Electric cars

ummm…electric cars are better than the gas cars…on mythbusters they were trying to see if the cars would get similar MPG (miles per gallon) and they were close…its all about how you drive your car…slower & moderate speeds will conserve more gas…now a hyrbid (gas & electric motor) will be around the same MPG as a gas car…but all electric cars are better for the environment

and they do not average $5K…because if they did I would buy 4 of them…The electric cars are starting around $20K

Here is what I found on Y-A-H-O-O:

A Hybrid-Electric Vehicle utilizes the combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motor, powered by a large rechargeable battery, to drive the automobile and provide power to various other functions in the vehicle. The battery in a hybrid-electric vehicle is recharged either by the engine or from energy captured during braking.

Both the mechanical and electrical systems work together to deliver energy to the wheels. Three design approaches dominate the current market. They are referred to as Parallel or Series systems, or a combination of both.

In a parallel system the battery and engine are both connected to the transmission. As a result either the battery via the electric motor, or the engine attached directly to the transmission, or a combination of both, can propel a vehicle in the desired direction.

A series hybrid engine turns a generator and the generator can either charge the batteries or power an electric motor that drives the transmission. In this system, the engine never powers the vehicle directly.

A third variation, the Series/Parallel hybrid combines the best of both the Series and Parallel systems. This method has a power diverter which can direct the energy from the engine to the wheels or to the generator. Depending on the situation, the engine will provide propulsion to the wheels or recharge the battery as necessary.

Common features define the majority of hybrid-electric vehicles. They include Idle Stop, Regenerative Braking, Motor Assist and Engine-Off Drive or EV Mode.

Idle Stop turns the engine off when the vehicle is at rest. Once the accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine turns back on. This ensures a hybrid-electric vehicle is using no fuel when the engine is not required to drive the vehicle.

Regenerative Braking captures the energy provided each time the driver applies the brakes and stores it in the battery for later use. This unique design assists in keeping the battery charged without the need to plug in the vehicle to a wall outlet.

Hybrid-electric vehicles cannot run solely on gas or electric power. Motor Assist provides additional electric power for the engine during peak engine loads such as accelerating on to a highway.

Engine-Off Drive, or EV Mode as it is referred to in several hybrid vehicles, drives the motor with only the battery. In this mode, no emissions are being released as the vehicle is driven using electric power only.

Hybrid-electric vehicles burn less fuel than conventional petroleum powered vehicles. This provides a substantial savings in fuel costs and a significant reduction in tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions. Automobiles are one of the main contributors to GHG emissions and hybrid technology is seen as one of the best ways to reduce pollutants worldwide.

Most of us are familiar with the dominant vehicles in the hybrid-electric market. The Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid remain at the top of most hybrid-electric car buyer’s wish lists. Contenders in the small-midsize SUV category consist of the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, Saturn Vue Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Luxury vehicles include the Lexus RX 400h SUV and the full-size LS 600h L sedan.

Hybrid-electric vehicles remain at the cusp of fuel efficient technology, but there are many questions still yet to be answered. Battery disposal is a long term concern and keeping up with demand in a market gone wild for hybrid vehicles is a challenge for leading automotive companies. But the auto industry is trying to keep up with demand, so expect to see many more new hybrid vehicles on the showroom floor in the coming years.