What are Hybrid Electric Cars?"Although today's hybrid market represents relatively low volumes,
we're well positioned to meet market demand as it develops. In fact,
if consumers were to select the hybrid option on all of the models
included in our multi-year plan, it could eventually exceed one million vehicles."
~ Rick Wagoner, GM President and CEO
Prices at the pump keep rising and there appears to be no end in sight. Gasoline demand will set a record in 2004, according to the Department of Energy. "Choosing a vehicle that's a few miles per gallon better is the best insurance against volatility in the fuel market," says Jim Kliesch, vehicle researcher at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (www.aceee.org).
Hybrid cars seem to be the best answer at this time as the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. What are hybrid cars? The definition of a hybrid vehicle is basically one that combines two or more sources of power. Over the last century different combinations have been explored and are still being tested from solar power to hydrogen fuel cells. Presently hybrid cars combine mechanical power from a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine with a battery-powered electric motor. Therefore, today's hybrid cars are affectionately known as HEVs or hybrid-electric vehicles.
What began as a short-term answer to increase the range of electric cars has turned out to be one of the best choices for enhancing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in today's transportation options. When car manufacturers mounted an onboard generator powered by an internal combustion engine in an electric car to allow them to make longer trips, it was conceived of by many as a temporary solution until improved batteries were produced. But HEVs have caught on with consumers, and after decades of testing, a new breed of hybrids has emerged in the pursuit of cleaner, more efficient vehicles.
Uniting the clean, regenerative power of electricity with the long-range power of gasoline engines yields a winning marriage of lower toxic emissions with better fuel economy - sometimes up to 30 miles a gallon or more than conventional vehicles. And the good news is these HEVs perform as well if not better than non-hybrids and are as safe, reliable and comfortable as any traditional car. And they are competitively priced! So far it appears that their resale values are holding up, probably due to the supply not meeting the growing demand.
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Honda Civic Hybrid
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Hybrid cars are the amazing result of decades of research and experiments. This perfected form-ula has been offering the best of all worlds since their introduction in the U.S. in 1999. The Honda Civic Hybrid, for example, gets around 30% more fuel efficiency than its non-hybrid counterpart at about 48 mpg and it gets 650 miles to one tank of gas.
The Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced HEV, generates 90% fewer pollutants than equivalent non-hybrids and travels around 500 miles on one fill-up at an average of 55 mpg. The Prius also performs just like a conventional car, although it's quieter as the gasoline engine shuts off when idling, while the electric motor is standing by.
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