| Feature
Story
-->>Hybrid
Buyer's Club
|
|
December 04, 2004
Well, ya had to know it
would be like this.
While the Honda
Accord hybrid is available, it is only available at
select dealers in select markets, and already the lists
are building.
When you do finally get to test one out, what might the
differences be like? In fact, what is this hybrid
technology about? Is is the same in all hybrids?
|
Hybrid technology is not
the same in all hybrid
vehicles. Nonetheless, today's hybrids have one
common theme, they utilize an electric motor in addition
to a gasoline engine.
Right now, the whole hybrid market is dominated by
Toyota and Honda, as the Ford
Escape hybrid was built upon licensed Toyota
Prius hybrid technology.
|
Toyota
Prius
Test Drive(<<)
|
Ford
Escape Hybrid
Test Drive(<<)
|
|
More
Hybrid Car Info.
|
Both the Escape hybrid and
the Prius use two electric motors, rather than one.
Additionally, their gasoline engines have been modified
to run on a different cycle. This creates a greater
expansion ratio that causes the gasoline engine to
inhale less air and fuel, resulting in greater fuel
efficiency. However, this move also reduces the engines
power, and that's where the two electric motors kick in.
The electric motors - one for the wheels, the other for
engine starting and transmission - combined with a
planetary-type continuously variable transmission allow
the Escape and the Prius to be driven by electric power
only.
This is ability to operate both the Prius and the Escape
hybrid, by electric power only, results in one of the
most significant differences between Honda and Toyota
hybrid technology.
Of course, neither the Prius, nor the Escape hybrid run
on electric power only. In most cases, this is only
possible under 30 mph, and a host of other driving
conditions. Still, it does result in signficicantly
increased fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic.
Join the hybrid
revolution!
>>
Blog on this subject.
|
|
More Stories
|
|
|
|
