Can someone explain hybrid cars to me, please?

[mousme]

I am Posty McPostalot today!

Here's the deal. I don't understand the concept of hybrid cars, except in the most minimal of ways (they use both electricity and fuel to run: yay!).

So... can someone explain this to me? Or point me to a good web page/resource for them?

Sometime in the not-so-near future, when I move far away from my job, I will likely look into getting one, but only if it makes sense to do so. If I end up spending just as much on gas as I would with a normal car, then it would defeat the purpose of getting a hybrid. Also, maintenance and overall reliabilty/functionality will be a major consideration. If my car spends half the year in the shop, that too will defeat the purpose.

Help?

Comments

[karine.livejournal.com]

First off: http://www.hybridcars.com/

This website seems to be a comprehensive guide to all things hybrid in automotive. The "research" section has a lot of information about what they are, how much the consume, and other such things.

What I originally learned about hybrids is that some are electric first, and gas-powered second, which means they run on batteries in slow driving and the gas kicks in on highway speed. Others do the opposite. I'm not so sure that's entirely true; the link above will surely answer the question.

the_adzo got himself a hybrid last year and he really likes it. You might want to ask him about it.

[merccom.livejournal.com]

hybrids are stupid.

remember basic physics. every time you convert energy from one form to another you suffer conversion losses and hence become more inefficient.

now thats not to say that hybrids dont get good gas mileage because they do but i've got to wonder what kind of mileage the same car would get running on only gas without all of the extra stuff to make it a hybrid.

also because of they way that hybrids work they dont get as good of mileage on the highway as they do around town.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

Biggest problem with hybrids: The battery costs $8000 to replace. And like any car battery, it's at the end of its life in 3-4 years. This is one of the reasons why they were off our list.

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

Made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, a hybrid car's warranty covers the battery for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a battery pack is expected to last between 150, 000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably lasts longer than that.

Battery toxicity is a concern, but not a major concern

Hybrid cars use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually detrimental to the environment, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid cars are fully recyclable.

http://www.jb-pub.com/hybrid-vehicles/all-about-hybrid-car-battery-packs.php

There's lots more info on that site. Personally I'd just go for a good subcompact, not bother with the hybrid because generally if you aren't doing a lot of braking, the mileage is not as good and I'd be driving highway. In the city, do you need a car?

[conscioussoul.livejournal.com]

Note that this company in ottawa should offer very shortly a program to refit the toyota prius and convert it to a full plug-in hybrid.
http://www.hymotion.com/faq.htm

Plug in hybrids are great because you can charge the battery directly from your garqage electricity (from a regular plug) so you ONLY use the gas on long run or when your enginre reaches more than 65km/hour.

As long as you plug it every night and use it in the city only, you would actually NOT consume ANY gas.