Afraid of the skyrocketing gas prices? Worried about your contribution to the greenhouse effect? Disappointed about the low mileage? Fortunately, the auto industry has the technology to address these concerns. The combination of these two made possible to create the hybrid car. There is a number of hybrid models currently on the market, and the car manufacturers announced their plans on building even more hybrid models. In the present era, the motor vehicle industry is going through a transition phase, which is to meet the pace of the growing world. Hybrid cars offer drivers an innovative, efficient, and affordable option.

How do hybrid vehicles work? How are they able to give you 40 or 50 miles per gallon, whereas a regular a traditional gasoline-powered car gives you only 20 to 30 miles per gallon? Does a hybrid car really burns less gasoline than a non-hybrid vehicle? In this article, we will give you an explanation on how hybrid cars work.

Hybrid cars or also known as electric-powered cars combines the strengths of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. These cars have a set of powerful batteries for powering the electric motor which in turn rotates the transmission and turns the wheels. In most cases, the electric motor is quite small – possibly between 10 and 20 horsepower – and is designed to run at one speed for maximum efficiency. The purpose of the this efficient electric motor is to provide enough power for the vehicle at its cruising speed.  When the car is standing still or decelerating, the batteries recharge.

The only problem with hybrid cars is the weight. Since hybrids are combined of two engines, they are heavier then traditional gasoline-powered cars. The electric motor can weight as much as several hundred pounds.

Toyota Prius Hybrid – The Best Selling Hybrid Car

Hybrid Car Features

Regenerative Braking:  While traditional gas-powered vehicles only use friction to brake, in hybrid cars the electric motor uses the surplus kinetic energy to charge the batteries of the electric engine.  Hybrid cars capture some of the energy that would’ve been otherwise lost in the case of conventional cars.

Temporary Engine Shut-off: When a hybrid car is idle, it can automatically shut off the gas-powered engine and use the electric motor as a source of power. This saves gasoline