ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HYBRID CARS
A vehicle is said to be hybrid when it uses two or more power sources to move. The term refers to Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), that combine internal combustion engines and one or more electric motors.
The cars powered with this technology are eco-friendly and have low emissions. The amount of gas emitted by them is less and hence doesn’t pollute the atmosphere.
There are many different power sources which power hybrid cars. Few of them are listed below:
- on-board and out-board rechargeable energy storage system.
- gasoline fuel system.
- hydrogen powered.
- battery.
- renewable solar energy.
- vacumm compressed air.
- liquidified nitrogen.
- self-propelled ie. rowing, pedalling, etc.
- steam powered via stirling engine and thermogenerator.
- coal.
Where Hybrid Power Technology is used:
Hybrid Powered Techonology is used in different kinds of automotives ranging from two-wheelers to choppers. The details are provided in the list below:
| S.No. | Type | Sub-Type | Conceived By | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2-Wheeled | Parallel Hybrid | Anthony Derek Davis | — | |
| Series Hybrid | Augustus Kinzel | 1975 | |||
| 2. | Heavy Vehicles | Rail Transport | CKD Locomotives | 1986 | |
| cranes | Railpower Techology Corp. | 2008 | |||
| Road Transport/Commercial Vehicle | — | 1997 | |||
| Ships | Savannah steam ship | 1818 | |||
| Aircraft | Delta Airlines | 2010 | |||
| Helicopter | Olney, TX | Under testing |
Timeline:
The first steam powered vehicle was planned in 1665 by Flemish jesuit priest and astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest. He thought of developing a four-wheeled unmanned steam car for the Chinese Emperor Khang Hsi. But it was first executed in 1769 by Frenchman Nicholas Cugnot who built a steam-powered carriage which was capable of doing 6 miles in an hour. Steam powered cars dominated the landscape until the late 19th century.
The first electric car was developed in 1839 by Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland. Next to follow was dual powered engines equipped with electric motor and heavy storage batteries. The latest to be showcased is the world’s first hybrid sports car by Honda Motor Corp called CR-Z and is to be launched in 2010.
Top Hybrid Manufacturers:
The top spots of hybrid vehicle manufacturing are dominated by automotive companies mentioned:
| S.No. | Manufacturer | Type | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Toyota Motor Corp. | Cars,SUVs | Japan |
| 2. | ABAT Zhongqiang Autocycle | Two-Wheelers | China |
| 3. | Onyx | Two-Wheeler | Turkey |
| 4. | American Honda Motor Co. | Cars, SUVs, Pick-Ups | California, USA |
