Last Sept. 2005, we bought a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. It was my very first car to have and since I was a new driver with a new baby, my husband wanted me to have a safe and reliable car I can use around. I have no idea anything about cars. Well, majority of people in the Philippines don’t own one. How do we get to our destination? By riding a public jeepney. Anyway, we looked at different types of cars and we ended up buying the Hybrid-electric vehicle. This car is not only gas efficient but most of all it’s environmentally friendly.
The government also provides tax incentives for purchasing this kind of cars. From our 2006 tax, we got a credit of $2,000.00. For more information on state incentives, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has the list of State & Federal Incentives & Laws for HEVs.
So how does hybrid works? Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:
Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drive train causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.
Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.
Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.
Just this April 2008, we traded in our highlander for a 2008 Toyota Prius. The reason why? It has more gas mileage (48mpg in city / 45mpg in hwy) compared to the SUV.
No comments:
Post a Comment