About Hybrid Cars

Also known as an HEV or hybrid electric vehicle, hybrid cars are automobiles that are powered by two sources; an internal combustion engine, and an electric motor. Hybrid cars don’t have plugs, as they are charged by the rotation of the wheels, and store energy generated through a process called regenerative braking. Hybrid cars have both environmental and economical benefits.

In 1959 the first transistor-based electric car—called the Henney Kilowatt—heralded the development of the electronic speed control that paved the way for modern hybrid electric cars. In the 1960s and 1970s, a prototype of the electric-hybrid vehicle was built by Victor Wouk. Wouk's work with electric hybrid vehicles earned him the title of the "Godfather of the Hybrid"). The prototype had an electric-hybrid drive train which had been put into a 1972 Buick Skylark provided by GM. Made for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program, the program was killed by the EPA in 1976. Since then, only hobbyists have built hybrids. None was put into mass production by a major manufacturer until late in the twentieth century.

The core design concept of most production hybrids is the regenerative-braking hybrid, developed by Electrical Engineer David Arthurs around 1978 using off-the shelf components and an Opel GT. However the voltage controller to link the batteries, motor (a jet-engine starter motor), and DC generator was Mr. Arthurs. The vehicle had 75 mpg fuel efficiency. Those plans, as well as somewhat updated versions, are still available on the Mother Earth News web site. The Mother Earth News' own 1980 version claimed nearly 84 mpg.

The widest use since that time of hybrid technology was actually in diesel-electric locomotives. Also used in diesel-electric submarines, they operate in essentially the same manner as hybrid electric cars. The goal in this case was to allow operation underwater without consuming large amounts of oxygen, rather than worrying about fuel consumption. Most submarines have now moved to nuclear power, which operates underwater indefinitely, though a number of nations continue to rely on diesel-electric fleets.

With the arrival of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius in the 1990s, automotive hybrid technology became successful. These vehicles have a direct linkage from the internal combustion engine to the driven wheels, so the engine can provide acceleration power. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can be recharged from the electrical power grid and do not require fuel for short trips. The Renault Kangoo was the first production model of this design, released in France in 2003. The down side was that the environmental benefits of plug-in hybrids depend somewhat on the source of the electrical power. For example, electricity generated with wind is cleaner than electricity generated with coal.

Though the Prius has been very successful, newer designs have more conventional appearance and are less expensive, often with identical performance and appearance to their non-hybrid counterparts but with 50% better fuel efficiency. With a performance of about 50 US mpg (4.7 L/100km), the Honda Civic Hybrid looks the same as the non-hybrid version. The redesigned 2004 Toyota Prius has more passenger room and cargo area, while increasing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and power output. Honda has also released a hybrid version of the Accord.



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