People may be surprised to know that the idea of electric and hybrid vehicles have been present even before the gasoline engine was invented.With the rise of health-threatening pollutants, new age electric and hybrid vehicles are truly becoming a reality.
When Electric Cars Ruled the World
Professor Stratingh of Groningen from Holland designed a simple electric car. Christopher Becker was Stratingh's assistant who built the model in 1835. In 1842, Thomas Davenport from the United States and Robert Davidson from Scotland built more advanced electric vehicles with the use of non-rechargeable electric cells. Gaston Plante from France improved the storage battery and created a better model in 1865.
During the late 1800s, several European nations like Great Britain and France began the spread of electric vehicles while constantly innovating for better design and performance. Electric cars did not need gear changes. The United States followed with the creation of electric tricycles.
In 1916, Woods invented the first hybrid consisting of an electric motor and combustion engine.
Production peak for electric vehicles were from 1910 to 1912. During the 1920s, road systems were significantly improved so people needed vehicles that traveled farther than electric cars.
Charles Kettering invented the electric starter for gasoline cars taking away the tedious hand crank. Henry Ford and his idea of mass production at lower costs continued to reduce the popularity of electric cars. Gasoline cars at this point were only about one-third the price of an electric vehicle.
From 1935 to 1960, electric vehicles were slowly fading from the scene. However, people began looking for alternative fueled vehicles in order to solve problems on pollution and the growing price of gasoline. More practical models of electric vehicles were proposed.
A number of actions were also imposed in the United States and across the globe to exert effort in improving electric vehicles.
Other states required vehicles to have zero emission.
Recent electric and hybrid models are able to generate energy through special energy-converting systems. Hybrid models had special dual engines running on both gasoline and electricity which helped conserve a lot of fuel aside from being environmentally friendly.
Hybrids: The Pollution Solution
Gasoline engines were proven to be reliable and powerful. However, the constant burning of gasoline released a variety of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide.
The result would be global warming wherein surface air temperatures and sub-surface temperatures in the ocean would rise.
Electric and hybrid vehicles have shown to be very promising in reducing the greenhouse effect.
Hybrids Today and Tomorrow
Hybrid vehicles have gone through many changes over the years. Ever since the Toyota Prius came out, bigger and more equipped hybrids were released. The Ford Escape hybrid came out in 2004, which jumpstarted the production of luxury hybrid cars.
Early hybrid vehicles were limited to manual transmissions and air-conditioning.
Nowadays customers have more options with Sports Utility Vehicles and luxury car hybrids.
Last year luxury sedans and Sport Utility Vehicles were released.
Apart from having the latest technology from their manufacturers, such as the Hybrid Synergy System from Toyota, they are also decked out with touch navigational systems, surround sound with DVD and VCD supporting stereo systems, ventilation seats, and multiple CD changers on the dashboard.
Gear-ratio steering, continuous variable transmission, variable suspension, and regenerative breaking are standard among luxury car hybrids.
Hybrids that will be released in 2008 feature the Cadillac Escalade.
Ford will launch its first hybrid sedan with Mercury Milan Hybrid. Mercedes will also release the hybrid version of their S-class sedan.
Honda will release a smaller and more affordable hybrid to compete with Toyota who dominates the market.
No matter which hybrid vehicle you will choose, expect more hybrids to come.
12/01/09
History Hybrid Car
08/01/09
Battery Pack in Hybrid Is Designed for Life of the Car
"Toyota's own tests have run batteries for the equivalent of 150,000 miles with no discernible degradation, and the company expects them to last the useful life of the car." From this article. "Honda Says Battery Pack in Hybrid Is Designed for Life of the Car." Also, hybrid batteries are recycled:
Is there a recycling plan in place for nickel-metal hydride batteries?
Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 "bounty" for each battery.
Hybrid Batteries: Long Lasting Freshness
I have heard many people express concern over the potential expense associated with replacing a hybrid's battery pack... well, good news from automakers, they are saying that battery packs in their hybrids should last for the life of the vehicle! According to this article, "Toyota's own tests have run batteries for the equivalent of 150,000 miles with no discernible degradation, and the company expects them to last the useful life of the car." An older article was titled "Honda Says Battery Pack in Hybrid Is Designed for Life of the Car."
Honda Says Battery Pack in Hybrid Is Designed for Life of the Car
Think of what a pain it is to replace your car battery when it dies.
Imagine if that battery set you back $ 3,000.
Honda's high-mileage marriage of gas and electric power relies on a nickel metal hydride
battery pack. Boyd acknowledges the Civic's reputation hinges in part on its excellent long-term value. At current prices, Honda would charge out-of-warranty owners about $ 3,000 to replace the 63-pound Panasonic battery hidden behind the rear seat. But Honda is confident its hybrid technology will keep the high-tech Civics humming.
As with other hybrids, the Civic uses energy captured during braking to power up the battery. The battery also charges during coasting.
During my week of driving, the battery meter never dipped as low as half-charged, no matter how hard I drove. But if stressful conditions such as towing or climbing mountain grades drive the battery too low, Honda's Integrated Motor Assist shuts down well before it's fully depleted. In that rare case, or if the car discharges after weeks of sitting in bitterly cold weather, a small auxiliary battery on board can restart the gasoline engine, which then recharges the main battery. concerned with battery life. Thad Malesh, J.D. Power's director of alternative power
technology, said the used-car market will be the key. With Honda expecting to sell modest numbers of hybrids -- 24,000 Civic models this year -- Malesh expects Honda to keep customers happy, even beyond the warranty period.
"When these cars start trickling in, I think Honda will come out with a program to reimburse folks with battery problems whenever they occur," Malesh said. Malesh and Honda expect battery prices to drop, perhaps dramatically, by the time owners need them. The automaker recently signed a joint deal with Sanyo to research battery technology.
Check out my other guide internal combustion engine OR History Hybrid Car
15/12/08
The Internal Combustion Engine
Toyota Prius Hybrid Car Engine
The engines in vehicles is a rather broad but interesting subject. People may be amazed to know that the ones currently in use today were drawn on several hundreds of blueprints before they were distributed to the market. The present models are the result of over a century worth of brainstorming and experience and will further influence the models of the future.
What is the ICE?
ICE stands for internal combustion engine wherein the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer occurs. The combustion chamber is the space where everything happens causing an exothermic reaction that produces gas at a high pressure and temperature. The expanding hot gases will directly put pressure on solid engine parts causing them to move. Pistons, rotors or the engine itself then begins movement which propels the entire vehicle.
The very first models of the ICE ran on an air/fuel mixture rather than compression. The initial part of the intake stroke sucks or blows in the mixture. Modern ICEs already incorporates in-cylinder compression. The engines were used in a variety of methods and industries like generators, boats, aircrafts and most particularly, automobiles.
The Operation
The internal combustion engine operates using a four-stroke cycle or the Otto cycle. The cycle involves four phases namely: induction, compression, power and exhaust. All of these aim to create an exothermic chemical process to start vehicle propulsion. During induction, oxygen or other oxidizers are introduced into the cylinder to act with the fuel. Compression then begins as the gases start a reaction that continuously increase temperature and pressure within the cylinder.
When enough pressure is applied on the corresponding engine parts, the engine begins to gain power through movement coming from direct force application. The aftermath of the entire compression process will lead to exhaustion of byproducts like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen wastes. These gases are freely emitted into the atmosphere. The combustion process is started through engine ignition using the spark ignition method or the compression ignition system.
Where Does Gasoline Come In?
There are electric/gasoline-type systems that use a combination of lead-acid battery plus an induction coil to create a high-voltage electrical spark. The spark will then ignite the mix of air and fuel within the cylinder. The battery is rechargeable even during operation through an alternator or generator driven by the engine itself. Gasoline engines get an air and gasoline mixture to be compressed to less than 185 psi. The spark plug ignites the mixture during compression within the cylinder.
As for diesel engines, these require only heat and pressure produced by the engine during the compression process for ignition. Diesel compression is approximately three times higher compared to a gasoline engine. Diesel engines use air only. Some diesel fuel is sprayed into the cylinder with the use of a fuel injector just before peak compression to start ignition immediately. HCCI engines also require only heat and pressure but take in air and fuel. This process makes diesel and HCCI engines more prone to cold starts.
The Polluting Effects
Combustion products or the hot gases ignited and burnt inside the engine will have higher amounts of energy compared to the compressed fuel and air mixture. After available energy are used up to drive the engine pistons, remaining combustion products will be vented or exhausted through a valve or the exhaust outlet to bring back the piston in its original state also called TDC. Any heat which is not used up will become a waste product due to be removed from the engine via a liquid or air cooling system.
Air pollution emissions then result from incomplete combustion of carbonaceous fuel. Examples of engine byproducts are carbon monoxide, soot, nitrogen wastes, sulfur and uncombusted hydrocarbons. These also result if the products did not operate near the stoichiometric ratio required for effective combustion. The fuel would not have burnt very well due to factors like cool cylinder walls or lack of air. This is also known as quenching of the flame.
Both gasoline and diesel engines emit harmful gases that can be dangerous to humans as well as the environment. The greenhouse gases start trapping hot air within the atmosphere instead of allowing them to exit to space leading to global warming. The rise of the ICE or internal combustion engine finally showed its major flaw which is pollution. Check out my other guide on History Hybrid Car or Battery pack
20/10/08
Hybrid Plug-In Vehicles
Vehicles are important tools for transportation. Unfortunately they have harmful effects on the environment, health and wallets of the people. The continuing rise of gas prices and campaigns on global warning make you want to ditch that SUV for a bike. Fortunately other power sources and fuels are being developed to serve as an alternative. Hybrid vehicles are a compromise between using a car and caring for the environment.
There are different types of hybrid vehicles. Each of them differs by what type of power source they are using. Although these cars may not run as fast as a conventional car on the highway, it's convenient for the suburban environment where traffic is normal.
Plug and play
Hybrid vehicles can be charged by using an external source. Although this was one of the earlier developments which made it one step ahead of conventional cars, it's not as practical as it sounds. Due to this plug-in hybrids were created. These vehicles have batteries which can be recharged through a standard wall socket.
Important developments weren't made until 2002. Plug-in hybrids were not sold commercially until 2003. The vehicles power source still operates the same way as a conventional hybrid but modified for the owner to be able to recharge it like an iPod.
These vehicles operate in 4 different modes. Charge depleting mode relies exclusively on electricity until the battery reaches a predetermined level. There is a predetermined level that automatically signals the car to stop running on electric power and switch to charge sustaining mode. The variation of this is the blended mode used by cars that cannot run at high speeds by using electric power alone and uses the diesel engine for help.
In charge sustaining mode it uses the combination of a diesel engine and its battery so that the vehicle will not exceed the predetermined level. This type of mode is used by conventional hybrids. In mixed, all of the modes mentioned are used and the vehicle switches between the four during the trip.
The disadvantage of the hybrid is the battery. Battery packs are expensive and can be large and heavy. Customers without garages will not be ale to recharge their cars because of the absence of an electric wall socket. Although emissions are reduced by the car it will be replaced by the plants that produce electricity. On the positive side pollution will be taken away from cities and the suburbs where it has a harmful effect on the health of the general public.
Check out on my other post History hybrid car or Battery Pack
16/09/08
What You Need to Know about Hybrid
Many of us don't really think much about our surroundings. In fact most of us would buy a luxury Sport Utility vehicle in a heartbeat if we could. Although there have been incessant campaigns in global warming many of us don't really pay attention to pollution emitting out of our car's exhaust pipe's. That was until gas prices started to soar and people were desperate for alternatives. Hybrid technology was new and misunderstood in the past. Visions of weird boxes on wheels came to mind. That was until the Toyota Prius came out in 1997.
The first hybrid car did not look out of this world or too space age for the common person's taste. It was just a conventional looking car that saved on gas. The hybrid technology spread slowly. Sales from the Prius and Insight were moderate. Nonetheless, the public supported the technology which led to further improvements. The Ford Escape hybrid filled the gap between looking good and doing well. It had style and practicality which became the cue for luxury hybrid cars to add to the market.
Although hybrid cars are a good choice for today, is it really worth spending a lot of money to save the environment? And how do you know which to buy amid the slew of eye candy hybrids?
Why and what hybrid to buy
Hybrids run on electric power though their motors. These motors also serve as generators that recharge batteries on board to power them for mileage. This enables the vehicle to use less fuel which leads to lower costs and reduced emissions. The internal combustion engine serves as a back up for more power at high speeds. A computer determines which and how much power will be used from the motor and the engine.
Hybrids recharge through regenerative breaking. They are perfect for driving in the city where stop and go driving is common. In the city drivers don't really need a lot of horsepower.
Other motor companies have made hybrids to add to their credentials. If you really want to be practical a compact four door sedan will do well for you instead of a hybrid SUV that cost twice as much. Luxury hybrids may do well in the long run by saving gas but spending more than $60,000 on a practical car defeats its purpose.
If you want to go green, go simple. In reality you don't need to drive a 200 horsepower vehicle.
Check out on other guide Hybrid engines and History hybrid car
10/09/08
Main Issues You Should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car
Price. One of the biggest issues of people who want to buy a hybrid car is the price. Buying a hybrid car can cost you several thousand dollars more than its gasoline-engine counterpart. The cheapest hybrid is around $20,000 while the luxury models are well over $100,000. It is predicted that the cost of hybrid vehicles will go down in the coming years as the production cost will decrease and the supply will increase.
Fuel Economy. A hybrid car is known for fuel economy. In fact, if you drive a hybrid, you can save as much as 60% on fuel. A fuel-efficient hybrid car can run from 35 to 50 miles on a gallon. However, high end hybrid models such as Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and those from Lexus that are built for performance still offer relatively good fuel economy.
Vehicle Option. Hybrid car models are very limited today. If you can't live by the available options, you can wait a year or two as many manufacturers have announced the release of newer hybrid cars.
Maintenance Cost. With a more complicated internal structure, the common belief is that hybrid cars are more expensive to maintain. The fact is, maintenance cost for hybrid cars is comparable to conventional vehicles. Many also fear that the battery replacement is very expensive. While the cost of battery replacement is said to be between $2,000 and $5,000, there has yet to be a report of a battery needing to be replaced due to defect or malfunction.
Safety. Hybrid cars are in general, as safe as conventional cars but there is a concern that electric shock can happen. This is a possibility but hybrid cars have been around for 10 years and there are no reports of this incident.
Luxury and Convenience. Since the price of a hybrid car is 25% to 50% higher than its gasoline counterparts, most hybrids are upscale and involve the latest gadgetry and luxury amenities.
Interior Space. Hybrid has almost become synonymous with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. As a result the word "hybrid" is perceived as cars with small interior space and the use of electric motors and gasoline engines. While the latter is true, the former is not entirely accurate.
Since the first release of the Prius, the market has seen several hybrid cars with more interior space. The Honda has Civic and Accord (discontinued) have a good interior space. So with Toyota's Camry, Highlander (SUV), and second generation Prius (midsize), Ford Escape hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid among others.
Check out my other guidehybrid plug in vehicles
20/08/08
Press Release John McCain Calls for Better Car Battery
Scuderi Group Comments on McCain's 300 Million Dollar Battery Challenge: "But What About Air?"
Highlighted Links
www.airhybridblog.com
www.scuderigroup.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA--(Marketwire - August 14, 2008) - The Scuderi Group, developers of what is expected to be the world's most fuel-efficient internal combustion engine, released a podcast recently about the McCain challenge and the advantages of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine over conventional electric hybrids.
In the podcast, Scuderi Group President Sal Scuderi talks about the McCain challenge -- and the special advantages of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine over conventional electric hybrids.
(The Scuderi Group's podcast about the McCain challenge is available at www.airhybridblog.com).
Republican presidential candidate John McCain is calling for a 300 million dollar government prize for whoever who can develop a substantially better electric car battery. McCain said the prize would be awarded for, "the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.
In response to John McCain's battery challenge, President of The Scuderi Group Sal Scuderi said, "The next great leap in power efficiency might be seen from an air tank, not a battery," referring to the advantages of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine.
Instead of using an electric battery, the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine stores unused energy in the form of compressed air. Today's electric hybrid vehicles are limited in power and performance, but the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine increases power while improving mileage. The Scuderi Air Hybrid Engines is expected to have historical gains in fuel efficiency and emit up to 80 percent less emissions than all the gasoline and diesel engines on the road today.
About The Scuderi Group
Based in West Springfield, Mass., with offices in Frankfurt, Germany, the Scuderi Group is a company focused on proliferating its technology through R&D and licensing. Its revolutionary Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine Technology is the most significant improvement in engine performance in decades and can be applied to any internal combustion engine.
For more information call 413-439-0343 or visit on the Web at www.scuderigroup.com. Or participate in the discussion at www.airhybridblog.com.
