What Are Hybrid Cars?
Author: Dennis Conner

Hybrid plants like corn or rice are familiar to many but hybrid
cars? Are these space-age cars that do not need fuel to run or
even fly in the sky?

To the uninitiated, hybrid cars may seem like an alien form or
specie that requires a lot of explaining. To car and
environment aficionados, hybrid cars are either bane or boon
especially with the increasing fuel prices worldwide.

Hybrid cars may just be the answer of modern scientists to the
rising fuel cost and the deteriorating quality of the
environment. Contrary to your belief, hybrid cars are no longer
new to the society as the auto industry has come up with various
models of hybrid cars. Car manufacturers who have been left
behind in the race for the perfect hybrid car have announced
their intention to compete in the market.

Hybrid vehicles are those that possess the dual qualities of
being able to run on more than two sources of power like
gasoline or battery. The first hybrid vehicles came in the form
of hybrid bikes which has fuel features but can be operated
using the pedal skills of the rider. Hybrid cars are more
common in Europe particularly in Norway and France. Hybrid
buses that are operated by overhead and by diesel when they
travel in other areas without the overhead wires are also being
used in Seattle. There are also hybrid submarines which run on
nuclear, diesel or electric energy.

The most common hybrid vehicle is that powered by both gasoline
and electricity. A hybrid car attempts to allow the owner to
save on fuel while being environment friendly. However, can
hybrid cars be efficient enough to provide long distance travel
without being refueled or recharged?

Most gasoline-powered vehicles answer this requirement although
they cause more damage to the environment because of the
emissions. On the other hand, electric vehicles are more
environment-friendly but can only go on a maximum of 161
kilometers until it is recharged and the recharging time is
very slow. The hybrid car combines the advantages of both the
gasoline-powered and the electric-powered car.

A hybrid car possesses a gasoline engine much like the ordinary
gasoline powered car but the engine is much smaller, more
environment-friendly due to lesser emissions and more
efficient. It also possesses a very high tech electric motor
which allows dual use of batteries and energy.

The hybrid car may just be in its infancy but the human mind
can very well make sure that the hybrid cars will be the cars
of the future.


About The Author: The author is a regular contributor to Hybrid
Headquarters http://www.hybrid-hq.com where more hybrid car
information is freely available.