how does a hybrid car work and what are the downsides to owning one?

Ardell Luy: A hybrid car is so named because it contains both an electric motor and a traditional gas engine, and is able to one of the two motors, both, or none depending on the driving conditions. The electric motor is more efficient while accelerating the car, while the gas engine is the more efficient motor for powering the car at highway speeds. So when you are driving slowly or slowing down, the gas engine is actually shut down (the car is silent at a stop light). As soon as you start moving again, the gas engine will start up immediately or the car will run off electric power only.The hybrid is more efficient than a regular car because it saves the energy used to stop the vehicle (regenerative braking) in the battery, and then uses this stored energy to get the car back up to speed after a stop. In a regular car, all your kinetic energy is wasted as heat when you apply the brakes. Because the electric motor is mainly used for starting and stopping only, the ba! ttery is relatively small in a hybrid (the car could only run off the battery for a few miles if the gas engine wan't working before the battery dies). There is no external charging involved. The battery is charged when you stop and automatically by the gas engine when necessary. At highway speeds (>40 mph), the gas engine will almost always be running continuously since it is more efficient.Due to the characteristics of the hybrid system, the car will actually get better fuel economy in city driving than highway driving. Therefore, I would only recommend one if more than 75% of your driving is stop-and-go. They are more expensive than regular cars because of the added cost of the battery and electric motor. People who do cost analysis say you would have to keep one at least five years before the added cost is saved in reduced fuel consumption. If you just have a long highway commute, a small car is the most economical choice. Certain small cars will get better mila! ge than comparable hybrids while highway driving. Consider ca! rs like a Focus, Fiesta, Cruze, Aveo, Civic, Golf, Jetta, Yaris, etc. would be best (they all get 35 mpg or better).There are lots of other websites that describe hybrids. Here's one:http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm...Show more

Lynn Hollars: I possess a 2006 toyota prius hybrid.Hybrids had been round for a couple of years.The seen downsides is what using at the back of vechicles getting part the fuel mileage.Filling up with fuel,the pump stress is grew to become up too prime the auto doesnt take delivery of all of that fuel,probably the speedy lube is quicker than the dealership replacing the oil and clear out and cant work out tips on how to reset the caution gentle environment.My prius has nine,000 miles on it....Show more