What Are the Advantages of Hybrid Cars?

Gasoline powered cars are just what their name implies. They use an internal combustion engine run by gasoline as its power source. Each vehicle has a fuel tank which provides the engine with a supply of gasoline to power the transmission which turns the wheels.

Pros of Gasoline Powered Vehicles

Gasoline powered vehicles can operate for greater distances that an electric car. A full tank of gasoline will take the vehicle three to five times further than an electric vehicle.

In terms of energy, gasoline puts out much more energy for its weight than a battery. One gallon of gasoline weighs only seven pounds, while it takes a thousand pound battery to provide the same amount of energy.

Gasoline powered vehicles are much more powerful and can achieve greater speeds to keep up with traffic.

Gasoline powered vehicles are available in a wide variety of models and sizes. They range from small compact cars to pickup trucks, SUV's and luxury cars. There is no end to the variety and price range available. There is also a wide variety of engine choices available from a small four-cylinder economy car to a high powered V-8 engine and beyond.

Cons of Gasoline Powered Vehicles

Recently there has been a surge in the price of gasoline, and filling the gasoline tank in an automobile was downright painful.

A combustion engine is not energy efficient and consumes a great deal of fuel.

The combustion engine emits toxic emissions that accounts for most of the pollution expelled into our atmosphere. This is having a negative effect on our environment.

Electric Powered Vehicles

An electric powered vehicle is different from a gasoline powered vehicle in that it has a battery which provides the power to an electric motor. This electric motor then powers the transmission which turns the wheels.

Pros of an Electric Car

Owing to the fact that this system uses no gasoline or fossil fuels, it is not producing toxic emissions that pollute the atmosphere. This is is a great benefit to our environment.

Even thought there is a high cost to the battery pack, using electric power is lower in cost than the prices at the fuel pumps.

Cons of an Electric Car

The battery powers the car for shorter distances than a tank of gasoline.
It takes several hours for the battery to recharge.

Electric cars are not as fast as gasoline powered cars, and are limited to slow speed driving.

Hybrid Cars - The Best of Both Worlds

Hybrid cars combine both types of engines to achieve the best performance. They use both electric motors and a combustion engine to provide power for the vehicle.

Hybrid cars can operate on either the electric engine or the combustion engine. If the need arises, they can also run on both engines, taking best advantage of either of the systems.

Combining the advantages of both engines can provide a hybrid car with optimum fuel efficiency and performance that equals or can exceed its non-hybrid counterpart.

At higher speeds when the vehicle is using the combustion engine, the vehicle does emit toxic emissions, so a hybrid car is best utilized for slower speed conditions. It is ideal for city driving were most of the driving is at slower speeds.

As more and more manufacturers are coming out with hybrid cars the price is coming down to nearly the price of a conventional model. In addition, the choices are improving. Very small vehicles that are capable of fuel economy in the range of 100 miles per gallon are available, as are luxury models and even large SUV's capable of pulling and carrying heavy loads.