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Hybrid fuel vehicles incorporate two different fuel types to produce a cleaner running, more environmentally
friendly vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are most commonly a cross between diesel fuel and electricity. While
they are not entirely "green" they are a great step forward in automotive technology in the world's slow
transition towards emission-free automobiles. There are many trends throughout the hybrid fuel vehicle industry in the design department, which include lighter body parts and frames, and better drag coefficients. In order to achieve a car that is highly fuel-efficient that also performs up today's standards, the prior listed items are a must. With smaller cylinder engines powering the vehicle, weight is a definite hindrance to overall performance. With less vehicle weight to propel, the engine doesn't need to work as hard resulting in better fuel economy. Many new technologies are being incorporated into the design of the body and frame (aluminum and plastics as opposed to steel and sheet metal) in attempts to achieve lighter vehicle weight while still maintaining structural integrity and safety in all forms of driving and crash tests. The aerodynamics of the vehicle are also very important. Lower drag coefficients translate directly into better efficiency because the car fights less against the wind as it moves. The Dodge ESX is a great example of a very efficient hybrid-fuel engine/drivetrain that exhibits many common amenities, good vehicle performance, style, and low emissions. The lightweight shell of the vehicle is powered by a diesel/electric powerplant, coupled with lead-acid batteries to drive twin electric motors, one in each rear-wheel hub. Energy comes from a three cylinder turbo-diesel engine driving a powerful alternator which produces the current required to power the electric wheel motors. The lead-acid batteries provide power for acceleration and capture regenerative braking energy. This car represents a great step forward in hybrid-fuel technology, but these technological advances don't come cheap. One drawback to these forward thinking technologies is that they are very expensive and hard to mass produce with current manufacturing. The next challenge will be to develop methods to reduce cost, so as to make the car more acceptable to the public's wallet. One current mass produced hybrid, the Honda Insight, incorporates similar technologies, but in a more "primitive" form. The simplicity of the Insight's design has advantages over the ESX in production and cost-efficiency. Below are some pictures of hybrid vehicles currently on the market. Clicking on a car's picture will take you to a page of information.      Links: Here is a page with tons of alternative fuel vehicle links. |
By Russ Saunders, Sean-Paul Nuccio, Al Seafeldt, and Kevin Meboe