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Saving Fuel: Vehicles
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
A hybrid electric vehicle combines two or more sources of power to propel the vehicle. Though hybrid electric vehicles are gaining popularity, the most recognized being the Toyota Prius, they only represent 1.5% of vehicles sold in the U.S; of the 17 million cars and trucks sold in the U.S. in 2006, 250,000 were hybrids.
The Basics
There are various categories of hybrid vehicles. The gasoline-electric hybrid is the most common and the source of discussion in this article. The diesel-electric hybrid is still being designed by the French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen. Some heavy-duty hybrids use natural gas in combination with the electric motor.
A gasoline-electric hybrid (hybrid) has a conventional internal combustion engine plus one or more electric motors to assist in propelling the vehicle. The electric motor is supplied with electricity from the battery pack and the battery is charged from an onboard generator and regenerative braking. The batteries in hybrid vehicles are expected to be longer-lived than those in purely electric vehicles. To learn more about how hybrid vehicles work, visit the "What is a hybrid electric vehicle?" web page at eere.energy.gov.
Benefits
Hybrid vehicles save fuel by using the electric motor and engine shut off technology that shuts down the engine during idling periods. Some hybrids have systems that will propel the vehicle short distances at low speeds, which is especially beneficial in stop-and-go situations such as city driving and rush hour traffic. Various hybrid models use different technologies. Some hybrids use the electric motor to power the vehicle both at low speeds and while idling, and other hybrids use the electric motor only during idling.
Hybrids are more fuel efficient than gasoline-only vehicles because the gasoline engine in the hybrid can be much smaller than in a conventional car. Hybrids also lower tailpipe emissions by using less gasoline. Because the battery is charged onboard, there is no need to stop and recharge the battery and fueling the vehicle conveniently remains the same. For more benefits, visit the "Hybrid Electric Vehicle Benefits" web page at eere.energy.gov.
Purchasing
Light-duty hybrids include sedans, SUVs and trucks, and heavy-duty hybrids include buses and trucks. If you are considering purchasing a hybrid vehicle, search for current and previous light-duty and heavy-duty models at eere.energy.gov or fueleconomy.gov. To determine whether the higher price for a hybrid is appropriate for you or your fleet, use the HEV Cost Calculator Tool.
Incentives
Federal
Particular hybrid vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2006 qualify for a federal tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. See the listing of acceptable hybrid models and corresponding tax credits at the IRS web site or the Department of Energy web sites eere.energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.
Oregon Department of Energy
ODOE offers two different tax credits for the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Residents may qualify for a credit up to $1,500 under the Residential Energy Tax Credit and businesses may qualify for 35% of the incremental cost of purchasing a hybrid under the Business Energy Tax Credit. For more information and qualifying vehicles, visit the ODOE web site or the Department of Energy web site.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (plug-in hybrids) are similar to hybrids but, due to larger battery packs, are able to travel some distances using only battery supplied power.
Plug-in hybrids are not yet mass produced but some custom manufacturers will convert a hybrid electric vehicle to a plug-in hybrid. The conversion process installs additional batteries and modifies the control system to allow electric power to be used at higher speeds.
Plug-in hybrids have double the fuel economy of hybrid vehicles. An average plug-in hybrid can travel about 100 miles on electric power, achieves up to 100 miles per gallon, and is recharged by plugging the vehicle into a standard outlet.
Plug-in hybrids are particularly ideal for commuters and city dwellers with access to an electrical outlet. Plug-in hybrid infrastructure still needs to be developed to aid the push for mass production. Infrastructure advancements would solve the recharging dilemma for people living in apartments, hotels, etc..., and would aid utility companies in preparing for the additional electric demand.
For more information on the description and benefits of plug-in hybrids, visit calcars.org or pluginpartners.org
FAQ:
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What is regenerative braking? |
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When the brakes in a conventional vehicle are depressed, brake pads use friction to slow down the tires and heat is produced as a result. The heat normally dissipates and the energy in the heat lost to the surrounding air. With regenerative braking in a hybrid vehicle, the electric motor reverses its role from consuming energy into capturing energy. The electric motor acts like a generator and transfers the energy in heat into electricity that is stored in the battery.
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Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are powered solely by an electric motor, which is powered by a pack of rechargeable batteries. The batteries are recharged by plugging in the vehicle. Because some vehicles can be converted to an electric vehicle, it is not always easy to discern what cars are "fueled" by electricity.
The Basics
To charge electric vehicles, conductive and inductive charging systems are typically used; though, some models can be plugged into a 110v-outlet. The required amount of time to fully recharge the batteries depends on how much energy currently remains in the battery. In general, 4-8 hours are needed to fully recharge an empty battery and 2-5 hours are needed to charge a battery 1/4 to 3/4 full. Most users recharge their batteries at night, the most convenient time and the time of day with the cheaper off peak electric rates.
Light-duty electric vehicles are not mass produced and the main reason is due to the battery. The batteries weigh about 1,100 pounds and only last 20,000 miles (3-4 years for a typical driver). Batteries are expensive to replace, costing close to $2,000.
Benefits
An electric vehicle produces zero local emissions. When looking at overall emissions, the process used to generate the electricity used by the vehicle needs to be included and air pollution does occur when generation involves burning fossil fuels.
An electric vehicle has a 50-mile range. Seen by some as a limitation, this short range fits well into the driving lifestyle of an average city or suburb dweller driving 30-40 miles on a usual day.
Enjoyable ride. Electric vehicles are quiet, operate smoothly, and have strong acceleration.
Long lasting. Electric motors are durable and reliable, requiring less maintenance than an internal combustion engine.
Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines.
Efficiency
Gasoline-powered Vehicles
Internal combustion engines are only 20% efficient. The inefficient engine uses large amounts of energy to turn pumps and fans and wastes available energy because generated heat is not captured but released into the surrounding air through the exhaust system and radiator.
Battery-powered Vehicles
Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines. Looking at the electric car itself, it is about 72% efficient.
Factoring in the generation of the electricity used to "fuel" the car, overall efficiency is 26% for cars using electricity generated from fossil fuels. Efficiency reaches as high as 65% for cars using electricity generated from renewable fuels.
Additional Resources
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