What Made Hybrid Cars Such a Great Success?
When the first car was invented, the major focus was given towards the functionality of vehicle instead of considering its environmental impact such as, fuel-effectiveness. Ignoring the environmental impact is no longer ignorable nowadays. Today, the world has become a much different place than it was in the 18th century.
If you evaluate the evolution of cars, you will find it very interesting. The engine of very first car was based on steam. After a few years, developments were made by replacing the steam engine with electric motors and storage batteries. The first hybrid car was a German car, Porsche. Porsche was built with an internal combustion engine to spin generator. The generator works by providing power to the electric motors which were placed in the hubs of wheels. This first hybrid car could travel on battery alone up to 40 miles.
The invention of Porsche hybrid car led to the developments of the hybrid cars of today that primarily depend on two types of engines for propulsion power including, gasoline/diesel and electrical engines.
Cars based on gasoline, diesel or electric motors have one drawback or the other. The main concern about using gas or diesel engine is the environmental hazards it poses. Ironically, only fossil fuels give the maximum power per pound, but their reserves are slacking and prices are going up all the time. The electric cars though are environment friendly, with no hazardous pollution by-products, take a lot of time to recharge. Their performance end is also not very high.
What made hybrid cars such a success is the fact that it combines the strengths of both kinds of engines. It produces less pollution as compared to gasoline/diesel cars. It is more cost effective, and gives better performance than the electric cars. The components of a typical hybrid car are: ? Fuel tank for the gasoline engine; ? A small but efficient gasoline engine; ? An electric motor/generator; ? A set of batteries that act like a fuel tank of an electric engine; ? Transmission system, which turns the wheels.
For the gasoline engine, it has a fuel tank An efficient and small gasoline engine ? Electric motor and generator Set of batteries acting as a fuel tank of electric engine Transmission system for turning the wheels
The various features that make hybrid cars such a success in terms of efficiency are small and efficient engines; regenerative breaking that allows the electric motor to act as a generator, which charges the batteries as the engine slows down; periodic engine shut-off that restarts when the gear is put back hence, saving fuel; advanced aerodynamics which reduce the drag co efficient; LLR tiers and last but not the least, light weight materials to reduce the overall weight of the car.
Hybrid cars feature efficient engines; small sized, regenerative breaking that makes the electric engine to act as generator; fuel-efficiency; advanced aerodynamics that lowers the drag co-efficient and light weight materials that reduces the weight of the car. The fuel efficiency of the car is brought by periodic engine shut-off. Today, hybrid cars are also entitled as green cars as they are environmental friendly. The advanced technology installed in these cars is incomparable. Therefore, hybrid cars are highly-designed and really competent.