Review about Electric and Hybrid Cars

Electric and Hybrid Cars

This is a review about electric/hybrid transportation specifically with automobiles. These types of automobiles have recently entered the car market, alongside the fuel car that has been around for decades. You and I, most days, may ride in or drive a vehicle. Cars are a form of transportation that plays a role in our lives. The electric and hybrid cars, varying in many different types, are becoming more and more known. The vehicle you journey in probably runs on and consumes plenty of fuel or maybe you do in fact own an electric/hybrid car. Or maybe you don’t own a car and you bike/walk/ride the bus everywhere. I applaud you of your efforts and I think it is very neat that is how you get from point A to point B.

As you probably know, a fuel car is run on gasoline that enters the tank to provide what is needed for the engine to run. When the transmission is in gear the wheels begin to rotate. An electric car is run solely on batteries instead of gas and a hybrid car is a combination of both types to make an exceptional car.  

I have rode in a hybrid car called the Toyota Prius a couple of times in the past year and the experiences have always been interesting. The Prius I rode in had the options of using fuel or being electric. It was on the electric car mode while I was in the vehicle. I was intrigued that the car was quieter than I had ever heard a car run and hardly rumbled like a fuel car does while turning the car on and traveling. I thought it was really beneficial to be riding in a car that could go miles and miles without having to fuel the car. The car seemed to be an environment saver and a pocket saver too!

Electric/hybrid cars not only will affect your individual life but will impact mechanical engineering as a discipline. With these new, upcoming cars, mechanical engineering for automobiles, has and will continue to take on innovative and exciting concepts to work on and develop. Fresh goals to make the performance of these cars to be more beneficial are now in the minds of a mechanical engineer. Maybe what was once thought to be out of reach with automobiles is now going to be in reach with these advancements of the electric/hybrid car. These types of cars will continue to shape the automobile sector of mechanical engineering and transform transportation as a whole.

Analysis of the Toyota Prius

Impact on environment?
“Prius is certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) 17 in California and states adopting its emissions guidelines. Compared to the average car, Prius could have saved an estimated 20,509,138.39 tons of CO2 emissions in the U.S. since 2000.”

Safety?
The car safety levels are met and are exceptional for anyone who is going to drive. If the car is bought new, one can choose extras beyond the regular safety features. The basics that are absolutely needed are in the car though.

Pros? Cons?
A. Pros

• Greater than 40 miles per gallon of gas
• Helps ones surroundings
• Decreases money spent on purchasing gas
• “Our proven Hybrid Synergy Drive® system combines the benefits of an efficient gasoline engine and a clean, quiet electric motor. It can be powered by the engine, the electric motor, or a combination of both, and will automatically choose the most efficient mode for the best mpg.”

B. Cons

• To many options and packages to choose from
• Can be expensive
• More cons can be located at (personal reviews), http://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius/2013-toyota-prius/two-consumer_reviews/?vehicleid=382198&intent=buy-new&p=2&perpage=5&sort=0#Reviews-list

Information about the Toyota Prius was found at, http://www.toyota.com/prius/features.html#!/safety_convenience/1223/1225/1227/1229. I found the link to be very helpful, engaging, and organized.

You tube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diJj-zQ09yc          <---    testing and safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdUGTZifsJM      <---   experience the Toyota Prius http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odhLfpIFxB0       <---     fun video

More interesting articles to read to further your understanding of electric/hybrid automobiles, click on them to learn more!
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/automotive-design/the-dawn-of-electric-vehicles
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
Pictures are from Toyota Website

Thank you for reading. I hope you learned something new that will be useful for you. Have a nice day!