A plug-in hybrid car is similar to a conventional hybrid vehicle—both use a gasoline engine as well as an electric motor. However, with a larger battery packs, a plug-in hybrid can be recharged by connecting to common household electricity. Without using any gasoline, Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances—from a few miles to as much as 40 miles.

Plug-in Prius prototype

While maintaining the same driving range as standard or conventional vehicles plug-in hybrids provide the benefits of an electric car. Plug-in hybrid drivers travel in an all-electric mode for the vast majority of common local driving. When the battery’s electric charge is depleted, a downsized gas engine is used to either recharge the batteries (as the car moves), or as the primary source of propulsion until recharging the batteries via a plug.

Plug-in hybrid cars are also known as PHEVs or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrid cars that use a gas engine exclusively for recharging batteries—rather than directly powering the wheels—are also called E-REVs or Extended-Range Electric Vehicles.

Barack Obama Invests $2.4 Billion in Plug-in Hybrid and Batteries

Barack Obama, US President, has a huge concern about our environmental and reduce our dependence on oil. In Elkhart, Indiana, Barack Obama says, “If we want to reduce our dependence on oil, put Americans back to work and reassert our manufacturing sector as one of the greatest in the world, we must produce the advanced, efficient vehicles of the future.”

And today, the Obama administration announced $2.4 billion in grants for US manufacturers to build next generation auto batteries for hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Michigan-based companies received approximately half of the funds.

The spending is the US government’s bet on battery-powered vehicles—an attempt to overcome the challenges of creating small, reliable, lightweight, and affordable rechargeable hybrid and electric car batteries, as well as the infrastructure to allow drivers to bypass gas stations and charge their cars from the electric grid.

Almost all battery manufacturing for advanced technology vehicles is currently based in Asia.

Another articles by Johan Young you may interest in reading: Hybrid Car Performance, Diesel Hybrid, Ford Fusion, and Ford Fusion Design.

source: www.hybridcars.com

Integrated Motor Assist is Honda’s hybrid car terminology, first introduced on the Honda Insight in December 1999.

Integrated Motor Assist

It uses both a gasoline engine and a thin, compact permanent magnet electric motor/generator mounted between the engine and transmission to act as a starter motor, engine balancer, and assist traction motor. In its first generation, Integrated Motor Assist uses a battery-powered electric motor only to assist the gasoline engine; the car does not run on electricity alone except in certain low-speed situations. The 2006 Civic Hybrid, however, can activate the electric motor while the vehicle is coasting without turning the Internal Combustion Engine on, though in contrast to Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) or General Motors and DaimlerChrysler’s Global Hybrid Cooperation, the IMA has a less powerful motor/generator which allows the car to slow or stop its rate of deceleration to a lesser extent; it cannot operate without turning over the engine which is directly coupled to its electric motor.

The theory behind Integrated Motor Assist is to use regenerative braking to recapture some of the energy lost through deceleration, and reuse that energy later on to help speed up the vehicle. This has two effects: it increases the rate of speeding up, and it reduces the work required of the gasoline engine. The acceleration boost is vital as it allows the engine to be scaled down to a smaller but more fuel-efficient variant without rendering the vehicle very slow or weak. This smaller engine is the most important reason cars prepared with Integrated Motor Assist get improved main road mileage than their more conventional counterparts.

Additionally, vehicles set with Integrated Motor Assist can shut off their engine when the vehicle stops and use the electric motor to quickly spin it back up when the driver releases the brake pedal. They also have a conventional starter as a backup, making it the only production hybrid system which can operate with its high voltage electric system disabled, using only its engine like a traditional vehicle. In spite of this, since the Integrated Motor Assist also acts as the vehicle’s alternator, eventually the 12V accessory battery would require an external charge.

Honda powered their Dualnote with a 3.5L (210cuin) DOHC i-VTEC V6 concept engine featuring Integrated Motor Assist. Honda claimed the vehicle to produce 400hp (300kW) while still being capable of fuel efficiency of approximately 18km/L (51mpg-imp; 42mpg-US). Even though, there is no confirmation the Dualnote exists. Since the photographs appear to be drawings.

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By: Johan Young

best hybrid cars

One of the main contributors of pollution is cars. Transportation is a necessity so this problem is not easy to solve. Scientists and automotive companies have come up with a solution for environmental conscious customers. Hybrid vehicles were created to answer environmental issues and provide alternatives for customers.

What is a Hybrid Vehicle?

A hybrid vehicle is a type of automobile that depends on different power sources other than fuel (ex. diesel, petrol). A hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle that is a combination of a rechargeable energy storage system or RESS and a traditional propulsion system. It saves more fuel and also covers more distance compared to battery electric vehicles since charging is done through a variety of methods instead of a lone external source. The propulsion power systems of various hybrid electric engines may be composed of the same parts or subsystems.

Usual hybrid electric models have an internal combustion engine as well as electric batteries that support the main electric motors. The mechanisms of the hybrid vehicle have improved significantly with the discovery of regenerative braking wherein kinetic energy can be stored. Fuel is conserved more and emission is minimized as much as possible. Drivers get to cover longer ranges as well without worrying about speed and performance.

These vehicles are able to achieve this purpose in four ways. It shuts down the diesel engine during stops or idle periods. It has a battery storage that enables it to store and reuse the energy that it has recaptured. It’s able to recapture energy that is usually wasted while breaking. It relies on two power sources, the diesel engine and the electric motors to reduce fuel consumption during peak power usage.

Automotive companies today are continually developing this technology to be able to cater environmental friendly cars and deliver quality brand vehicles at the same time. They are turning to popular type of vehicles such as SUV’s to expand the appeal of hybrid technology.

Hybrid vehicles were designed to reduce emissions and save fuel. With the continuing rise of gas prices and global warming campaigns, more people are searching for alternatives to decrease dependence on fuel. This technology will also contribute to the general health of the public because car emissions pose a threat to one’s health.

This type of vehicle is very convenient for traffic ridden areas. It also reduces noise emissions when the vehicle is operating at low speeds. Hybrid vehicles are practical and convenient cars for everyday living in the city.

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By: Johan Young

hybrid vehicles

Hybrid vehicles were the stuff of dreams centuries ago. Nobody ever thought that creating a vehicle independent from fuel was possible. Fortunately with the continuing development of hybrid technology, more efficient and practical vehicles have been created. In the recent years the campaign for global warming has brought the attention of the public. Hybrid cars are now becoming steadily popular available in various types from compact sedans to SUVs.

Environmental issues are not the only reason that has made the public favor hybrid cars. Rising gas prices is also one of the major reasons why people prefer hybrid cars than conventional ones. Its also practical in suburban environments where you don’t really need horsepower but gas mileage.

Hybrid vehicles

There are different types of hybrid vehicles. They can vary from the simplest wheelbarrows to ships. No matter what form they are, these vehicles help in reducing greenhouse and noise emissions. Although these vehicles are expensive due to their unique structures, developments will continue to provide more alternatives to the public. These cars may not compare to conventional ones with a 200 horsepower but why would you need that if you only need 20 in the streets?

The simplest hybrid would be the single wheeled vehicles. These are wheelbarrows famously depicted with sails. This can be seen in Chinese sailing carriages.

The next is two wheeled vehicles. These are usually cycle type vehicles. The best example would be the Moped and electric bicycles. They are powered by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine in combination with the rider’s muscles. This concept was also used in the 1800’s by motorcycles. The electric bicycle can either be a parallel or a series hybrid.

Hybrid vehicles are not just limited to private cars. There are also hybrid power trains used by heavy vehicles. There are diesel or turbo electric buses, railway locomotives, heavy duty vehicles, hydraulic machinery and ships.

In ships a diesel engine drives the electric generator or hydraulic pump which in turn powers one or more hydraulic or electric motors. Sails and engines were early forms of hybrids which may be used again due to rising fuel costs.

More developments are continually being made in hybrid structures and systems for efficiency. Today buying a hybrid car is expensive but it will be beneficial in the long run. It does not just save fuel costs but also removes pollution that can harm the health of the people and take whatever it is left of the environment.

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By: Johan Young

hybrid plug in cars

Vehicles are important tools for transportation. Unfortunately they have harmful effects on the environment, health and wallets of the people. The continuing rise of gas prices and campaigns on global warning make you want to ditch that SUV for a bike. Fortunately other power sources and fuels are being developed to serve as an alternative. Hybrid vehicles are a compromise between using a car and caring for the environment.

There are different types of hybrid vehicles. Each of them differs by what type of power source they are using. Although these cars may not run as fast as a conventional car on the highway, it’s convenient for the suburban environment where traffic is normal.

Plug and Play

Hybrid vehicles can be charged by using an external source. Although this was one of the earlier developments which made it one step ahead of conventional cars, it’s not as practical as it sounds. Due to this plug-in hybrids were created. These vehicles have batteries which can be recharged through a standard wall socket.

Important developments weren’t made until 2002. Plug-in hybr:ids were not sold commercially until 2003. The vehicles power source still operates the same way as a conventional hybrid but modified for the owner to be able to recharge it like an iPod.

These vehicles operate in 4 different modes. Charge depleting mode relies exclusively on electricity until the battery reaches a predetermined level. There is a predetermined level that automatically signals the car to stop running on electric power and switch to charge sustaining mode. The variation of this is the blended mode used by cars that cannot run at high speeds by using electric power alone and uses the diesel engine for help.

In charge sustaining mode it uses the combination of a diesel engine and its battery so that the vehicle will not exceed the predetermined level. This type of mode is used by conventional hybrids.  In mixed, all of the modes mentioned are used and the vehicle switches between the four during the trip.

The disadvantage of the hybrid is the battery. Battery packs are expensive and can be large and heavy. Customers without garages will not be ale to recharge their cars because of the absence of an electric wall socket. Although emissions are reduced by the car it will be replaced by the plants that produce electricity. On the positive side pollution will be taken away from cities and the suburbs where it has a harmful effect on the health of the general public.

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By: Johan Young

electric car manufacturing

It is likely that a lot of people are thriving to purchase electric vehicles recently. Yet, it is unaffordable for everyone due to its expensive price. Electric vehicles seem to be an alternative for the existing conventional ones. They are clean and known to have faster start up but shorter mileage.

There are a lot of famous electric car manufacturers in western country. Think Global Company meets the requirements of European and US Federal motor vehicle safety. There are also Daimler Chrysler, Tesla Motors, Mitsubishi Motors and many more. Each of electric car manufacturers made their specific design of electric vehicle to meet the market demands on their specific design of electric vehicle to meet the market demands on their area. Some of the many designs developed by those electric car manufacturers are a sport one. A lot of buyers love such design. Many other choose a vehicle that fit more people in it like the one on SUVs. Others are feeling comfort with a sedan. Whatever design you like, choose one that fit you best.

In US itself you can choose an electric vehicle manufacturer out of numerous numbers. You can choose one of its favorite designs to purchase. If the price is still too high, you could buy a used one or wait till the price is declining.

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>> Neighborhood Electric Vehicle

By: Johan Young

NEV

Purchasing an electric vehicle is quite expensive. Neighborhood electric vehicle could be the best option. Neighborhood electric vehicle is an electric vehicle that has a maximum speed of greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour. Neighborhood electric vehicle is perfect for use in small communities and towns, on college campuses and industrial parks. Easy-to-use and economical, it conveniently plugs in for a recharge until you’re ready to go again.

This four-wheeled vehicle could help you being mobile. It features headlights, turn signals and seatbelts. The regulations on operating a neighborhood electric vehicle may vary in every state. Its driver should be licensed and the vehicle itself must be registered. Its maximum speed is only 25 mph (40 km/h). However, one can modify its speed up to 35 mph (56 km/h).

A neighborhood electric vehicle is best suited in closed environment such as airports, campuses, retirement communities and other area because it needs to periodically plug in for electricity charging. Urban environments with low speed traffic will also suits for this vehicle.

Many neighborhood electric vehicles are equipped with storage racks on its back or small pickup beds that add to its value since it does not feature air bags. It is restricted from freeways or highways.

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>> Toyota Camry Hybrid

By: Johan Young

toyota camry hybrid

There are many hybrid vehicles on the market today. Unfortunately due to the unique technology they don’t come cheap, developments and experiments with high powered engines made them more expensive. The perks provided by luxury cars come at a price. If being environmental friendly is this heavy on the wallet then why buy?

Hybrid vehicles may be an instant shock to the wallet but they are beneficial in the long run. Apart from SUVs and luxury vehicles there are also compact four doors that may provide an alternative for the average Joe. Following the success of the Camry, Toyota has decided to give the model a fresh new trim by turning it into a hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid. Using Toyota’s latest hybrid technology, the Toyota Camry Hybrid may provide to be an alternative to expensive hybrids.

Toyota Camry Hybrid Facelift

The original Toyota Camry Hybrid didn’t give its owner many problems. It’s priced right, big and powerful enough for the average Joe. With soaring gas prices, more people are willing to support and pay for hybrid technology. This prompted Toyota to hybridize its Camry to give customers a break from expensive sedans and Sports Utility vehicle hybrids – Toyota Camry Hybrid

Like other hybrids today, Toyota Camry Hybrid is equipped with a gasoline engine and electric motor combo. Toyota Camry Hybrid has a 192 horsepower and runs at 38 miles per gallon. Toyota Camry Hybrid still has the same accessories as of the previous Camry like alloy wheels, daytime headlights, power heated mirrors, six CD changer on the dashboard, eight way power and eight stereo speakers. The CD changer is compatible with a mp3.

Toyota Camry Hybrid’s still equipped with standard safety features such as airbags in the front, on the seat mounts for side impact, at the side curtain, and for the driver’s knee.

The main difference is additional features. Toyota Camry Hybrid has a push button start system, Smart Entry keyless locking, power door locks, anti-lock out windows and the air-conditioning relies on the electric motor. Toyota Camry Hybrid also has anti-lock breaking system and Toyota Camry Hybrid’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated System. The latter has traction and stability control with other electronic devices for vehicle control.

Toyota Camry Hybrid may not look as stylish as other luxury sedans and SUVs. But if you are looking for an affordable car that has been tried and tested this would be a good car for you. You don’t really need lots of horsepower for city driving. Toyota Camry Hybrid provides the best of both worlds while still being able to be accessible for the average Joe.

Hybrid vehicle technology are not new technology. In fact, in 1905 the application for a patent for a hybrid gasoline and electric motor power train brought the hybrid vehicle technology motors into existence. At that time the energy saving features were not the main focal point of this dual power model but, nonetheless, the history of hybrid vehicle technology had been born

There were quite a few people interested in hybrid vehicle technology, and some were long before the application for this particular patent was submitted. There were some inventors that realized the effect that hybrid vehicle technology could give electric running automobiles an added speed boost if they were combined with the horsepower that was afforded through the use of gasoline engines.

Hybrid vehicle technology predate the ICE (internal combustion engine) by quite a bit. However, the relatively lower cost of fueling ICEs made them a more popular choice, resigning new hybrid technology to the back burner.

Since gasoline engines have caused a the rising costs of fuel and the environmental damage, people are now starting to rely on hybrid vehicle technology which has zero emission and are more fuel efficient.

New Hybrid Vehicle Technology

Second generation series technology is on the foreseeable horizon (2010, for instance). Series technology may be able to revolutionize the hybrid industry even further. What is series technology? Should your new hybrid vehicle purchase decision wait until these models are available?

Series technology is very different from current hybrid vehicle technology. These cars will still contain an electric motor and an ICE; however, the ICE will no longer provide any power for the vehicle’s wheels. They will be capable of traveling for up to 40 miles without using fuel.

Once that 40-mile mark has been reached, the ICE will switch on, charging the batteries, which in turn supply the motor with the charge required to move the car down the road.

This has a tremendous advantage over the current hybrid vehicle technology.

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