Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars offer fuel savings and cleaner, healthier air.
Hybrid vehicles combine the best features of an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. They significantly improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Hybrids convert energy normally wasted in coasting and breaking into electricity that can be used by the electric motor as needed. The energy is stored in the vehicles’ battery for later use.
The hybrid does not need to use the gasoline engine all the time. Hybrid vehicles’ electric motors use advanced technology and electronics to act as both a motor and a generator. The electric motor may be used for low speed cruising often up to 20 miles per hour and for extra power while accelerating. The hybrid can turn off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is stopped. The vehicles computer control system works to calculate and determine when the gasoline engine and electric motor should be used.
The 2006 fuel economy leaders include – Toyota Prius – a midsize car that gets 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 miles per gallon on the highway. For compact cars it’s the Honda Civic Hybrid with 49 miles per gallon in the city and 51 on the highway. The Ford Escape Hybrid is the fuel economy leader in the sport utility vehicles category with 36 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway.