Hybrid Car

What's a Hybrid Car?

Hybrids are cars that run off a rechargeable battery and gasoline, rather than just gasoline. Hybrid batteries help to reduce fuel emissions because the hybrid engine draws on the battery and not gasoline when accelerating. Hybrid gasoline motors can shut off when the car is stopped and run off their electricity. Hybrid cars are good for the environment. They can reduce smog by 90 percent and they use far less gasoline than conventional cars.

Hybrid cars are economical. They can get up to 55 to 60 mpg in city driving, while a typical SUV might travel 15-20 miles per gallon, or use three times as much gas for the same distance.

How Hybrids Save Energy and Gasoline:

• Hybrid engines are much smaller than those on conventional cars. A hybrid car engine is built small to accommodate the 99% of driving time when a car is not going up hills or accelerating quickly. When extra acceleration power is needed, it relies on the battery to provide additional force.
• Hybrid gasoline motors can shut off when the car is stopped and run off their electric motor and battery.
• Hybrid cars are lighter, which their tires create half the drag of conventional cars because they are stiffer and inflated to a higher pressure.
• Hybrid cars often recover braking energy. Electric hybrid motors take the kinetic energy lost in braking and use it to charge the battery.
• Hybrid cars are often more aerodynamic, reducing wind resistance.
• Hybrids burn less gasoline per mile, so they release much less pollution and fewer greenhouse gases.