An Overview of Future Hybrid Car Models

There are many future hybrid car models on the horizon that hold the promise of improving the environmental and economic benefits offered. Here is a brief overview of some of these promising technologies:

• Plug-in hybrid cars use larger electric battery backs that allow the car to be driven at high and low speeds using only electric power, improving fuel efficiency by 40% over conventional hybrids while emitting even fewer greenhouse gas and toxic emissions. The battery packs can be charged from any common household outlet and some charging is even done when the car brakes, improving fuel efficiency even more. At present, high prices are the main bar to wider adoption of the technology although Federal and state governments are encouraging the purchase of plug-in hybrids by offering tax credits to early adapters.

• Flex-fuel are future hybrid car models with internal combustion engines that can run on either gasoline or E85, a fuel substitute which is composed of 85% ethanol (made from plants such as corn) and 15% gasoline. However, supplies of ethanol and other bio-fuels are currently not enough to ensure that flex-fuel cars can become economically feasible.

• Diesel hybrids use internal combustion engines that run on clean diesel fuel rather than gasoline, providing better fuel efficiency than conventional gas-run hybrids while still reducing toxic emissions. And diesel hybrids are more powerful than conventional hybrids. The current hurdle that needs to be overcome is the higher cost of clean diesel technology, which translates to more expensive hybrid cars.

• Hydrogen hybrids are considered one of the most promising technologies for creating genuine zero-emission vehicles. The key to the success of this technology is the development of a storage medium that allows the hydrogen to be stored in the vehicle for use as a fuel. However, aside from the expense of the technology, the wider adoption of hydrogen hybrids is also hampered by the lack of a widespread refueling infrastructure. And many manufacturers see the development of a successful hydrogen hybrid car not as a goal in itself but as the bridge towards hydrogen-powered fuel-cell hybrid cars.

• Fuel-cell hybrids use fuel cell batteries fueled by hydrogen to produce electricity that powers the car. However, the prospects for future hybrid car models that use fuel cells are still uncertain as car manufacturers have to overcome many obstacles such as reducing the size and weight of the fuel cell as well as the high cost of the technology.

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