Going green is a popular movement today and it appears that almost all aspects of our daily lives are influenced by this concept.  When it comes to the car industry, going green has meant the development of a new breed of automobiles:  the hybrid electric car.  But what exactly is a hybrid car?  There are a lot of myths perpetuated about the hybrid car.  The car does not run on water, nor does one need to carry a battery charger at all times.

Hybrid History

Hybrid cars have been around for about a decade.  The first hybrid cars were the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius and many are still around.  In the 1990s, hybrid cars were thought to be saviours of our environment and able reduce our need of oil.

The Basics

The hybrid car essentially runs on a combination of the traditional internal combustion engine and a battery powered electric motor.  The battery-run electric motor relieves the engine by doing some of the work.  The result is a car that performs similar to a conventional automobile with a small engine.  Further, hybrid cars generally have a better fuel efficiency, are smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic.

The battery in the hybrid car is recharged by means of the combustion engine to generate electricity by whirling an electrical generator.  In some new cars the battery is recharged by what is known as regenerative braking.  Each time the brakes are applied, kinetic energy is generated, which is then captured and used to recharge the battery.

All hybrid cars have one essential feature:  the gasoline engine is typically much smaller than the one in a comparable conventional vehicle and therefore more efficient.  Most cars require a relatively large engine to generate enough power to accelerate the car quickly.  With the smaller engines, however, the efficiency of the hybrid cars can be improved by using smaller, lighter parts, by reducing the number of cylinders and by operating the engine closer to its maximum load.

In all hybrid cars the combustion engine is shut down when idle.  This helps reduce fuel consumption and decreases emissions without the addition of a hybrid drivetrain.  To further improve fuel economy, today's hybrids use a variety of tricks including manufacturing aerodynamic cars that reduce drag, using low rolling resistance tires and ultra-lightweight material to construct the cars.  The majority of hybrid cars out on the market utilize some or all of these efficiency maneuvers to improve fuel efficiency.

The Best Hybrid Car?

The hybrid mania has caught on so feverishly that almost every manufacturer is labeling their cars as hybrid.  GM often claims that its GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado pick-ups and the Saturn Vue Green Line are hybrid cars, but this is not the entire truth.  In fact, the electrical motor does not provide any motion power to the car.  It only plays a role in auto stop or engine cylinder deactivation, which generally does nothing significant to the car.

Comfy Car

Experts indicate that the best hybrid car for comfort and a pleasant drive is the Toyota Camry.  The hybrid Camry offers about 6.9 L/100 km and drives like a mid-size sedan.  It has excellent safety features and the car comes with a long list of standard features, plus a whole variety of options.  The major downside to the hybrid Camry is the price and the much reduced trunk space chiefly because of the large battery needed to power the car.  The Toyota Camry sells for $30,660.

Fabulous Fuel Economy

The hybrid car with the best fuel economy is the Toyota Prius.  It averages about 5.1 L/100km, has a much wider trunk space and has a much sportier look.  On the negative side, the car has much less power compared to other hybrids and does feel sluggish on the highways.  During city driving, the electrical motor operates alone and the engine kicks in when power is required on the highways.  The Toyota Prius sells for about $27,000 and currently there is a waiting list to buy one.

Lap of Luxury

While there are many hybrid luxury cars, the Lexus GS 450h stands out.  It offers supreme performance, it's roomy and it has many extravagant features including heated seats, rain sensing wipers, navigation system, satellite radio and leather interior.  On the negative side it offers only 15.7 to 11.8 L/100km and costs a whopping $69,200 excluding tax.

____________________

Other Options

Other top hybrid cars currently on the market include the 2008 Mercury Mariner, 2007 Nissan Altima, 2007 Honda Civic and the 2007 Ford Escape.  While thinking green is great, in the end it is your finances which will determine what you can buy.

More From DriverSense:

What You Should Know About Plug-In Hybrids

Top Ten Ugliest Muscle Cars

VIN Etching:  The Ideal Car Theft Solution?