How Hybrid Vehicles Work

Lets face it, we live in an oil dependent world and the United States alone consumes roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day and this has direct consequences on our planet. We now are nearing an age when global warming is inevitable and our resources are ever so heavily used and are beginning to deplete, but there are some simple suggestions that we can follow to conserve resources. For example, when traveling we can take the bus or carpool and hybrid automobiles are another way to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, but surely these altenatives are no pancea for the dilemma we face in the future: running out of fossil fuels and ultimately widening the ozone hole, leading to climate change.

Many people have misconceptions on how hybrid vehicles operate. Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:

Regenerative Braking. 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 motor.

Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.illustrates the main parts of a hybrid vehicle.


*Photo from U.S. Department of Energy http://www.fueleconomy.gov/