WHAT IS A HYBRID CAR?
A hybrid car is one that uses more than one means of propulsion. At the moment, that means combining a normal petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor.
The chief advantages of a hybrid are that it uses less fuel and emits less CO2 than most conventional non-hybrid vehicles.
Because of this, owners also get extra benefits in the shape of lower rates of road and company car tax, as well as possibly avoiding congestion charges.
How do they work?
Hybrids are powered by either a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor.
However, different manufacturers have come up with different ways of merging the two powertrains into one.
There are three main types of hybrid, but all of them drive much like a conventional automatic car.
Benefits of Hybrid Cars
1. Hybrid Cars Show You How to Drive Efficiently
Just like a Jeep is in its element when driven off-road, and a Ferrari likes to be driven like a race car, a hybrid desperatelywants to be driven efficiently. Our Toyota Prius, like most hybrids, has a display that shows our present mileage as well as average miles per gallon. It even tells us how much energy we recoup with the brakes.
Just like a Jeep is in its element when driven off-road, and a Ferrari likes to be driven like a race car, a hybrid desperatelywants to be driven efficiently. Our Toyota Prius, like most hybrids, has a display that shows our present mileage as well as average miles per gallon. It even tells us how much energy we recoup with the brakes.
2. You Can Beat the EPA Mileage Estimates
Our goal was to double our observed fuel economy from the 22 mpg we had been getting with the Subaru. While we would have been happy with 44 mpg, or even the EPA rating of 48 mpg in the city, we were astonished to regularly see our fuel efficiency in the mid 50s. We credit efficient driving, aided by the Prius display, as the key to beating the EPA mileage estimates.
Our goal was to double our observed fuel economy from the 22 mpg we had been getting with the Subaru. While we would have been happy with 44 mpg, or even the EPA rating of 48 mpg in the city, we were astonished to regularly see our fuel efficiency in the mid 50s. We credit efficient driving, aided by the Prius display, as the key to beating the EPA mileage estimates.
3. Don’t Worry about the Battery
Every time I mentioned that I was buying a hybrid, I was warned about the battery failing. There is a popular myth that the battery is unreliable and a replacement is shockingly expensive. Consumer Reports notes that Toyota sells replacement batteries for $2,300 to $2,600. Practically speaking, if you had to replace a battery on a 10-year-old hybrid, you could pay about $500 for one from a salvage yard, just like you could if you had to replace any major component on an older car.
Every time I mentioned that I was buying a hybrid, I was warned about the battery failing. There is a popular myth that the battery is unreliable and a replacement is shockingly expensive. Consumer Reports notes that Toyota sells replacement batteries for $2,300 to $2,600. Practically speaking, if you had to replace a battery on a 10-year-old hybrid, you could pay about $500 for one from a salvage yard, just like you could if you had to replace any major component on an older car.
4. Expect Less Maintenance
One of the neat things about a hybrid is that the gas engine is not running when you are stopped or driving slowly. It is amazing how often that happens in city driving. The result is that you are putting less wear on your engine. For this reason, Toyota only recommends oil changes every 5,000 miles, unlike my Subaru which specifies oil changes every 3,000 miles.
One of the neat things about a hybrid is that the gas engine is not running when you are stopped or driving slowly. It is amazing how often that happens in city driving. The result is that you are putting less wear on your engine. For this reason, Toyota only recommends oil changes every 5,000 miles, unlike my Subaru which specifies oil changes every 3,000 miles.
Its brakes should last longer too. Unless you have to brake suddenly, a hybrid regenerates electricity with a regenerative brake instead of applying the standard brakes. Since you could drive around all day without hardly using the conventional brakes, you can expect your brakes to need service far less often than a non-hybrid would. When the Prius was used in taxi fleets, it demonstrated less of a need for brake maintenance than its non-hybrid counterparts.
INVENTORS
1665 – 1825
Between 1665 and 1680, Flemish Jesuit priest and astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest created plans for a miniature four-wheel unmanned steam “car” for Chinese Emperor Khang Hsi. In 1769, Frenchman Nicholas Cugnot built a steam-powered motor carriage capable of six miles per hour. In 1825, British inventor Goldsworthy Gurney built a steam car that successfully completed an 85 mile round-trip journey in ten hours time. (Steamers dominated the automotive landscape until the late 19th century.)
1839
Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland built the first electric vehicle.
Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland built the first electric vehicle.
1870
Sir David Salomon developed a car with a light electric motor and very heavy storage batteries. Driving speed and range were poor.
Sir David Salomon developed a car with a light electric motor and very heavy storage batteries. Driving speed and range were poor.
1886
Historical records indicate that an electric-powered taxicab, using a battery with 28 cells and a small electric motor, was introduced in England.
Historical records indicate that an electric-powered taxicab, using a battery with 28 cells and a small electric motor, was introduced in England.
1888
Immisch & Company built a four-passenger carriage, powered by a one-horsepower motor and 24-cell battery, for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. In the same year, Magnus Volk in Brighton, England made a three-wheeled electric car.
Immisch & Company built a four-passenger carriage, powered by a one-horsepower motor and 24-cell battery, for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. In the same year, Magnus Volk in Brighton, England made a three-wheeled electric car.
1890 – 1910
Period of significant improvements in battery technology, specifically with development of the modern lead-acid battery by H. Tudor and nickel-iron battery by Edison and Junger.
Period of significant improvements in battery technology, specifically with development of the modern lead-acid battery by H. Tudor and nickel-iron battery by Edison and Junger.
1897
The London Electric Cab Company began regular service using cars designed by Walter Bersey. The Bersey Cab, which used a 40-cell battery and 3 horsepower electric motor, could be driven 50 miles between charges.
The London Electric Cab Company began regular service using cars designed by Walter Bersey. The Bersey Cab, which used a 40-cell battery and 3 horsepower electric motor, could be driven 50 miles between charges.
1897
The Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, built around 500 electric cars over a two-year period.
The Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, built around 500 electric cars over a two-year period.
1898
The Austrian Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, at age 23, built his first car, the Lohner Electric Chaise. It was the world’s first front-wheel-drive. Porsche’s second car was a hybrid, using an internal combustion engine to spin a generator that provided power to electric motors located in the wheel hubs. On battery alone, the car could travel nearly 40 miles.
The Austrian Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, at age 23, built his first car, the Lohner Electric Chaise. It was the world’s first front-wheel-drive. Porsche’s second car was a hybrid, using an internal combustion engine to spin a generator that provided power to electric motors located in the wheel hubs. On battery alone, the car could travel nearly 40 miles.
1898
The Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, of New York City, had a fleet of twelve sturdy and stylish electric cabs.
The Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, of New York City, had a fleet of twelve sturdy and stylish electric cabs.
1899
The Pope Manufacturing Company merged with two smaller electric car companies to form the Electric Vehicle Company, the first large-scale operation in the American automobile industry. The company had assets of $200 million.
The Pope Manufacturing Company merged with two smaller electric car companies to form the Electric Vehicle Company, the first large-scale operation in the American automobile industry. The company had assets of $200 million.
Two hybrids appeared at the Paris Salon.
1900
American car companies made 1,681 steam, 1,575 electric and 936 gasoline cars. In a poll conducted at the first National Automobile Show in New York City, patrons favored electric as their first choice, followed closely by steam.
American car companies made 1,681 steam, 1,575 electric and 936 gasoline cars. In a poll conducted at the first National Automobile Show in New York City, patrons favored electric as their first choice, followed closely by steam.
2000
Toyota released the Toyota Prius, the first hybrid four-door sedan available in the United States.
Toyota released the Toyota Prius, the first hybrid four-door sedan available in the United States.
2002
Honda introduced the Honda Civic Hybrid, its second commercially available hybrid gasoline-electric car. The appearance and drivability of the Civic Hybrid was (and still is) identical to the conventional Civic.
Honda introduced the Honda Civic Hybrid, its second commercially available hybrid gasoline-electric car. The appearance and drivability of the Civic Hybrid was (and still is) identical to the conventional Civic.
2004
The Toyota Prius II won 2004 Car of the Year Awards from Motor Trend Magazine and the North American Auto Show. Toyota was surprised by the demand and pumped up its production from 36,000 to 47,000 for the U.S. market. Interested buyers waited up to six months to purchase the 2004 Prius. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. President Jim Press called it "the hottest car we’ve ever had."
The Toyota Prius II won 2004 Car of the Year Awards from Motor Trend Magazine and the North American Auto Show. Toyota was surprised by the demand and pumped up its production from 36,000 to 47,000 for the U.S. market. Interested buyers waited up to six months to purchase the 2004 Prius. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. President Jim Press called it "the hottest car we’ve ever had."
In September, Ford released the Escape Hybrid, the first American hybrid and the first SUV hybrid.
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