| Hybrid cars have been getting a lot of buzz | | | | -- the Insight, Civic, and Prius -- are less |
| the last three or four years, and now with | | | | than $30,000. According to auto maker |
| the soaring cost of oil and gasoline, hybrids | | | | announcements there should be more than 50 |
| are expected to get hotter than ever. Here | | | | models available by 2010. As sales and |
| are some Questions and Answers about | | | | production increase the prices should not be |
| hybrids.1. What is a hybrid car?A vehicle is | | | | significantly more than for standard ICE |
| a hybrid when it combines two or more sources | | | | models.Even with the slightly higher average |
| of power. Hybrid cars almost always have a | | | | cost for a hybrid -- usually around $3,000 -- |
| gasoline engine and an auxiliary electric | | | | these additional initial costs can be offset |
| motor system that runs off rechargeable | | | | by federal and state tax incentives, lower |
| batteries.We normally assume that the point | | | | maintenance costs, and exceptionally strong |
| of hybridization is to save fuel, and that is | | | | resale values.6. Are hybrids small and |
| definitely the case with most of the smaller | | | | underpowered?Initial hybrid models emphasized |
| compacts and sedans. But in fact some of the | | | | fuel economy, so were much lighter vehicles, |
| more upscale hybrid models are more concerned | | | | and had smaller engines. The objective was to |
| with boosting power and "performance" without | | | | offset the loss of power in the ICE with |
| the usual loss in fuel efficiency.2. Do you | | | | additional power from the electric motor. |
| have to plug your hybrid in at night?You may | | | | This would result in essentially the same |
| assume because a hybrid car runs part of the | | | | level of power while burning less fuel.But |
| time off its battery pack, that it is | | | | this principle does not have to result in |
| necessary to plug it in at night and recharge | | | | underpowered vehicles. In fact the Lexus |
| the batteries (like a golf cart!). But this | | | | Rx400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid both have |
| is almost never the case. Hybrid cars | | | | a 270 horsepower power system. And the Lexus |
| recharge their batteries "on the fly" by | | | | GS 450h hybrid sedan is expected to have more |
| making use of unused energy which is normally | | | | than 300 horsepower and go 0-to-60 in less |
| wasted during normal driving.For instance, | | | | than six seconds. Taking the quest for hybrid |
| most have a system that captures some of the | | | | power even further, the Toyota Volta concept |
| energy used while applying the brakes, and | | | | venicle has a 408 hp power plant.7. What is |
| converts it to electrical energy to charge | | | | the main reason people buy hybrid |
| the battery. This is called "regenerative | | | | vehicles?Saving money on fuel is the first |
| braking".If hybrids had larger battery packs | | | | thing most buyers think of. But, in fact, the |
| that you could plug into the electricity | | | | amount saved on fuel over the life of the |
| grid, they would be able to transfer more of | | | | vehicle may not equal the extra purchase cost |
| the vehicle's power requirements over to the | | | | of the hybrid.There are obviously other |
| electric motor(s), and use even less | | | | factors at play in the gradually building |
| gasoline. But most auto makers have been | | | | popularity of hybrids. Some people want to |
| unwilling to go this route, arguing that | | | | make a "green" statement, others simply want |
| today's batteries could not take the extra | | | | to be the first on the block with a new and |
| load and more extensive usage.3. Do you have | | | | promising technology.8. Will hybrid |
| to replace the batteries?The short answer is | | | | technology save the environment?There's no |
| No. Hybrid batteries typically have an 80,000 | | | | doubt about it. Hybrids are becoming more |
| - 100,000 mile warranty. The U.S. Department | | | | popular. In the past five years hybrid sales |
| of Energy tested them to 160,000 miles and | | | | in the U.S. have grown 2000 percent. Sales in |
| stopped testing because they still performed | | | | 2000 were 9,500, and by the end of 2005 had |
| almost like they were brand new. Some taxi | | | | grown to over 200,000.But even this larger |
| drivers have gone more than 200,000 miles in | | | | number is just 1.2% of the 17 million new |
| a Toyota Prius without battery problems.In | | | | cars sold last year. If every hybrid gave |
| any event, since hybrid battery packs have | | | | double the current fuel economy, from an |
| hundreds of cells, individual cells or | | | | average of 20 mpg to, say, 40 mpg, that would |
| modules could be replaced if there was a | | | | save roughly 100,000 gallons of gasoline a |
| problem.The best way to keep nickel metal | | | | day. But that amount pales in comparison to |
| hydride batteries performing at their peak is | | | | the total daily gasoline consumption in the |
| to keep their charge between 40% and 60% -- | | | | U.S. -- 400 million gallons! The savings of |
| never fully charged and never fully drained | | | | 100,000 gallons would bring that number all |
| to zero power.4. How long have hybrids been | | | | the way down to ... 399,900,000 gallons.Not |
| around?Alternatives to the ICE (internal | | | | very significant. Obviously governments and |
| combustion engine) in automobiles have been | | | | auto makers will have to start getting very |
| around since at least 1900. The first patent | | | | serious about hybrid technology before it |
| for a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle was | | | | will make a significant difference.9. Does |
| filed in 1905. Alternative fuel sources were | | | | that mean hybrid technology is only a fad?No |
| wiped out as a result of two things. First | | | | it does not. Because the only way towards a |
| was the development of the electric | | | | sustainable future is to find a combination |
| self-starter (in 1913) that made gasoline | | | | of fuels that will reduce our almost total |
| driven cars much easier to start.The second | | | | dependence on oil. Hydrogen fueled vehicles |
| development was the advent of the age of | | | | will be part of that future, as will fuel |
| cheap oil that started around the time of the | | | | cells, deisel, and alternative fuels such as |
| first World War. This completely removed the | | | | ethanol.But what is almost certain is that |
| economic incentive to look for alternative | | | | every promising solution will involve some |
| fuel sources. This is only starting to change | | | | kind of hybrid combination of technologies. |
| now, 80 years later.5. Are hybrids expensive | | | | So today's hybrid vehicles are an important |
| to purchase?In January, 2006, there were 10 | | | | and necessary step towards a much more |
| different hybrid models available from | | | | promising and sustainable future. |
| $19,000 to $53,000. The most popular models | | | | |