashionable to own in addition to practical. Now most car manufacturers have one or more hybrid options, including cars and SUVs. Hybrid cars have more efficient engines, save the owner money, and reduce one’s carbon footprint. First, one needs to know what a hybrid vehicle is and how it varies from a standard gasoline vehicle. The essential difference between a gasoline and a gas-electric hybrid vehicle is “Regenerative Braking” where the electric motor uses energy from the turning wheels that is normally lost and converts is to electricity which is then stored in a battery (US Dept. of Energy). The battery powers the electric motor and can take over the operation of the vehicle from the gasoline engine. At times in a hybrid car, the gasoline engine will turn off completely and run on electric only. Because the battery stores energy that would normally be lost in a gasoline engine, the efficiency is increased dramatically. “Only about 15% of the energy from the fuel you put in your tank [in a gasoline vehicle] gets used to move your car down the road or run useful accessories, such as air conditioning. The rest of the energy is lost to engine and driveline inefficiencies and idling” (US Dept of Energy). The first hybrids offered were mostly variations on existing vehicles, like the Honda Civic hybrid, as well as a few original ... ... middle of paper ... ...d vehicles provide a significant cost savings in gas and an environmental benefit to the owner. Works Cited US Dept. of Energy. (n.d.). How Hybrids work. Retrieved from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybridtech.shtml. (02/2011). Ford's Michigan Assembly to Build Electric, Hybrid, and Plug-In Vehicles. Welding Journal, 90(2), 11. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Johnson, J. (9/26/2005). Ford Plans Big Hybrid Push. Waste News. 11(11). Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Kelly Blue Book. (2011) New Cars. http://www.kbb.com/new-cars. Frankel, E. (2008). Oil and Security: A World Beyond Petroleum. Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. 52. Grase, M. (9/12/2005). Toyota’s Prius hybrid finds favor in Hollywood. Advertising Age. 76(37). Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Davenport, C. (2/12/2011). Automakers Having Second Thoughts on Fuel Standards. National Journal. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

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