What is the difference btw hybrid cars and smart cars?
September 30, 2009 in Other - Cars & Transportation
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Randomness asked:
i am very confused since they look different but both claim to be better for the environment.
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
hybrid is a general term for a car using both electric power and a standard gas engine
smart is a brand name of small electric only cars with limited range
A hybrid car is a car that is propelled by more than one energy source. Typically, when one is thinking of a hybrid car, it is usually a gasoline/electric hybrid, as that is what is currently available commercially. (There are diesel-electric concept cars (not in production), and there are diesel-electric locomotives, submarines, and heavy construction equipment…) Usually a dual-fuel vehicle, like a CNG-gasoline or LPG-gasoline vehicle isn’t in the popular hybrid definition, but those are usually aftermarket-fitted anyways.
There are no commercially-available plug-in hybrids on the market so far. (So you cannot plug them in, other than the same gas station pump that most other regular cars use.) The hybrid battery is recharged either through regenerative braking (kinetic energy from coasting/slowing down spins a generator to make potential energy in the battery) or by taking excess power from the gasoline engine (use the gasoline engine as a generator) to recharge the hybrid battery. There is no plug.
How a hybrid car works depends on the technology that a manufacturer decided to use to make it a hybrid. Not all hybrids are created equal.
As the lowest common denominator, hybrids usually have a larger electric motor (for starting the gasoline engine or for charging the hybrid battery), larger/additional hybrid battery pack to drive the electric motor, auto-stop (gasoline engine turns off at idle), regenerative braking (coasting or light braking will cause the motor to act as a generator, capturing some of that lost kinetic energy of wheel motion and storing it as electricity in the hybrid battery), improved fuel economy, and lower emissions.
More improved hybrid systems allow for tuning for higher performance (more power or acceleration), or for more fuel efficiency (usually through using a smaller engine, where the electric motors help out). On the more improved hybrid systems, you could see:
- ability to act as a standing generator to power equipment off-site
- additional peak power, by the electric motor assisting the gasoline engine as required (for acceleration or hill climbing, for example), similar to a turbo
- electric-only propulsion (short periods of the electric motors/hybrid battery alone powering the car, for low power requirements (such as coasting, driving on the level, low speeds)
- reduction in weight and ability to move accessories from belt-driven to electrically-driven (smaller wires needed)
The Ford/Mercury hybrid system and the Nissan hybrid system is fairly similar to the older Toyota THS system (seen on the 2001-2003 Prius). Toyota/Lexus hybrids are currently using the THS-II or HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) system. Honda is using their IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system. GM’s newer hybrids are using their BAS (belt-alternator system) or two-mode system, while their older “hybrid” pickups are pretty much the lowest common denominator listed above.
In the US, there are several hybrid vehicles to choose from, in various size and performance categories:
Honda Insight (now discontinued)
Honda Accord Hybrid (now discontinued)
Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Lexus RX400h
Lexus GS450h
Lexus LS600hL
Ford Escape Hybrid
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
Mazda Tribute Hybrid
Saturn Vue Green Line
Saturn Aura Green Line
Nissan Altima Hybrid
GMC Sierra hybrid (discontinued?)
Chevy Silverado hybrid (discontinued?)
and soon to be available GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe hybrids, and Chevy Malibu hybrid…
If you were in Japan, you’d also be able to purchase a hybrid version of the Toyota Crown sedan, the Toyota Estima and Alphard minivans, and the Toyota Toyoace and Dyna large trucks.
With the exception of the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, which were designed to be an aerodynamic vehicle and a hybrid from the start, all of the other models are normal-looking conventional vehicles with a hybrid drivetrain and usually only a hybrid badge/nameplate to note it as different…
Meanwhile, the smart car is a brand made by Daimler AG, which has several models (such as the Fortwo and the Forfour). It is a microcar/minicompact vehicle line (smaller than all of the above available hybrids). They have good fuel economy because of their size and relatively small engine. There were some EV conversions of this car sold by a company called Hybrid Technologies, hence the confusion.)