Electric Hybrid Cars

With fuel costs rising consistently and auto makers looking for more environmentally-friendly vehicle options, electric hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular. Electric hybrid cars combine the use of a typical vehicle propulsion system with an energy storage system that is rechargeable. The result is a vehicle that gets better mileage and is more economical for owners. Learning more about electric hybrid cars means finding out about the types of engines and renewable energy storage systems available, the environmental benefits of electric hybrid cars, and the economic benefits of using hybrid vehicles.

Electric hybrid cars usually use gasoline engines, but diesel engines can also be used. The type of engine used depends on how the vehicle will be used. Passenger cars make use of a gasoline engine, while delivery trucks and larger vehicles often use a diesel engine. The diesel engines are an advantage when power must be delivered to the vehicle constantly, such as in the case of a vehicle being used for business purposes. In this case, the diesel engine is more efficient and will undergo less wear and tear than a gasoline engine would under similar circumstances. In electric hybrid cars, electric motors are also used. These motors usually kick in when the vehicle is stopped in traffic or traveling at a low speed.

Most auto manufacturers are now concentrating on the design and production of electric hybrid cars because executives feel that this type of vehicle will be the most popular in the near future. Many auto makers have already released their own electric hybrid cars including Ford, Lexus, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. Ford's electric hybrid car is actually a small SUV called the Ford Escape Hybrid Honda has several electric hybrid cars available, including the Insight, Civic Hybrid, Civic Hybrid II, and Accord Hybrid. Lexus introduced electric hybrid cars to the luxury car market with the GS450h and RX400h. Toyota produces one of the more well-known electric hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius, as well as the Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and Prius II. All of these car manufacturers continue to test upgrades and new electric car models to further improve fuel economy.

There are many benefits to using electric hybrid cars for personal and commercial transportation needs. Better fuel efficiency is one intended benefit of the use of electric hybrid cars. Electric hybrid vehicles provide excellent fuel efficiency, particularly when driving in congested cities, where regular vehicles would typically not achieve optimal fuel efficiency. The Ford Escape Hybrid is good example of how electric hybrid cars improve fuel efficiency for city driving. When driving above forty miles per hour, the vehicle uses the gasoline engine for power. When the vehicle's speed drops below forty miles per hour, the car uses its renewable electrical energy to power the car, achieving much higher efficiency.

Reduced noise is another benefit of electric hybrid cars, especially in areas where noise pollution is already a source of concern. Because electric hybrid cars use their electric motors when waiting in traffic or traveling at slow speeds, much of the noise of the traditional gasoline and diesel engines is reduced.

Another major benefit of electric hybrid cars is that pollution can be reduced. In vehicles that use gasoline and diesel powered engines exclusively, exhaust is produced extensively. This exhaust contributes to the air pollution that is such a problem, especially in major cities. Air pollution can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma, and it can also lead to reduced quality of life for people living in polluted areas. Because an electric motor is used at low speeds, emissions from electric hybrid cars are reduced.