How do Hybrids Work?

Question

i know it uses less gas then a regular car but how?

Answer 1

There are apparently a few types of hybrids. I've owned a Prius for 6 years and I love it. As far as driving it, there are no differences between it and a conventional car. I know it has an electric motor and a gas engine. When I'm stopped or anytime I take my foot of the gas pedal my gas engine shuts off. When I'm braking or just coasting the wheels are charging the battery, so I don't need to plug it in. It is only a 4 cylinder, but when I accelerate both the motor and engine kick in, so it has decent power. I have a little screen on my dash that shows me when the motor and engine are on or off, so it seems like the only time the electric motor isn't on is when I'm on the highway.

With the onboard computer I'm able to see how many mpg I'm getting at anytime, and it keeps track of it in 5 minute increments. It is very easy to see what driving habits help or hurt gas milage. Since the vehicle is so light any additional weight does affect the milage as well. A few years ago I had to get new tires, instead of the 10,000 mile tires I upgraded to a heavier 50,000 mile tire and my gas milage dropped by about 2mph. With my driving habits I get 45mpg average, a little less in summer because of running the a/c. I know the newer models are rated at hight mpg than my model year, but driving habits make the biggest difference.

Answer 2

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.



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.