Mention "hybrid" to people not familiar with current trends in automotive technology and the first thoughts that come to mind might well be of some sort of genetically engineered corn that yields more bushels per acre. But in vehicular terms, hybrid refers to a powertrain that combines two different methods of propulsion, each augmenting the other in a way that enhances the strengths and minimizes the shortcomings of each.

Looking at the big picture, gasoline-electric hybrids aren’t the only answer to tomorrow’s transportation needs, but they are a crucial step...and performance hybrids will be an integral part. Growing acceptance of hybrids across the landscape will come with diversity

. Fortunately, hybrid technology is very flexible and will deliver significant improvements in both fuel economy and emissions across the board.

Hybrid vehicles are definitely the wave of the future or at least one of them. With gas prices remaining over $3 a gallon and oil prices up around $100 a barrel, the need to save on fuel -- and fuel costs -- is clearly not just a passing trend. And, of course, concerns about air quality and global warming seem to mount every day.

So, it would seem that this is the right time to take the plunge and buy a hybrid. But first there are some questions you need to ask yourself. One key question is this: Why are you buying a hybrid? Is it to save on gas costs -- or is it to do your part when it comes to cutting back on fossil-fuel emissions, which foul the air and contribute to rapid climate change?

One school of thought that was advanced a year or two ago is that you pay such a high up-front "premium" for a hybrid that it could take many years before you "break even" on the amount you would save in fuel costs. In that scenario, your incentive for buying a hybrid vehicle would have to be largely driven by a concern for the environment. Which, of course, is not a bad thing. If we're going to clean up the air and reverse the effects of rapid climate change, perhaps that's just the premium we'll all have to pay as we do our part.

But more recently, with gas prices rising even further and hybrid car prices getting closer to non-hybrid counterparts, it is likely that you will recoup that up-front premium in just a few short years.

You also have to consider the emissions that are produced when you extract the oil from the well, and transport it, and convert it to gasoline, and get it into the pump," he says. "So when you drive a hybrid, you're also helping to reduce all of those 'upstream' emissions."

Another factor to consider is the urbanization of the world's population.

"At this point in history, half the world's population lives in urban environments," says Reinert. "And although urban areas cover only 4 percent of the world's land mass, they use 90 percent of our resources. So, how a vehicle performs in urban environments is crucial when it comes to the impact on the environment. That's where a hybrid really offers some key benefits.

"In urban settings, you can just shut off the engine and run it in purely the electric mode for six or eight miles -- and that range is going to get better with every generation of hybrids. And this ability is going to go a long way toward reducing or eliminating emissions signatures of automobiles -- which also happens to be a key issue in the development of the lungs of young children in these urban areas."

US hybrid car sales for 2007 totalled 352,184 units, according to manufacturers reported figures. This figure rose sharply from the 250,000 hybrid car sales figure for 2006. Toyota, thanks to their record Prius sales of over 180,000, was the number one hybrid car seller in the region. In fact the total Toyota hybrid car sales figure of 257,760 units, accounted for over 70 percent of the combined US total hybrid car sales figure for the year.

GM's Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid have GM's mild hybrid system, which utilizes an ISG. The system essentially replaces the conventional alternator and starter motor to allow the engine to shut down during idle and coasting. This is the primary source of improved fuel economy. GM's mild system improves fuel economy by 10 percent, without effecting vehicle performance.

On both the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra a V8 engine powers the battery to run the wheels in low-demand situations. As mild hybrids neither vehicle is capable of running in electric-only mode.

Expanded Mild Hybrid System - GM's Belt-Alternator-Starter system

The second of GM's hybrid Systems, GM's Belt-Alternator-Starter system turns off the engine during idle and coasting.

The hybrid system is being introduced in the new Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid. The 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid features a unique electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4L VVT four-cylinder engine and 4T45-E four-speed transmission powertrain to deliver increased fuel economy over non-hybrid models. It is a less complex, lower-cost hybrid system than other mild hybrid systems.

Sept 2007 Volkswagon announces all future models will be developed using hybrid. Technologies

The mighty car industry Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda have all in unison got going in a tight and pressuring contest to become the top hybrid vehicle maker and marketer.

Hybrid cars

When the tight race for hybrid motor cars started years ago, Honda was among the initial few car builders to have genuinely gone up and take the matter seriously. As time goes by, Honda has formed a patient, devoted and skilful team to bring up research and development efforts for the brands own hybrid cars lines.

In testing, four of seven hybrids we tested recovered their price premium and provided an overall savings of $100 to $2,500 in the first five years and 75,000 miles of ownership. Extra ownership costs over five years for the other three hybrid models ranged from about $4,800 to $6,400, compared with those of similar all-gas models says Consumer Reports.

The rising price of gasoline and concern over U.S. dependence on oil have generated a lot of interest in hybrids, and with good reason. They typically deliver the best fuel economy in their classes. The Prius and Civic Hybrid delivered an excellent 44 and 37 mpg, respectively, in our real-world fuel-economy tests--the best gas mileage we've measured in any five-passenger vehicles. The Ford Escape Hybrid, which achieved the best fuel economy of any SUV we've recently tested, can save you about $900 per year in gasoline costs.

Hybrids emit less pollution, with some models classified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles by the California Air Resources Board. Each gallon of gasoline not burned prevents the emission of 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, which many believe contributes to global warming.

Several hybrids--the Honda Accord, Lexus RX400h, Toyota Highlander, and Toyota Prius--are outstanding overall packages that score at or near the top of their categories in our Ratings (available to subscribers). Not only do the Accord, Highlander, and RX400h provide moderately better fuel economy than their conventional counterparts, but they also provide notably quicker acceleration. The Highlander and Prius are among our "Top Picks for 2006."
Growing acceptance of hybrids across the landscape will come with diversity. Fortunately, hybrid technology is very flexible and will deliver significant improvements in both fuel economy and emissions across the board.

History Of Hybrid Cars

A HEV (hybrid-electric vehicle) combines electrical energy with a means of generating electrical energy, usually through some type of fuel.

The-hybrid electric car evolved from the electric car. The main disadvantage of the electric car is that it is mainly dependent on the batteries. Therefore, it has limited range. I think it was 1985 when I new a man with a car that was battery operated. When I saw the batteries they were so huge I figured he could go forever without having to recharge them. I was wrong. At the time, he purchased the car thinking there would be places to recharge his batteries at every gas station. That’s not what happened. And as he would be out and about, he would forget to keep track of how far he had gone. All of a sudden, the phone would ring, again…he needed to have his car towed home so he could charge the batteries. But today, the hybrid has two sources of power.

Battery power has been used in hybrids of all types:

1) mopeds and electric bicycles

2) diesel-electric or turbo-electric railway locomotives

3) buses

4) heavy goods vehicles

5) mobile hydraulic machinery

6) ships

7) early hybrid systems are being investigated for trucks and heavy highway vehicles

8) Kenworth Truck Company recently introduced a hybrid-electric truck called the Kenworth T270 Class 6 for city use.

9) Trains- diesel-electrical locomotives like the Green Goat and Green Kid switching/yard engines in Canada

10) Trams, trolleybus, electric rail and third rail