What are Hybrid and Range Extended Cars?
Hybrids are cars that utilize both an electric motor and a combustion engine. The electric motor functions to enhance the acceleration performance of the combustion engine, as well as to cater to lower speeds. Two types of hybrid cars exist: the parallel, and the series hybrids. Parallel hybrids, like the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, have the electric motor and the combustion engine working parallel to each other so that the car always has the necessary power as it is needed.
Series hybrids have only the electric motor powering the electric car. The combustion engine will power up a generator to charge the batteries as required. Series hybrids form the basis for the longer range electric cars that will soon be in showrooms.
Mild hybrids use mostly the combustion engine, with the electric motor only used as a supplement to the combustion engine. Mild hybrids cannot be run solely as electric vehicles.
Hybrid models use the combustion engine as well as regenerative braking to recharge the batteries. It is more efficient to charge the batteries using the combustion engine than to power the car. However, the electric element of the electric vehicle is still fossil fuel powered.
Range extended electric cars
Car manufacturer Chevrolet is planning to launch its Volt car later this year in North America, while car makers Vauxhall and Opel will release the European version next year.
The electric Volt car has only a 40-mile range; when the batteries lose power, the combustion engine steps up to recharge the batteries even as the car is moving.
These vehicles may not match the fully electric vehicles in clean technology, but they still offer an excellent electric car alternative to those who need to travel farther distances on a regular basis.
Where most electric cars are not suited for frequent long distance journeys, hybrid cars offer more benefits over non-hybrid combustion engine vehicles. Supporters of hybrid cars are enthusiastic over the benefits of having a car that utilizes the “best of both worlds,” by which both long and short distances are handled admirably. For now, hybrid cars are only made to be short range vehicles, but manufacturers of cars like the Chevrolet Volt are promising future hybrid cars that can go longer and farther. Hybrid cars are more expensive to produce as they have a combustion engine, an electric motor, and batteries. But this cost is considered by many to be a worthwhile investment for their lessened impact on the environment as compared to the conventional combustion engine car. Hybrid vehicles have been deemed short-term to medium-term options by the motor industry. It will only be a matter of time before the long range electric and fuel-cell cars become the norm.
Europe uses many diesel powered cars for long distances as it is more economical and has lower emissions of carbon dioxide. Hence, these form the ideal vehicles for long distance driving. Economically, these diesel powered cars provide great savings that are similar to the cost of running hybrid cars. Hence,