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