Model Cars - How Hybrid Cars Set a New Standard for Energy Efficiency

Hybrid cars are fast becoming a popular way to travel. From the great gas mileage to the environmentally friendly benefits to the income tax incentives from the government, more and more people are opting to walk away from conventional cars and get behind the wheel of a car that can deliver more than just the power to go.

Most major car makers in the United States and a number of auto manufacturers around the world now offer hybrid models of their conventionally driven cars as well as some brand new models. While certain technologies may be more frequently used than others, such as the electric-internal combustion parallel system hybrid, there are still a number of other options available to choose from.

One of the most popular hybrid cars on the market today is the Honda Civic 2007 hybrid. Almost exactly the same in appearance as the conventional Honda Civic, which has also done very well over the years, the Honda Civic hybrid is a descendent of the Honda CVCC, which was the first hybrid car to pass the emissions requirements of the Clean Air Act. This car has a gasoline-electric engine and boasts up to fifty-one miles per gallon on the highway by utilizing both a smaller sized gasoline engine with a high output electric motor.

Some of extra features associated with the Honda Civic hybrid are the Idle-Stop feature, which causes the gasoline to disengage and switch to electric power when the car is stopped or idling, such as in traffic. Integrated Motor Assists increase the acceleration power of the hybrid by seventeen horsepower over previous models.

The Lexus GS Hybrid is slightly higher in price than some other hybrid models. However, Lexus is known for their luxury and well-designed vehicles that some would consider to be worth the extra money. The GC Hybrid features a high output magnetic motor that is run by an electric drive. Also featured in the car is generative braking, the process by which heat energy that is released during braking is recaptured and stored in the battery as energy. This successful process means that the battery would potentially never have to be plugged in.

The Continuous Variable Transmission of the Lexus GS alternately distributes gas power and electric power to the car as needed, depending on the driving conditions. This technology will help increase the efficiency of the car's engine energy output when accelerating, which requires a great deal of energy and can cause a lot of wear on the car.

The Toyota Prius was the first mass produced hybrid car in the world and has been touted as being the most popular. At times, there has been a long waiting list of people hoping to purchase one. After making its debut in 1997, the Prius underwent several changes and eventually became certified as a Partial zero-emissions vehicle and has won the "Car of the Year" award several times.

The Toyota Prius is considered to be a true hybrid, using two electric motors and a small gasoline engine, which uses a small inverter to switch between the two. Much of the Prius is automated and provides an extremely cost-effective, environmentally sound ride that is very comparable to conventional cars as far as the driver is concerned.

Sources:

http://www.hybridcars.com/

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_hybrid_cars.htm

http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html