Hybrid Cars
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A hybrid car is one with an engine that will run off of two separate power sources. Most commonly, these will be a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric motor with a rechargeable energy storage system (battery). The electric battery will recapture energy that is normally lost in braking, a great way to reduce the amount of fuel your car uses and cut your carbon footprint. The engine will then have significant battery storage for this recaptured energy.
But that’s not all a hybrid car will do to fight global warming and cut your carbon footprint. The engine uses smart technology that will automatically shut down the gasoline engine during traffic stops, while the car is coasting, or in order idle periods when the electric engine is strong enough to power your car. This will significantly reduce your carbon footprint by cutting your fuel use. As well, at peak periods such as accelerating and overtaking, the engine will make use of both power sources so it doesn’t need to use up too much gasoline, again cutting your fuel use and carbon emissions.
Most major car manufacturers now offer several hybrid models in their fleet, offering a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and to save lots of money on gas.
Many car companies are working to develop hybrid engines that can be plugged into your home electricity network to charge the battery, although these are not yet in production. As well, if you energy is generated from a dirty source like coal or oil, using this electricity instead of gasoline isn’t much better. Although if you use a green energy provider, a plug-in hybrid car would surely help you further reduce your carbon footprint.
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