In the first part of this article we examined the hybrid car, looking at what the system is composed of, the way the separate components work and how it achieves its excellent fuel economy. We will now look at other ways in which the hybrid car improves its efficiency and the running costs incurred with this type of car.
One area where a noticeable difference can be made is aero-dynamics. A lot of the engines work is put into pushing the car through the air and the resistance it encounters (known as aerodynamic drag). One way this can be reduced is by reducing the frontal area of the car, the smaller this surface the less the drag effect, thus saving on fuel. In general any object that projects from the body of the car will produce some drag, you will usually find that this has been carefully thought through on hybrid cars. Some manufacturers have removed wing mirrors in favour of cameras to reduce potential drag.
Other way’s in which manufacturers seek to reduce fuel consumption are as follows: we all know that tyres encounter friction from the road surface; they are after all designed to allow the vehicle to apply its power to the road surface and hold the car steady when in certain driving conditions whilst retaining a smooth ride.
Here the hybrid car manufacturer has designed tyres that are more rigid and reinforced and inflated to a higher pressure to substantially decrease drag.
Of course one easy way to reduce fuel consumption in any car is to decrease the weight, this is done in hybrid cars by using materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium which are much lighter than traditionally used construction materials and just as strong. A lighter car expends much less energy when climbing a hill or accelerating as it has much less mass to effectively pull around.
If we take a look at the new Peugeot 308 hybrid which uses a 1.6 litre engine (a first in the hybrid market) we see that it returns an amazing 83 miles per gallon fuel in terms of combined fuel consumption. Carbon dioxide production is a tiny 90 grams per kilometre meaning that it is currently tax exempt under European guidelines as is any car which emits less than 100g/km.
The vehicle uses a 1.6 litre HDI engine which utilises a high pressure direct injection system which in practical terms means it is much more efficient than diesel engines of old. This is tuned to give an output of 110 brake horse power and the addition of the electrical motor delivers an additional 22 bhp.
The electrical motor powers the car from starting and continues to solely power the vehicle at low speeds. For motorway and non urban driving the diesel engine system is started and becomes the sole propulsion system. If extra acceleration is required both units operate at once providing maximum power when it is most needed.
As with most parallel hybrid systems the battery is recharched by utilising the kinectic energy normally wasted in braking. When light braking is required the battery is charged if more definitive braking is required the vehicles hydraulic system is used to give maximum braking efficiency.
As you can imagine, car insurance for this vehicle will probably be very reasonable as it not only has very low emissions but is fitted with a host of safety features that the majority of modern cars benefit from.
As you can imagine the hybrid car returns double the fuel efficiency in most cases of a standard petrol engine meaning your fuel costs are halved. You can expect to pay little or no tax depending on emissions; your motor insurance will undoubtedly be much cheaper and you will save a huge amount of money on general running costs. On average the hybrid car will be more expensive to buy but you will quickly regain this initial extra outlay in the amount you save running it. Who can say that doing your bit for the environment doesn’t make you smile?
