The Push Towards Hybrids
Up until the 21st century, gas mileage has always been an afterthought in the minds of automakers. With a majority focus on safety, power, and technological gadgetry to make our driving experience better, little was left for investing into fuel efficiency. After all, gas prices have always been historically low. Enter the 21st century and the ever increasing rise of oil and gasoline prices. The balance has now shifted from fuel guzzling machines to the new focus on increased gas mileage and intelligence. Manufactures, such as Hummer, who once revealed in the status of gas guzzlers are scrambling to make their behemoth status symbols into gas sipping machines of intense fuel efficiency. Mammoth SUVs, with their notorious reputation of fuel inefficiencies, are starting to see hybrid motors developed to both offset the price of fuel and to create cleaner air for the environment. It seems these days every manufacturer, from Honda to Hummer, are adding hybrid vehicles to their new "green" lineup of vehicles. It's the way of the future, and it's here to stay!
Hybrid Vehicles Explained
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), in simple terms, are vehicles that combine conventional gas propulsion systems with a rechargeable energy storage system (otherwise known as RESS). The purpose of hybrids, as one may already discern, is to increase fuel economy over that of a traditional vehicles. HEVs work when Kinetic energy is captured and used to prolong battery charges via regenerative braking. Some HEVs use the internal combustion engine to create electricity that is used to recharge the battery directly.
Hybrid Vehicles == Gas Mileage Efficiency
Hybrids are well known for their fuel efficiency, especially during city driving. Their design allows for a reduction in wasted energy during idle output, increasing efficiency and allowing for a near-silent engine. Regenerative braking recaptures wasted energy while the internal combustion engine (ICE) works in harmony with the electric engine to eliminate inefficiencies from under-utilization. Essentially, hybrid vehicles create greater fuel economy while reducing petroleum consumption and reducing harmful gas emissions.
Hybrid Vehicles And Their Impact On The Environment
Beyond fuel efficiency, many savvy buyers purchase Hybrids for their perceived environmental friendliness. Hybrids take in substantially lower amounts of petroleum than conventional combustion vehicles, resulting in less air pollution and decreasing oil demand. However, there exists the issue of the Hybrid car battery itself. Traditionally batteries are harsh on the environment, with toxic lead acid and nickel cadmium batteries leading the way. Hybrids use either nickel metal hydride or lithium ion batteries which are much safer and produce and emit far less toxins than other batteries.
Alternatives to Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrids aren't the only gas mileage saving vehicles on the road. Several viable alternatives exist that are exhibit similar mileage increases with a low-impact to the environment. Biofuel vehicles, also known as "green vehicles", offer the prospect of producing energy on a traditional fuel-based vehicle without the new increases of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Hybrids still win out as the green vehicle of choice for most, mainly for their sheer convenience and accessibility of traditional fueling stations.
Hybrid gas mileage increases, as witnessed with the Toyota Prius, are hard to ignore in times when oil and fuel prices are astronomical. As oil demand increases and supply decreases, they'll be an even greater upward shift to hybrid technologies and the continued increase of hybrid gas mileage.