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How Hybrid Cars Work
Hybrid cars are products of the world’s latest technology. They were invented as a result of the problems confronting modern society, like oil price hikes and environmental hazards that are undeniably causing harm to both humans and Mother Nature. As a vehicle run by a combination of electricity and gas, a hybrid car can help save fuel and money and reduce air pollution. Here is how it works. In a hybrid car, it is not only the engine that is connected to the transmission—the part that passes the power on to the wheels and pushes the car forward—but also an electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can power the vehicle. The former runs the car and the latter functions when needed to increase power. This type of hybrid is called parallel. The other kind is the series hybrid, where a gas engine powers the generator. The generator then charges the batteries and powers the electric motor. The gasoline engine doesn’t power the car on its own. The electric motor operates when the car moves below a certain speed and the gasoline engine functions only when that speed is exceeded. In addition, the engine of a hybrid is smaller than that of the common car, so the car is lighter and more efficient to manage and, hence, less fuel-consuming. And not only that, when a hybrid car is in motion, it recharges the battery. When it is running slow, or not moving at all, or when it brakes, it also recharges itself. Logically, the more electricity the car uses, the less fuel it uses. This is why hybrid cars don’t use as much gas as conventional cars. This can help you reduce the number of trips to the gas station, saving time, money, energy, and guilt about being an earth pollutant. - HybridCars.com
General resource for hybrid car owners and potential buyers. Includes shopping tools, blog entries, as well as articles on hybrid electric cars and their impact on the environment. - GreenHybrid.com
Hybrid electric vehicle resource offering forums, articles, car comparisons, and performance statistics. - Hybrid Center
Features a consumer and tech center, hybrid news, and a look at upcoming legislation regarding hybid technology. - HowStuffWorks: How Hybrid Cars Work
Features an illustrated description of the parallel hybrid powertrain of the Toyota Prius. - Wikipedia: Hybrid Car
Overview including the history, technology, types, and perks of automobiles powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors, and battery rechargers. - PlugInAmerica.com
Advocates the use of plug-in cars, trucks, and SUVs powered by cleaner, cheaper, domestic electricity to reduce the U.S.'s dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment. www.pluginamerica.com - Hybrid Car Information
Offering hybrid electric car news and a guide to current and future hybrid models. - Care2.com: Hybrid Cars
Gives an overview of how hybrid cars work. Includes emissions information, online forum, and buyer's guide to hybrids. - UC Davis Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Program
U.C. Davis' hybrid-electric vehicle group. Find tech papers on the technology, make a donation, read about their development of a tri-fueled plug-in hybrid vehicle. - Hybrid Vehicles
Information and reviews of various hybrid vehicles in production. - Eartheasy: Hybrid Cars
Contains news and information about the various hybrid cars in production as well as upcoming developments. - Hybrid Consortium
Organized to help reduce the R&D gap between hybrid component suppliers and OEMs and to coordinate and accelerate the development of critical components for the next generation hybrid vehicles. - All About Hybrid Cars
Offers a hybrid car buyer's guide ebook as well as model comparisons, related news articles, FAQs, and a directory of web resources. - Yahoo! Autos: Hybrid Cars
See the latest hybrid models, including pictures, prices, and reviews. - MSN Money: Hybrid Cars
Helps you decide whether purchasing a hybrid vehicle is the right choice for you over traditional combustion engine cars. Contains information and pricing on current models, the tax advantages of buying, and more. - Energy Quest: Hybrid Vehicles
Short summary of the new type of cars that save energy. - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles
Works toward developing hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) with an eye towards moving them from research and development to the marketplace. - Hybrid-Cars-Guide.com
Offers advice on choosing hybrid cars and information on hybrid vehicle technologies. - Wired News: Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short
Hyperlinked article that examines the shortcomings of hybrid vehicles. - California State University, Chico - Advanced Vehicle Research & Development
Students designed and built a hybrid electric car.
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