How Do Hybrid Cars Work?
August 20, 2010 by Mixture Car
Filed under hybrid car forum
Hybrids offer a whole new experience for drivers but many people would like to know more about how hybrid cars work? It can actually be a little complicated when you get into details but here is a basic description of how these vehicles function when compared to the fuel run engine. This information will help you understand the hybrid better and this will help you decide if owning one would be something you might consider for the near future.
In a gasoline engine the pistons push the gas through the crank and this is what provides the power that makes the vehicle move. Pressing the gas pedal triggers the lever that’s attached to the engine which releases the fuel into the pistons. The harder you press the pedal, the more fuel is released and the faster the vehicle will run.
The electric motor uses electric currents to power the vehicle. An electromagnetic force is created when an electric current, which is created by the battery, passes over the motor. The direction of the polarity of the current determines which way the motor turns and this will change as the direction of the current changes.
A hybrid car takes both of these inventions and combines them together. It’s designed with a computer sensor that will determine for the driver which type of engine would be the most efficient at any given time. Basically, the electric engine is used when the vehicle requires low power levels and the gas engine will take over when high power levels are required.
For example, when you are sitting at a stop sign the system will switch from the gasoline engine to the electric engine to conserve fuel and run cleaner. You don’t need the extra power the gas engine provides when sitting still or when cruising around at a slow speed. When going up a hill that requires a lot of power, the gas engine would be used to save on the energy from the electric engine and to give you the power needed to make it up the hill without putting a strain on the engine or slowing down to an unsafe speed.
The on-board computer automatically makes the change from gas to electric for you so you don’t have to worry about it. When more power is needed to pass a vehicle or merge into traffic, the computer will activate whatever is needed to give you the power you need because both engines are designed to operate together in sequence. You also have the option of running off of all fuel if the battery goes dead and all electricity if you run out of gasoline, which is good to know just in case you run into problems.
When the brakes are applied on hybrid cars, the energy this creates is absorbed and sent back to help recharge the battery for the electric motor. This means that you don’t need an outside power source to charge the batteries. All hybrids run off of this basic principal even though they may appear to be different depending on the manufacture that builds them.
Drivers can have the best of both worlds when buying hybrid cars by having a vehicle that is efficient and one that is better for the environment too. These two engine designs work very well together and they create a vehicle that has all the benefits of a gasoline fueled car without all the drawbacks such as emissions that pollutes the air.
