The appeal and popularity of the hybrid car have grown exponentially, especially with the rising concerns about rising gas prices as well as worsening air pollution. Here are some useful bits of information that could assist you to learn more about hybrid cars and how they can help you save money on gas and be somewhat protected from rising fuel.

A hybrid car is the type of car, or any other vehicle, that makes use of at least two different fuel sources to make it run. Both fuel sources are used together in some instances to help propel the vehicle more efficiently. There are several different combinations of hybrid car possible, but the most common hybrid car so far is the gas-electric hybrid.

The gas-electric hybrid car, also known as the hybrid electric vehicle or HEV, uses a gasoline internal combustion engine or ICE and a quite separate electric motor to power it. While the ICE uses gas to make it run, an electric battery is used to store the electrical energy that powers the hybrid car’s electrical engine.

The HEV usually has a gas engine that is smaller in size and weight than the conventional one used in standard gas-powered cars. Use of more advanced technology makes this possible and allows the HEV to have better running efficiency as well as substantially reduced polluting emissions.

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Aside from the gasoline engine, the hybrid electric car also has a special electric motor built in that not only provides additional power to the car, but also acts as a generator when not being used. The electric motor can act as a generator, in situations where it is not being used to drive the hybrid car, to help charge the battery for added efficiency.

In a common HEV set up, the car uses its electric motor when being propelled at very low speeds, say, in traffic jams. The gasoline engine acts as a secondary power source when the HEV requires much more power, such as when climbing a hill. The gas engine also compensates the electric motor with power whenever the car needs it in order to go faster such as when overtaking or passing a vehicle. The gas and the electric motor can also work in combination at certain instances when necessary.

Because the hybrid electric car makes use of both an electric motor as well as a gas motor, a substantial improvement in car mileage is achieved. A hybrid electric vehicle or HEV can run much longer distances using the same amount of fuel compared with a traditional gas powered vehicle.

When the electric motor is being employed, gas consumption is reduced. This results in quite a bit less gas being used when going the same distance as a traditional gas powered vehicle. And since the hybrid electric car has a smaller, lighter gas engine, the hybrid car also runs more efficiently because of less engine weight compared to a conventional car’s heavier engine.

The working components of the hybrid car engine are also smaller and so need less energy to move. The resulting efficiency makes the hybrid electric car quite a great option for people concerned with higher oil prices. Using a hybrid car can help drivers save a substantial amount of gasoline when traveling. Not only that, using the hybrid car can also help in reducing polluting emissions by using less gas while driving.