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Hybrid Car
Maybe you like to wait and see when it comes to technology. Rather than rush out to buy version 1.0 of a new gadget, you watch how the early adapters get on with things, wait for the company to fix bugs and make upgrades, and then you get onboard. Or maybe it took last year's skyrocketing cost of gas to make you think seriously about a hybrid car. Either way, with more and more manufacturers bringing hybrids to market, it's a good time to examine their pros and cons. What's best for you? For the environment? For your wallet? We'll help you find the answers, but first, a little background.
WHAT IS A HYBRID?
"Some people still think hybrid cars are some sort of plug-in electric auto," says Kate McLeod, car expert and author of the newspaper column GirlDriver, USA. "Absolutely not. Hybrids boast two power sources: a regular gasoline engine and an electric motor powered by a super battery." These components generally work in tandem, though the exact mechanism varies depending on the car. "The Toyota Prius, for example, is considered a 'full' hybird, running solely on electric power until you get up to around 20 miles per hour," says McLeod. "Then the gasoline engine takes over.
At a stop, the gas engine shuts off. When you hit the accelerator, the electric motor turns on to get the car moving. Anytime you need extra power--say, when climbing a hill--the gas engine gets a boost from the electric motor. The electric motor basically recharges itself by capturing the heat energy generated as you brake. Hence, no plug."
Hybrid cars increase gas mileage by essentially limiting how much they use the gas engine when accelerating, which is when the car burns the most fuel. This used to be the crux of a pretty simple equation for those interested in saving both money and the environment: Increase the number of miles per gallon of gas, and decrease the amount of gas you'll use overall, which translates into spending less money and doing your part to keep pollution down. So, what's changed?
BIGGER, NOT BETTER
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