Hybrid Cars: How do they work, and are they the environmental answer?
Everyone acknowledges that we need to find more efficient ways of getting around – but many of us aren’t quite ready to buy that bus pass yet, or risk our lives in the cycle lane. Some zero-emission motorised alternatives are becoming increasingly viable, but many of us aren’t entirely sold on the electric car, with tales of low speeds and poor ‘range’ – maybe in a few decades time...
There is, however, an alternative that is becoming increasingly popular amongst ordinary car users and green conscious celebrities alike: Hybrid cars. At recent Hollywood premiers, Hummers and tractor-sized SUVs have been easily outnumbered by the talisman of the hybrid range: The Toyota Prius. With up to 72.4mpg, and an exemption from road tax, a hybrid could improve your bank balance as well as your green credentials too. So:
How do they work?
Hybrids are part electric and part conventional combustion engine, so they still require servicing and the same care as a ‘normal’ car. The vehicle can be powered using either electric or conventional power. Generally hybrids revert to electric (zero emission) mode at low speeds making them ideal for urban driving where average speeds are significantly reduced.
When the energy loading in a hybrid is low (when cruising at a steady speed for example) the excess energy is transferred into electricity and stored for later use. When the vehicle requires a burst of energy, the main engine and the battery storage work together to ensure there is enough power. There is little noticeable change in performance to a ‘mid range’ conventional car. In fact, the Mk3 Prius has a top speed of 112mph – so ‘milk-float’ gags should be a thing of the past.
As the batteries in a hybrid car are charged by the car itself, there is no need to ‘plug it in’; it is refuelled at the petrol station in the same way as a normal car: just less often!
Are they the environmental answer?
Official figures show that most hybrid cars reduce emissions by around 25% - a staggering achievement in itself, but some Hybrids are striving to better this figure: the Honda Insight achieves CO2 emissions of 80g/km: around half that of a normal petrol car. Check out this guide to see the most efficient hybrids, and to see how your car compares.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of hybrid technology is that it can be used in any car – and as the technology evolves and systems become more efficient many people believe that within a few years most new cars will incorporate hybrid technology to some degree. From next year Ford will be producing a hybrid version of their “Escape” SUV!
Although perhaps not the ‘magic-bullet’ that is needed to reverse climate change, hybrids do go a considerable way towards providing a viable alternative to 100% fuel consuming vehicles and, providing they are well maintained and serviced, hybrids don’t have to mean compromising on performance.
And it seems likely that, whether you choose to make the transition or not, if you buy a car in a few years time, the options may be Hybrid or, well, Hybrid...