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The climate of the world today is focused on global, environmental issues. Part of the movement is to reduce the reliance on oil, especially with respect to gasoline and automobiles. Gasoline also has a direct impact on the climate, as emissions contribute to atmospheric problems. One of the main ways that both of these issues are addressed is the hybrid car. The most popular kind out on the market right now is the gasoline – electric hybrid. How do these vehicles reduce emissions and reduce the reliance on oil and gasoline?

The best way to understand how hybrid cars work is to take a step back and consider a gasoline car. At the heart of the vehicle is an internal combustion engine. Into this, the vehicle feeds gasoline, which enters the engine. There, a spark causes the gas to explode, which pushes a piston, in turn powering the transmission, which moves the car. Attached to the engine, to help capture all of the energy, is an alternator, which takes the action of the engine and converts it into electricity, which typically goes into the battery. The electric drive involves the same sort of system. Motion is provided by a motor, feed with a voltage via a large array of batteries. The batteries are like a gas tank, storing electrical energy until it is needed.

Enter the hybrid, a combination of the two systems, providing more benefits and eliminating the weaknesses of each individual system. Electric cars have a major short coming in that finding a source of electricity is very difficult. Hybrid cars deal with the issue by getting the energy from gas. There are two kinds of hybrid systems, series and parallel. In a parallel hybrid vehicle, it can be though as a union of a gas car and electric car. Both systems can power the transmission at the same time, and the gas engine will help power the electric side through the alternator. This system allows the vehicle to burn gas when it is needed, but otherwise run completely off the hybrid battery .

The other system, which is more advantageous, is the series hybrid. In this vehicle, the gas engine is designed only to move the alternator. Thus, there is a more efficient conversion of energy from gasoline to electricity. There is also the benefit that a engine solely purposed for electricity generation is much smaller, and lighter, than a engine meant for power transmission. This keeps the car light, requiring less energy. Once the alternator generates energy, it is stored in the batteries and utilized by the motors in the car which transmit energy to the wheels and move the vehicle.

What are the advantages of a hybrid? Since the gas engine is smaller, it can operate closer to maximal load and provide energy much more efficiently. The net effect is much more improved gas mileage. It is thanks to that fact that a hybrid car can see 50, 60, even 90 mile per gallon fuel efficiencies. So when you for a hybrid, there are a couple considerations in evaluating different hybrid vehicles. First, is it a series system? If the hybrid is a parallel system, it will be much less efficient. Second, how small and efficient is the combustion engine. The smaller it is, and the more efficient it is, the better for fuel economy .

Hybrids are the starting point for changes that will bring about an existence with less of an impact upon the planet. Soon, all energy will be renewable and have very little impact.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

What is so special about a hybrid car battery ? In this article, I talk about hybrid car batteries, how long they last, warranty information, battery recycling, battery failure, and more.

Most people are getting intrigued with what hybrid cars could offer. This is all because of the increasing reviews and recommendations by experts about such kind of cars. Additionally, more often than not, people are curious with the difference of a hybrid car battery and a conventional car battery ; simply because the batteries of this kind of vehicle are specially made to support longer term of higher power supply.

Making The Purchase

When taking into consideration the probable acquisition of a hybrid vehicle for the very first time, majority of potential buyers slightly hesitate in the information that under the carís hood, hybrid cars are to some extent different in contrast to conventional fuel powered cars. Majority of consumers are aware that such kinds of vehicles have motors that are battery-powered . Hence, this knowledge brings forth one or two worries.

Nevertheless, it would be best and advantageous if you get a closer look at the different facts on various battery packs that are used for modern hybrid vehicles.

No More Replacing?

Unlike conventional car batteries, which have to be replaced in every three to four years, the battery pack of hybrid cars actually have warranties for about eight to ten years. In fact, hybrid car batteries not only last longer but most of the time outlast the lifetime of the whole car. In conditions of mileage, these batteries are crafted to run between 150,000 to 200,000 miles, which at present terms would be considered to be way beyond a normal car’s life expectancy.

Intended For Recycling

The batteries found in conventional cars, make use of rechargeable Nickel Cadmium materials, which when thrown away gives off a lot of toxic waste concerns. However on the other hand, the blueprint of batteries used in hybrid cars makes use of a NiMH construction, which is a hundred percent recyclable. Additionally, such type of battery has much reduced toxic wastes, which makes it even more environmental friendly.

Internal Make Up

Conventional batteries also have exceedingly few cells; also, the corrosion of any one of which could produce a catastrophic consequence on your hybrid car’s performance . On the other hand, hybrid batteries are made up with hundreds of cells. Although at first glance, this could be a sign of complexity problems and less reliability; modern construction methods make sure that would not be the case.

In fact the mere number of cells inside the battery means that if ever one or two would deteriorate, the over all performance of your car’s battery would stay comparatively unaffected. This could be clearly reflected on the length of your battery’s warranty given by its manufacturers. This simply means that they’re prepared to replace your battery and should consequently let you have no anxiety if ever you do decide to purchase a hybrid vehicle.

Battery Failure Is Negligible

Another good thing with batteries used in hybrids is that their failure rate in normal use is actually so low, that it becomes pretty hard to quantify. Whenever a failing or faulty battery has been manufactured, it would usually be spotted before you get delivery from your hybrid car dealer . In fact, some manufacturers even issued statistics which show some of their battery packs have already lasted for more than 300,000 miles. Again, all of these would be reflected on the warranty length that would be given by your manufacturer.

No More Budgeting For Replacement

Once more, this cycles back to the reality that warranties are goof for eight-ten years and the premise that batteries could run for hundreds of thousands of miles. In fact, the Department of Energy of the United States actually commenced tests to prove the decrease in power of hybrid batteries through distance in use. However, in the end, after testing 160,000 miles, they weren’t able to detect any discernible drop in the capacity of the battery. They even described the battery’s performance to be ‘as new’.

Continuous Development

All auto manufacturers along with their suppliers are continuing programs for development and hybrid car battery would be part of this. In fact, the battery industry is aiming for new technology and innovations so that they could create more efficient and more powerful battery capacity . They are also targeting reduced manufacturing costs, so that they could sell it for lower prices , along with expanding even further the competent working life of the battery.

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About the Author: John S. Rhodes talks more about thybrid batteries at Hybrid Cars , Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid technology and hybrid rental vehicles.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

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Getting To Know The History Of The Hybrid Car

It’s pretty interesting how people are becoming more aware of their environment nowadays. This can be seen on the increasing amount of environment friendly products in the market these days. Additionally, they’ve become aware of the various factors that contribute to the threatening pollution in the environment. Hence, companies started developing less toxic emitting products that also do well to the environment and one of the most prominent of this kind would be hybrid cars. As starter, here’s the history of the hybrid car .

It’s All About Steam

The concept of creating environment friendly or alternatively powered vehicles started with the idea of vehicles running with the use of steam . Between 1665 to1885 a couple of ideas regarding steam powered vehicles were noted. First off would be astronomer and Flemish Jesuit priest Ferdinand Verbiest, who had plans for a small four-wheeled unmanned steam car . Next would be Nicholas Cugnot who built a carriage powered by steam that was able to run for 6 miles/hour. Lastly would be Goldsworthy Gurney who was able to create a steam car that could run an 85 mile journey in just 10 hours.

Then Came Electricity

It was also quite early when people started conceptualizing and later on creating electricity powered cars . It was in 1839 when Scotsman Robert Anderson first created an electrically powered vehicle. Then, significant development was noted during the late 1800ís and early 1900ís. In fact, it was during this time when a lot of companies started making use of electricity to power their vehicles.

Electric Cabs and the History of the Hybrid Car

Additionally electrically powered cabs became prominent during the 1897, because this is when the London Electric Cab Company started their regular service by the use of cars which were made by Walter Bersey. It was called the Bersey Cab. This cab uses a 40-cell battery with a 3 HP electric motor. People were able to drive it 50 miles in between charges.

The First Porsche Hybrid

It was during 1898 when Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was able to build his very first car, which was called Lohner Electric Chaise . This car was also 1st front-wheel-drive. Then, the second car that he made was a hybrid. Here, he used an internal combustion engine so that the car’s generator would spin. In effect, it produced power to be used by electric motors, which could be found on the wheel hubs. Just using batteries, the car was able to travel about 40 miles. (Note: Read more about hybrid car batteries .)

Going Large Scale

In the past, manufacturers weren’t really able to create as much cars as they wanted. This is because they weren’t equipped with the right tools and machines to do so. However, as technology developed, car companies were able to make big batches of production.

In fact, by 1900, American car companies were able to create made 936 gasoline, 1,575 electric 1,681 steam car. People were also becoming more open with the use of electric cars . This can be seen on a poll which was conducted during the 1st National Automobile Show, where patrons actually favored electric cars for their 1st choice, while steam cars placed second on a very close fight.

During the first couple of years in the 20th century, thousands of hybrid and electric cars were actually created . However, when Henry Ford’s car line arrived along with the start of self-starting gas engines, this signaled the rapid decline of hybrid cars during 1920.

Fueled Cars Taking The Limelight

When fueled cars were introduced, this became a very significant period of time for hybrid cars . Simply because people started opting for gasoline fuelled cars than those that were hybrids. Additionally, car manufacturing companies, like Ford also created lines of gas fuelled automobiles that were quite cheap to buy. Since these cars were cheap, people started buying the cheap gas cars than those more expensive hybrid cars.

Hence, gas fueled cars took the limelight for quite some time. In fact, up to now, gas fueled vehicles are still on the spot light.

However, hybrid cars were still somewhere in the backdrop. Sadly, only those that were creating cars for themselves or those that stayed in rural areas and had the means to create their own cars still hold on to this kind of vehicle.

Nevertheless, people have become aware of the benefits of hybrid cars nowadays. Hence, they are coming back into the picture. Ironically, most people think that such cars were only invented recently. However the colorful history of the hybrid car simply shows that it started quite early and was only overshadowed by gas fueled cars due to convenience and money matters.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

As more people are becoming considerate of the environment, the idea of driving a vehicle less dependent on gas is becoming more popular.

With this idea though, people are wondering how to pick a hybrid car, because they are interested in making the right choice for their vehicle needs as far as the environment go, but also for their lifestyles and wallets.

To choose a hybrid vehicle you should first choose the type of vehicle you need. Take into consideration how many people will be in your vehicle regularly as well as any kind of moving of heavy objects you do regularly. This is a first step when choosing any vehicle, but, while taking this into consideration, think about how each class of vehicle will also affect your gas mileage .

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You see, each class of hybrid usually has higher mileage per gallon, but is still something you want to consider, if you are trying to decide between a sedan type and an SUV. The difference in the gas mileage can be as high as 30mpg. For instance if you want Toyota hybrids such as the Toyota Prius , for city driving you can expect up to 60 mpg, and for highway driving up to 50mpg. However if you decide to instead go for the Ford Escape the mileage is 36/31. That is a huge difference for two vehicles that carry the same amount of passengers.

The cost of a hybrid is something else you might want to consider when thinking about how to choose a hybrid vehicle. For instance most gas only vehicles cost up to $5,000 less than a hybrid. You will be able to compare the two vehicles you like with their prices when you check for quotes, and in some cases you might be surprised to find that the difference can be as low as $3000.

If you are paying monthly for your vehicle you might want to sit down with calculator and find out if the extra payment of up to $90 a month (using the average $18/$1000 loan) is worth it. For instance the Prius is going to get you almost double the gas mileage you might have with a regular sedan, so you would spend half as much on gas every month. In the long run with the help each vehicle brings for the environment this could, very well, be worth the cost.

In the end no one can tell you exactly how to pick a hybrid car , but if you take these things into consideration you are going to be much happier with your decision to go hybrid, and the vehicle you choose.

Let’s face it…

If you really want to know how to pick a hybrid car then you have to understand your goals. How much money can you spend? What is the hybrid vehicle going to be used for? Are you worried about hybrid car batteries , hybrid maintenance , and hybrid car risks ? If you are, then you might want to wait another 3-4 years until you feel confident in the technology. That trust in hybrids is critical to your well-being and peace of mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

If you’re doing research on hybrid cars, hybrid trucks, or hybrid vans, then you need to head over to http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com/ I discuss many related topics such as hybrid minivans, hybrid SUVs, and even hybrid motorcycles. Start your hybrid car research today.

This article discusses Dodge hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs. If you’re doing research or trying to decide if you want to buy a hybrid vehicle, this is a good place to start.

As fuel prices keep rising, the Dodge hybrids give consumers an option when considering a vehicle purchase based on fuel economy.

Hybrids are a new type of vehicle that combine a battery pack with fuel to create a more efficient vehicle. Other factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase a hybrid are the quality of the vehicle, hybrid car cost, operating costs – not only the fuel costs, but potentially having to replace the battery pack, safety features , and availability.

The Dodge hybrid business started when Chrysler Dodge was challenged in 1993 to come out with a vehicle that would be more efficient. The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles was formed to get American companies to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Chrysler Dodge produced the Dodge Intrepid ESX 1 in 1996, with a goal of achieving 80 MPG . This vehicle proved too expensive to produce for the mass market, with a cost of $90K to the consumer.

Over the years, two more models were created: the ESX II in 1998 and the ESX III in 2003. The ESX II has been dubbed a “mybrid” because it was a mild hybrid, and the primary power came from the diesel engine. The electric motor kept the batteries charged. This vehicle ended up with a final cost of around $37K. In order to cut down on weight and cost of this vehicle, Chrysler Dodge fit the vehicle with a thermoplastic body without paint on an aluminum frame. Dodge continued to try to streamline this design, and the research went a long way to making American hybrid cars marketable.

The third attempt at the ESX in 2003 proved that technology had come a long way. This Dodge hybrid model had achieved 72 MPG and weighed in at 2,250 lbs. The vehicle was more than 80% recyclable. Dodge, however, has retired the Intrepid nameplate and did not produce a marketable hybrid sedan.

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The Dodge hybrids include a new 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid that is currently available on the market. This vehicle has combined hybrid vehicles and sports utility into what was originally thought an impossibility. The starting price is around $42K for one of these vehicles, and the benefits are considerable. This vehicle will have a 300-volt battery pack beneath the seats, charged by regenerative braking. A converter under the hood will turn the battery pack’s AC power to DC power for the lights, climate control, and the radio.

The 2009 Durango hybrid is to be made available as an all-wheel model, with all the equipment and features that go with the top of the line; seating for eight, heated front seats, power -adjustable pedals, rearview camera, and a power lift gate. The Dodge’s MyGIG Multi-Media Infotainment system.

The Dodge hybrid’s Durango Infotainment System includes an eight-inch touch screen, navigation system and voice activation… including real-time traffic. It also has a 20-gigabyte hard drive, which holds music and picture files.

Fuel economy for this model is estimated to 18 MPG city and 19 MPG on the highway. This boosts city fuel economy by about 40%, and 25% for highway compared to the current 13 and 18 MPG for the current AWD Durango. On the inside of the vehicle, the Durango hybrid contains a power gauge that shows a green economy zone so the drive can aim for optimal fuel economy.

This is an exciting feature for those concerned with owning a clean fuel vehicle.

The Dodge Durango also has a safety feature in the event of an accident. If the airbags are deployed, emergency personnel can pull the high voltage service disconnect at the battery pack. Once it has been pulled, the system has to reset, and the vehicle runs a self-diagnostic test before it will restart.

The Dodge hybrid is working to introduce a hybrid Dodge Ram in 2010 . This is a full size truck that will give a 30% boost in fuel economy. The Dodge Ram hybrid will use a battery pack and a Multi-Displacement 5.7 Hemi , which means it will run as a 4 cylinder in the highway and an 8 cylinder in the city. Towing ability should not be affected with this combination, but it is advised that when towing, don’t expect the same savings in gas mileage, but with regular driving, it is estimated to get 19 MPG city, 18 MPG highway.

In order to keep up with the changing world, Dodge seems to be making strides towards creating a hybrid that will be affordable to purchase and operate. Let’s keep our eyes open for the new models that will be coming out soon – hopefully we will be able to cross the technology over for sedans and minivans.

This article is about the Chevrolet Volt. First, I discuss the development of the Chevy Volt. Second, I talk about hybrid vehicles in general then I focus on the Volt specifically. Third, I discuss the technology of the Volt. Lastly, I talk about availability of this car.

Since the fuel prices have continued to rise in the last few years, people all across the world have began to do something about it. Top auto manufactures have come up with hybrid vehicles as well as electrical cars .

The Chevrolet Company has developed the Chevrolet Volt as its plug in hybrid car of the future. It was first introduced as a concept car; however, with the demand for gasoline-free, or an automobile that uses less gas, it will be on the market by 2010. The Volt’s extended range gasoline engine is expected to range approximately from 50 miles per gallon to as much as 150 miles per gallon

Many people may wonder what is meant by hybrid vehicles . Hybrid vehicles are vehicles that have at least two, but usually more types of energy sources, which provide propulsion, either shared or individually. Chevrolet Company intentionally avoids using the term “hybrid” on the “Volt”. They prefer to use the term “Electric Vehicle” , which is equipped with a range extending gasoline-powered motor with a 1.4 L, 4-cylinder engine, which is used for powering the 53-kilowatt generator. However, it is more commonly referred to as a “Series Hybrid”.

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GM plans to call the Volt an “E-REV” , (extended range electric vehicle ). However, the 4-cylinder engine will not have any mechanical linkage to the wheels, like the regular hybrid vehicles. It will be run at necessary speeds that will optimize fuel consumption, and charge rate efficiency, and it will reduce emissions. The only emissions that the Volt might produce from its tailpipes, may be a small amount of Carbon Dioxide, and that is in a very safe amount, if it emits any at all, and that is not expected to happen.

The “Volt “ is designed to run entirely on electric power (read: hybrid car batteries ), with a plug in located just in front of the left side mirror, by the fender well. The average commute for many people is usually around 33 miles (53 km). With the Lithium Ion batteries at full charge the car will travel for 40 miles before the gasoline engine even turns on, using the 111 kilowatt, 150 horse power motor, long enough to recharge the batteries, via a 53 kilowatt generator. This can increase the range of the Volt from 40 miles to as much as 640 miles (1,030 km). If you have access to a regular 120/240 volt AC residential outlet, you can also recharge the batteries with an extension cord, which also comes with the new vehicle. A full charge will take 8 hours, which is a normal workday. Therefore, there is no need for an external charging station.

Chevrolet wanted to change the drive train, in order to make it easier to standardize the new electrical components for the Volt and its future electrically propelled vehicles. So a new drive train called the “E-Flex” will be introduced at the showroom, in 2010.

If the EPA tests were run for the Volt the same way they are for other hybrid vehicles , the Volt’s ability to use stored energy from the batteries would result in the first vehicle to reach a fuel economy rating of over 100 mpg . This would make it the very first vehicle to be mass-produced that acquired such a high rating.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• The Battery Reconditioning Report — "The battery reconditioning report is a smart set of techniques, some of which I knew for years and have applied to seemingly dead NiCad batteries."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

This article is about used hybrid cars. Advice about hybrid vehicle shopping is provided, including how to handle dealers, decide value, warranties, and understand tax breaks for hybrids.

Used hybrid cars are becoming extremely popular. Hybrid cars are noted for their efficiency and energy saving as they are designed to run on a mixture of gasoline and electricity, mixing in the electricity reduces the need for too much gas. While most of the power is still provided by the gas the electric motor provides the extra push that is needed for acceleration.

Hybrid cars have been quite popular and the technology is still being refined, this means that people want newer models and this means that there are a good number of used hybrid cars on the market. The hybrid car is also known as a green energy car because the combination of fuel and electricity is designed to save energy and electricity is one of the cleanest forms of energy.

When you buy a used hybrid vehicle from a dealer they have to undergo what is known as a CarFax vehicle inspection. The vehicle inspection can provide you with plenty of information about the car before you hand over your money. The test is designed to tell you how many previous owners the vehicle has had and the number of accidents it has been involved in, if any. This is great because you can then decide for yourself whether or not the car is worth buying.

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One of the drawbacks of buying used hybrid vehicles is that there is no tax credit on used hybrid cars so if you want that credit then you will have to buy a new vehicle. Your hybrid car cost is offset by the money that you will save in fuel. Hybrid car owners regularly get fifty miles to the gallon out of their vehicle, which is a good cash saving on fueling a conventional car. When the hybrid vehicle is started and the motor is idle then the gas engine is turned off and the vehicle is running on electricity alone. Not only does your car use less fuel, it also runs a lot more quietly than normal vehicles. Some hybrid cars rely almost entirely on electricity although it does mean that you may not drive as far because of the difficulties of charging the vehicle.

While used hybrid cars may be extremely popular, largely because they seem to run a lot better and have less problems than non-hybrid used cars they are not that cheap . A 2oo5 Ford Escape hybrid with forty thousand miles on the clock will still set you back around $18,000. However, some companies offer a warranty that covers the battery on a used hybrid for up to ten years so perhaps it is not so expensive after all and may be the reason why there are not that many used hybrid cars around.

This article is about hybrid car batteries. First, some definitions are provided. Second, hybrid battery costs are discussed. Third, charge capacity and hybrid battery life are explained. Lastly, battery cost is discussed.

Any kind of rechargeable battery stores electricity through chemical means, and batteries have a number of important constraints on them, especially for hybrid cars and pure electric vehicles . To make this discussion make sense, we’re going to have to define some terms.

The first term is energy density . One reason why gasoline is such a useful fuel is that it’s very dense in terms of the energy carried per unit mass and unit volume. For example, gasoline has nearly 20x the energy density of liquid hydrogen per unit of volume, and is nearly 60% greater in terms of its energy density than ethanol or methanol.

Most electrical batteries can’t come close to the energy density of a good alcohol based engine. The handful that can (generally zinc oxide/silver batteries) are prohibitively expensive. This is one reason why, if you look at a Prius, almost a third of the weight of the vehicle is the batteries .

Hybrid battery costs drive a lot of the price premium for a hybrid vehicle (especially hybrid trucks ) . There are three broad categories of batteries suitable for use in a high energy application. Nickel-Metal Hydride (an evolved form of the Nickel Cadmium rechargeable battery), Lithium Ion, and Zinc/Silver.

Nickel-Metal/NiCad batteries are the cheapest to install, and have the lowest energy density of the set; they are also fairly heavy, and carry heavy metals (nickel and cadmium) making their disposal problematic and expensive.

Lithium Ion batteries have roughly 50% greater energy density compared to Nickel Metal Hydride, and nearly 40% greater than straight NiCad. They are also roughly 3 to 4x as expensive per watt/hour stored, because of the high price of Lithium. Unlike NiMH batteries, they also run into problems with waste heat when discharging. (One of the great technical challenges for an all-electric vehicle is getting enough energy stored in the batteries – and safely out again – without the batteries overheating.)

Zinc/Silver batteries have nearly 30% greater energy density than Lithium Ion batteries, but are prohibitively expensive, and use two resources (Zinc and Silver) that are in short supply. The primary use for Zinc/Silver batteries is in the military where they’re used to power guidance systems for torpedoes and missiles.

Most hybrids use NiCad or NiMH batteries ; a very few are making the transition to Lithium Ion batteries, and most aftermarket conversion kits use Lithium Ion batteries – the theory being that anyone who’ll void the warranty on their car will pay the premium for the higher energy density. The Tesla Roadster , the only pure plug-in car on the market, uses banks of Lithium Ion batteries; these contribute nearly $70,000 towards the car’s $110,000 asking price. The Chevy Volt uses NiMH batteries to keep costs down, but uses a lot of them – the Volt’s batteries replace a lot of the weight and volume used for the transmission in the car.

When will the pure plug in vehicle become affordable? It may not happen any time soon. The constraints of battery cost, waste heat dissipation and weight mean that a car that acts like a car, with passenger space and cargo space, would, as a pure electric vehicle, have a cruising range of 40 to 60 miles between charges, and while that’s useful for most American drivers, it’s not quite enough to replace a gasoline car that can get over 300 miles on one tank full of gas.