Welcome to Hybrid Vehicles

Pricing  -  Hybrid Gas Mileage  -  Greenest Vehicles  -  Meanest Vehicles

Most trains are diesel-electric hybrids, so are mining trucks and some public transit buses in certain cities around the world. Mopeds (motorized pedal bikes) are also hybrid vehicles.

Why it's time to get a hybrid vehicle
Though they may cost a bit more at retail price, hybrid vehicles are a worthwhile investment, as they are definitely a step in the right direction, in terms of slowing our effects on our environment.

With gas prices soaring to record heights, more and more people are seeking alternatives to throwing their money away to pay for fossil fuels that are bad for the environment (in obtaining, processing, and use).

Unfortunately, eco-friendly has also been largely ignored due to the usually larger price tag. We believe that a reasonable comparison of prices, performance, maintenance costs, and environmental effects would offer a clearer picture and an incentive for people to give up their current vehicles and invest in the future of hybrid vehicles, and the planet.

How does a hybrid vehicle work?

Divide power between more than 1 source
Because it has an alternate power source in the electric motor and the batteries, a hybrid car doesn't need to rely on the gasoline engine all the time. So sometimes the hybrid can switch off the gasoline engine, for example when the vehicle is stopped at a red light. It can also hold off switching the gasoline engine on until it has reached a certain speed, using only the electric motor to start up and speed up.

Recapture energy and store it in the battery
The faster a car is going, the more kinetic energy it has. Energy is removed from your car each time you step on the brake pedal, because your car's brakes disperse this energy in the form of heat. A hybrid car can recover some of this energy and store it in the battery for future use. This is accomplished by what's called "regenerative braking." The electric motor that propels the hybrid can also decelerate the car instead of just using the brakes to stop the car. In this setting, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down.

Use advanced aerodynamics to reduce drag
Aerodynamic drag, or more simply, air resistance, is the force that your car expends a lot of energy (fuel) to fight against, especially when you're driving fast on a highway. Hybrid designs usually show decreased frontal area of the car. Obviously the wider a car is, the harder it has to work to push itself through the air. Minimizing disturbances around objects that stick out from the car or eliminating them altogether can also help to improve the aerodynamics. This will optimize the speed of airflow over the vehicle's mass.

More efficient tires
Hybrid cars use stiffer tires that are inflated to higher pressure than most other tires. This reduces the drag that one usually gets from driving. Most tires are rarely designed for reduction of drag, rather, they are designed with traction, noise-reduction, and smoothness of ride in mind. The tires in hybrid cars generate about half of the drag compared to conventional tires.

Making the car lighter
More weight means more power and fuel to drive the car. Making a car lighter reduces the energy required with acceleration or with driving up an incline. Hybrid cars sometimes utilize composite materials like carbon fiber or lightweight metals (Maybe Hemp based).

Currently there are not too many hybrid cars in distribution. Honda, Toyota, and Ford are the only major manufacturers with hybrid vehicles for sale to date, yet various other automobile makers have been developing hybrid vehicles that are slated for release in the near future.

Current available models:

• Toyota Prius
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Honda Insight
• Ford Escape (2005) - the first hybrid SUV

In the near future:

• Toyota Camry
• Dodge Ram
• Lexus 400h SUV
• Honda Accord
• Toyota Highlander

Additional Information on Hybrid Vehicles

Environmental Defence - Canada
Formerly known as the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund, this organization fights to protect the environment and human health through research, education, and litigation when necessary in order to ensure clean air, safe food and thriving ecosystems across the nation.
url: www.environmentaldefence.ca

Environmental Defense - USA
Environmental Defense is an American organization that examines the role of America in contributing to and solving environmental issues; working to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are non-partisan, cost-efficient and fair.
url: www.environmentaldefense.org

hybrid vehicle - a vehicle that combines 2 or more power sources

regenerative braking - energy is regenerated by the vehicle each time you hit the brakes by recapturing the energy usually dispersed as heat by the brakes

MSRP - Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

mpg - fuel consumption expressed in miles per gallon