Hybrid Vehicle: a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle.
A common name: Hybrid Electronic Vehicle (HEV) which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.
Different Technologies
Gas-electric hybrids: Add an electric motor and rechargeable batteries to the conventional gas engine. The onboard computer does all the hard work of switching between gas and electric power. At low speed or idle, the battery provides necessary energy. I.e. Ford Escape SUV: the overall most fuel efficient SUV in the market. However, affected by the weather, usually takes 20 to 30min to recharge the battery.
Plug-in hybrid: a plug-in hybrid uses larger battery packs that can be recharged by connecting to common household electricity. Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances—from a few miles to as much as 40 miles—without using any gasoline.
Electric car: powered exclusively by electricity. Historically, EVs have not been widely adopted because of limited driving range before needing to be recharged, long recharging times, and a lack of commitment by automakers to produce and market electric cars that have all the creature comforts of gas-powered cars. However, battery technology improves—simultaneously increasing energy storage and reducing cost.
Diesel: Use higher compression ratios and higher combustion temperatures, diesels operate more efficiently. A gallon of diesel fuel contains about 10 percent more energy than a gallon of gasoline. Diesel vehicles now account for nearly half of all new vehicle sales in Europe, and a small but growing market share in the US.
Ethanol car: Renewable fuel. E85, 85% blend of ethanol contributes less pollution, reducing smog-forming emissions by as much as 50 percent relative to gasoline. Drawbacks: higher price, less energy (20 to 30%), and lack of availability (mostly in the Midwest, MN & IL).
Hydrogen: Use a hydrogen internal combustion engine, which is basically a modified gasoline engine. It can also be used in a fuel cell, like a battery, but doesn’t need to be recharged.
Mileage and Performance
Current hybrid cars can get up to 60 miles to the gallon on the highway. In the near future, hybrid cars are expected to get fuel mileage as high as 190 miles per gallon!
Emission
Hybrid vehicle emissions today are getting close to or even lower than the recommended level set by the EPA. The recommended levels they suggest for a typical passenger vehicle should be equated to 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The three most popular hybrid vehicles, Honda Civic, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, set the standards even higher by producing 4.1, 3.5, and 3.5 tons showing a major improvement in carbon dioxide emissions. Hybrid vehicles can reduce air emissions of smog-forming pollutants by up to 90% and cut carbon dioxide emissions in half.
Market potential and projection
The number of hybrid gas-electric cars sold in the U.S. declined from 34,000 in March to 25,000 in April, and to 16,000 in May. The overall auto market is down 4 percent compared to a year ago. Hybrids were hit even harder, taking a precipitous fall of 42.1 percent compared to 2010. As usual, the Toyota Prius dominates the market, with its 51 percent drop compared to a year ago pulling down the total hybrid market numbers.
Policy
• California - hybrid car owners are allowed the use of carpool lanes and are exempt from parking fees in certain parts of the sate.
• Colorado - hybrid car owners are offered a tax credit.
• Connecticut - those interested in purchasing a hybrid car with a fuel economy rating of better than 40mpg are exempt from sales tax on the purchase.
• Florida and Georgia - hybrid car owners may drive in carpool lanes regardless of the number of passengers.
• Maine - hybrid car owners may be eligible for a tax rebate of as high as $500.
• Maryland - hybrid car owners are eligible for a tax rebate of $1000.
• New Mexico - hybrid car owners do not have to pay the motor vehicle excise tax.
• New York - hybrid car owners may be eligible for up to $5000 in tax rebates.
• Oregon - hybrid car owners are eligible for a $1500 tax rebate.
• Pennsylvania - as of 2005, hybrid car owners are eligible for a $500 rebate.
• Utah - hybrid car owners are eligible for up to a $3000 income tax credit.
The main obstacles seem to be smaller fleet sizes and the extra costs of a hybrid system are yet compensated for by fuel savings. However, Advances in technology and lowered battery cost and higher capacity etc. developed in the hybrid car industry are already filtering into truck use as Toyota, Ford, GM and others introduce hybrid pickups and SUVs. FedEx and others are starting to invest in hybrid delivery type vehicles—particularly for city use where hybrid technology may pay off first.
By Haiya Zhang
Source sited:
www.hybridcars.com/index.php
www.hybrid-car.org
www.eartheasy.com
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