Difference Between Hybrid and Regular Cars
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009No longer is buying a new vehicle limited to buying either a gas or diesel engine, now buyers have the option to buy hybrid or regular cars. The difference between hybrid and regular cars lies in the power train and varies by technology. This article will discuss what it means to be a hybrid, the difference types of hybrids, and what maks a hybrid different than a traditional car.
What Does Hybrid Mean
The real definition of the word Hybrid means a mixed origin or composition, in the case of hybrid cars were are making reference to the composition of the engine. A hybrid engine has two different components that make similar types of power, typically the different components are gasoline and electric. The actual technology used withing hybrid motors can vary, but essentially a hybrid engine is a composition of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
Difference Between Hybrid Engine and Normal Engine
Because of the addition of an electric motor, to the internal combustion engine, for a primary power source, the engine is now considered a hybrid. A traditional car will not have an electrical motor to assist the engine make power or supplement power during low load times. Because of the assitance of an electrical motor, hybrid cars are more fuel efficient, and produce less emmissions.
Different Types of Hybrid Motors
Not only is a hybrid motor different than a traditional motor, but there are also several different types of hybrid motors. So many in fact, that I could not cover them all in one article. For the sake of space, let's look at two different types of hybrid motors in cars. The two main different hybrid vehicles when buying new cars will be 'Series Hybrids' and 'Plug-In Hybrids'.
A Series Hybrid uses the internal combustion motor to charge a generator, instead of directly powering the wheels. The generator then produces power for actual power to the wheels for a car to move.
A Plug-In Hybrid uses a type of battery that stores electric power, derived from plugging into special outlet. The battery then assists the internal combustion engine during low power loads, thus saving gas. The Plug In Electric Hybrid can also be known as a PHEV and may not be considered as Green as a series hybrid, since the power must still come from traditional resources when charging the battery.
Mercedes BlueHybrid
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This has been a post into a series of articles on explaining entry level questions to automotive enthusiasts.
Other Difference Articles:
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