Traditional vs. Plug-In Hybrid Cars

So which is really the better vehicle here? Both hybrid vehicle types are great for gas mileage and the environment. However, does one have an edge over the other? Many have asked this question. You tend to get different answers depending on lifestyles. It helps to understand the difference.

Toyota, Honda and other hybrid car manufacturers are using an electric engine that is situated under the hood beside the gas engine. The electric motor kicks in when the hybrid is idling, backing up, in slow traffic situations, or when it has stopped during normal city stop and go traffic. It is also used to maintain speed after the gas engine is employed for acceleration. This works for great fuel efficiency and makes the hybrid type vehicles extremely attractive. This type of hybrid, the traditional hybrid, does not need to be plugged in. The reason is that the onboard electric battery is being constantly recharged by gas engine and by the motion of car wheels and brakes.

Advantages of the Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle

Plug in Hybrids are currently in stages on development. The latest prototype is a design that allows you to use normal household outlet current to recharge the hybrid's battery. In the creation of this type of all-electric car, hybrid vehicles are taking the automotive technology to the next step. You can actually charge your vehicle overnight while you sleep to find it all juiced up and ready to go the following morning. In this type of hybrid, the gas engine literally functions as a back up to the main electric power source while the main electric engine does all the work.

For the all-electric vehicle, the advantage is on those that don't take long trips continuously. The reason is that you could rely solely on the electric engine and save even more on gas mileage. This hybrid becomes even more fuel-efficient than the traditional hybrid and you get double the gas mileage when compared to traditional vehicles.

Also recharging plug in hybrids using the wall socket in your home results in less pollution to the environment. It is the difference between an electric power plant providing energy than is clean and efficient versus emission spewing out of a vehicles' tailpipe. The former is much more environment-friendly. If you have solar panel on the roof of your house and use those to power your plug in hybrid vehicle, this could be close to producing the effect of a zero emission vehicle. It would require no power from the electric power plant at all.

Plug-in Hybrids Introduction to Mass Market

Some Americans are still skeptical about plug-in hybrids. Experimental electric vehicles conceived and produced over a decade ago needed recharging every 25 to 50 miles. As such, they would only be practical for short trips, rendering them useless for anything but short trips and not the ideal vehicle for long commutes. The prototypes have solved this problem by introducing a better electrical engine that takes advantage of more advanced technology while still employing the gas engine on board as back up.

The cost of electricity to charge your hybrid and have the gas engine exclusive as a back up is the equivalent of about $1/gallon. CalCars (the California Cars Initiative) explain that with the high cost of fuel driving and filling traditional automobiles costs eight to 20 cents per mile. In contrast with plug in hybrid automobiles that use only clean electricity for local travel and local commuting, the cost would only be two to four cents per mile.

How far have Plug-in Hybrids come?

CalCars is approaching the major automakers around the world to make available plug-in options on future hybrid vehicles. CalCars have already built models that have achieved 100 miles per gallon with the Prius made by Toyota. An every increasing number of local and state governments are considering the conversion of their vehicles to plug-in hybrids if the technology becomes available.

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