Traditionally, gasoline and diesel-powered cars have dominated our roads. However, the evolution of technology in the automotive industry has brought new types of cars. Currently, besides gasoline powered cars, hydrogen cars, solar car and hybrid cars are also available in the market. Toyota was the first automobile company to make widely accepted hybrid car in 1998. Most recently, other automakers like Ford and Honda have also produced other brands of hybrid cars. These latest trends in the automotive have brought lot confusion to consume when making choice of what cars to purchase (Burns, 1999). Besides, common people do not understand the difference between these types of cars. This paper highlights some of the difference between hybrid cars and tradition gasoline powered cars.
The main difference between a normal and hybrid car is the way the engine function. Whereas a combustion engine powers a normal car, a hybrid car uses two or more power system to operate. It combines a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. There are a couple of hybrid cars available in the market. For instance, there is hybrid electric vehicles’ (HEV) and plugged-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). An HEV car draws its power from the combustion engine and electric motor. In contrast, a PHEV car-powered electric battery and gasoline engine. Hybrid cars have sophisticated systems enabling to switch between the two sources of powers whenever necessary (McManus, 2013).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The other difference between hybrid and normal cars is the level of complexity. A hybrid car uses a more sophisticated system to operate. For instance, hybrid cars depend on a computerized control system to charge battery, switch between engine and motor powers and perform other complex tasks. Besides, hybrid cars are fitted with a regenerative braking system. This system uses the car's motion to generate electricity that recharges its battery. In contrast, the normal car uses a simple system to run.
Moreover, most hybrid cars have better fuel economy than normal cars. According to Burns (1999), the improved fuel efficiency found in hybrid cars is due to reason. First, when an electric motor powers a car, no fuel is used. Secondly, the vehicles are fitted with the regenerative braking system. From the absence of regenerative braking, gasoline cars consume more fuel when they frequently brake and accelerate which is common on high traffic roads (McManus, 2013).
Another distinction relates to the environmentally friendly nature of hybrid cars. In fact, when operating on the electric motor, the vehicle has no emission at all. Besides, when a hybrid care stops, it automatically turns its engine off to save fuel. As a result, the level of smoke and heat emission is considerably reduced. This particular element of a hybrid car has made it very popular (McManus, 2013).
Finally, due to their ability to save fuel, hybrid car are less expensive than normal cars in the end. However, the initial purchase price might be higher due to its complexity. Consumers contend that hybrid car makes up for the extra cost of money saved through fuel efficiency. Moreover, hybrid cars are more environmentally friendly (Burns, 1999).
It is conclusive that the main difference between normal and hybrid cars is the way their engine function. While combustion engine only powers a normal car, a Hybrid car uses two or more power system to operate. Moreover, hybrid cars use complicated systems to run, are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly, unlike traditional fuel-powered cars. The emergence of hybrid cars has revolutionized the automobile industry by forcing major players who previously ignored the technology to consider adopting them in their future production.
References
McManus, R. (2013). Rise of the Plug-In Hybrids. Sierra. Vol. 98(4): 50-55
Burns, R. G. (1999). Socially Constructing an Image in the Automobile Industry. Crime, Law and Social Change. Vol. 31(4): 327-346
