The Benefits of Hybrid Cars
A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses two different types of power. The two types of power are separate but complementary. Submarines, for example, use diesel when they are surfaced and batteries when they are submerged. Some hybrids store energy in pressurized fluid. Here are a few examples of hybrid vehicles. Listed below are some of the benefits of hybrid vehicles. They are also an excellent option if you’re looking for a vehicle with excellent fuel efficiency.
Accord
The Honda Accord Hybrid has a lot to offer. It seats five comfortably, and offers generous legroom in both rows. The rear seat has enough headroom for most adults. The seats are firm, but pleasantly supportive, and the cupholders feature anti-tip measures. The rear seat is comfortable enough for three people, and there are two sets of LATCH connectors. Despite the small trunk, the Honda Accord Hybrid gets high marks for safety and handling.
Camry
The Toyota Camry hybrid is a smart, practical car with a smooth ride and a powerful engine. Its 3.5-liter V6 offers 301 horsepower and works seamlessly with a continuously variable automatic transmission. This car is paired with a continuously variable transmission, and while it doesn’t drive particularly quickly, it does offer enough performance to be a serious contender for the award of most fuel-efficient car. There are a number of shortcomings to the Camry hybrid, however.
Civic
The Honda Civic hybrid car is a hybrid car. Unlike the traditional car, the hybrid version of this car is powered entirely by electricity. Its gas engine is replaced by an electric motor under certain circumstances. A nickel-metal hydride battery stores energy for future use. A regenerative braking system converts the electric motor into an electric generator while the car is decelerating. The car will then store this energy for future use.
Insight
The first of Honda’s dedicated hybrid cars, the Insight, is on its way to U.S. showrooms. The car is expected to debut in the spring, and will be priced well below today’s hybrids. The introduction of this model is likely to further extend the popularity of hybrid technology, and make them more affordable and accessible to drivers. Honda Motor Co plans to produce more Insight hybrid cars and will begin selling them on Earth Day in the U.S.
Semper Vivus
A special event to celebrate the debut of the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid showcased the new Porsche Semper Vivus for hybrid cars. This car was based on a WWII model that has been faithfully reproduced. Its steering system consists of a steering knuckle connected to a tubular frame without suspension. The vehicle’s battery pack is made of lead-acid batteries, and its electric motor powers the steering. The vehicle has a range of 125 miles.
Mercedes Benz S400 BlueHYBRID
In April 2009, Daimler will release the S400 BlueHYBRID, the first series production passenger car equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack. The car’s 0.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack was demonstrated at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference in Long Beach, California. Dr. Uwe Wiedemann explained the system’s design and its components, emphasizing the management of this tiny battery pack.
General Motors BAS Hybrid
Currently, GM is testing a new hybrid system in the Chevy Tahoe, the Chevy Yukon, and Saab 9-X bioHybrid concept vehicles. The new BAS system is designed to be as efficient as a full hybrid system, yet GM declined to divulge the exact specifications of the new battery pack. The company is also working with DaimlerChrysler to develop a two-mode full hybrid system. It is hoped that the new system will save consumers up to 15 percent on gasoline. The system will be deployed on up to 12 different models, with the first vehicles coming out in 2007.
Suzuki S-Cross
The new-generation Suzuki S-Cross is expected to hit the market in selected markets during the second half of next year. There have already been spy pictures of the new-gen S-Cross circulating online for the past few weeks. It’s expected to have a more complete redesign than the outgoing model and will be slightly larger. The car will make its India market debut during the second half of next year.
Smart fortwo with micro hybrid drive
The new Smart fortwo with micro hybrid drive is a stop-start car. It has a 33 kW combustion engine and a 20 kW electric motor. Its nickel hybrid battery is capable of holding a charge of one kWh. These two technologies work together and separately to offer a unique combination of driving fun, economy and environmental friendliness.
