Electric Cars

For this essay I researched about hybrid electric plug-in cars. My search started on Ebsco host where I found an article from U.S. News & World Report dated April 2010, titled “A Stuttering Start for Electric Cars”. I learned that the hybrid plug-in cars still use gas, but way less than a conventional gas powered engine, and can use all-electric power for shorter in town short trips. I found that Chevrolet is now making the Volt with an all-electric range of up to 35 miles on a battery charge, and that range at this point in my life would be perfect since I drive very little. The best part of the plug-in car is while on all-electric power you get a gas-free and emissions-free driving for about $1.50 of electricity per day. Toyota will release the 3rd generation Prius with a plug-in spring of 2012 with an all-electric range of 15 miles, quite a bit less than the Volt. Toyota seems to have the most experience in the electric hybrid car, probably because they have been in production the longest. However, they seem to operate basically the same. Intrigued, I investigated a little farther.

The Prius is pretty amazing hybrid, and so far has EPA-estimated combined 50 mpg rating, while the Volt has 40mpg; the combined rating comes from how they use power. From initial acceleration to low speeds, Prius doesn’t use any fuel, because it’s powered solely by the electric motor. When accelerating lightly, Prius uses its electric motor along with the gasoline engine to achieve greater fuel efficiency. During heavy acceleration, the gasoline engine is used while the battery supplies increased drive power to the electric motor. When slowing, the gasoline engine shuts off and the electric motor converts the momentum into electricity, storing it in the battery. When the car comes to a stop, its gasoline engine shuts off to conserve fuel and reduce emissions. Battery charging times aren’t bad either, all of the new plug-in hybrid cars charge in a relatively