What makes hybrid cars so much better???

Question

What makes hybrid cars so much better???

Answer 1

How a hybrid car works depends on the technology that a manufacturer decided to use to make it a hybrid. Not all hybrids are created equal.

As the lowest common denominator, hybrids usually have a larger electric motor (for starting the gasoline engine or for charging the hybrid battery), larger/additional hybrid battery pack to drive the electric motor, auto-stop (gasoline engine turns off at idle), regenerative braking (coasting or light braking will cause the motor to act as a generator, capturing some of that lost kinetic energy of wheel motion and storing it as electricity in the hybrid battery), improved fuel economy, and lower emissions.

More improved hybrid systems allow for tuning for higher performance (more power or acceleration), or for more fuel efficiency (usually through using a smaller engine, where the electric motors help out). On the more improved hybrid systems, you could see:

- ability to act as a standing generator to power equipment off-site

- additional peak power, by the electric motor assisting the gasoline engine as required (for acceleration or hill climbing, for example), similar to a turbo

- electric-only propulsion (short periods of the electric motors/hybrid battery alone powering the car, for low power requirements (such as coasting, driving on the level, low speeds)

- reduction in weight and ability to move accessories from belt-driven to electrically-driven (smaller wires needed)

The Ford/Mercury hybrid system and the Nissan hybrid system is fairly similar to the older Toyota THS system (seen on the 2001-2003 Prius). Toyota/Lexus hybrids are currently using the THS-II or HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) system. Honda is using their IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system. GM's newer hybrids are using their BAS (belt-alternator system) or two-mode system, while their older "hybrid" pickups are pretty much the lowest common denominator listed above.

For general overviews:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question26...

http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car....

Insurance is about the same as a regular car.

Maintenance is about the same as a regular car - use your favorite mechanic or DIY.

Same gasoline as a regular car...

Depending on model, many hybrids are holding high resale values (mainly the fuel-economy hybrids as opposed to the power hybrids).

Pros:

* Depending on where you live, tax incentives (income tax credit for US federal, some states or Canadian provinces offer income tax credits/deductions or sales tax reductions),or single-occupant HOV lane privilages (CA, VA, FL, NY), or reduced tolls (NY) or free parking...

* better HP and acceleration than a comparable car

* better (lower) emissions than a comparable car

* better fuel economy than a comparable car

* own a neat techy car

* long warranty (depending on model, the hybrid battery or system is warrantied in the US a minimum of 8 years/80,000 miles, up to the AT-PZEV models in CA-emission states out to 10 years/150,000 miles, and it is NOT pro-rated but a full coverage.)

* you do not plug it in (charges off of the gasoline engine and recapurted kinetic energy while braking)

Cons:

* slightly higher initial purchase price

* own a neat techy car (should you need unscheduled maintenance (break down), you're mainly stuck paying dealer rates)

* many ill-informed people stopping you and asking questions about your car, telling you untruths about your own car, or even telling you how stupid you were for buying it...

* you cannot plug it in

I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the Prius does very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include federal and any state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.a...

Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See: http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybri...

http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying10...

While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied.

(I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later...  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ )

Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general."

The problem is that not all hybrids are created equal. There are different hybrid technologies, depending on manufacturer. Even among the same manufacturer, you can find one model tuned for performance (power and acceleration) with only a slight fuel efficiency improvement, compared to another for fuel efficiency and emissions. (See the Honda Accord Hybrid vs. Honda Civic Hybrid, or the Lexus models compared to their sister Toyota models...)

There is more to vehicle ownership besides initial purchase cost and the amount of gasoline used - there is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.

However, the societal costs for emissions are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with many an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold in CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDIs, which cannot be sold new in CA-emission states because of their poor emissions.) In the US, hybrid models tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars:  http://www.fueleconomy.gov/f*g/best/best...

Do be sure to check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you are interested in reliability statistics (several hybrids are in the best bets).

Size of the vehicle shouldn't be an issue. (A good friend of mine is about 6'9" and bought a Prius because it's one of the few cars he can fit into.) There are hybrid options available for many cars/trucks today, and more models are getting the option all the time, so you should be able to find one that fits both you and your budget. Available US hybrids:

Toyota Prius, Camry, Highlander (3500 lb towing capacity!)

Lexus: RX (3500 lb towing capacity!), GS, LS

Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute

Honda Civic, Insight (retired model), Accord (retired model)

Nissan Altima

Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe (soon to be released)

GMC Sierra, Yukon (soon to be released)

Saturn VUE (1500 lb towing capacity!), Aura

(now if only Toyota would bring over to the US either of their hybrid minivans (Estima and Alphard) that are available in Japan...)

NONE of the currently commercially available hybrids have the ability to plug into an electrical outlet. The only source of power is conventional gasoline. The gasoline engine provides power to the hybrid battery through one of the electric motors acting as a generator. Some of the lost kinetic energy in braking is recaptured through regenerative braking (wheels spin a generator, slowing down the vehicle), which also reduces wear on the conventional brake pads.

There are no commercially-available plug-in hybrids on the market so far, unfortunately. Some hobbiests and aftermarket companies have been altering a few hybrids (Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid) to make them plug-in capable. Typically this requires adding additional hybrid batteries, besides the ability to charge off the mains.

For more information, check out http://www.calcars.org/vehicles.html

(I'll note that some of the manufacturers are looking into having a plug-in hybrid available in the future (2010 or so), such as the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt.)

To note, converting to a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) does not reduce the vehicle's range. It gives the owner the option to recharge the (newly added larger) hybrid battery pack at night (cheap electricity and off-peak electric load which would otherwise be lost). The vehicle would run for a certain distance (longer than stock) on the stored electric power alone, and when the battery pack is depleted to a certain point the vehicle reverts back to its original hybrid self and runs on a combination of the gasoline engine (which will also recharge the battery) and the electric motor. A PHEV would add a greater all-electric range to the existing hybrid, besides the ability (but not the requirement!) to plug it into an electric source.

Answer 2

Personally, I don't think they are better...

But if it make you feel good... then do it...

I like big truck that can haul heavy stuff... so hybrids are not for me...

Answer 3

THEY SUPPOSIVELY SAVE GAS MONEY. IT IS LIKE 40 MILES TO THE GALLON.

Answer 4

They're more efficient in how they use fuel.

Running a small engine at a pretty constant load to charge batteries is more efficient than having a large engine (to provide extra power for acceleration, etc.) at highly variable loads.  They also generally use the generator to provide braking.  So slowing the car down makes usable energy instead of waste heat.

Answer 5

Hybrid cars are not better.

the only advantage is it saves having to plug in at home or work where you could refuel from your choice of cheap energy.

The addition of a heavy complicated noisy fossil fuel engine to a smooth high torque electric motor is not better. eg http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com