When electric cars first came to market they were greeted with much excitement from environmentalists, but with their small size and limited range coupled with their incessant need to be connected to an outlet, they hype soon subsided. Hybrid cars, however, have been in demand by consumers in every market. They have 50-100% better fuel economy than comparable vehicles in their class and they don’t have to be plugged in – ever.
Now car manufacturers are taking a hint from hybrid hobbyists who have modified their Toyota Priuses to plug in when parked at home. A typical hybrid has a battery pack that is charged by a gasoline engine, and through regenerative braking. By plugging it in, it reduces the amount of gasoline burned simply to charge the battery pack and achieves better fuel economy – up to 100 miles per gallon.
Toyota, Ford, Honda, and GM are all working on technology to make a plug in hybrid a reality for everyone. Even the newly formed Google Foundation has pledged to make the “100 MPG Hybrid” a reality by investing millions in development.
Moving the energy source from oil to electricity certainly reduces the dependence on foreign oil, but it will no doubt increase demand for coal and gas power plants. It’s just another reason to invest in renewable energy now so the car of the future will be powered by wind.
Now car manufacturers are taking a hint from hybrid hobbyists who have modified their Toyota Priuses to plug in when parked at home. A typical hybrid has a battery pack that is charged by a gasoline engine, and through regenerative braking. By plugging it in, it reduces the amount of gasoline burned simply to charge the battery pack and achieves better fuel economy – up to 100 miles per gallon.
Toyota, Ford, Honda, and GM are all working on technology to make a plug in hybrid a reality for everyone. Even the newly formed Google Foundation has pledged to make the “100 MPG Hybrid” a reality by investing millions in development.
Moving the energy source from oil to electricity certainly reduces the dependence on foreign oil, but it will no doubt increase demand for coal and gas power plants. It’s just another reason to invest in renewable energy now so the car of the future will be powered by wind.