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Living with a hybrid car


Most aspects of driving a hybrid are similar to any other car. There's a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and a gear selector. Stopping at a light or in traffic may surprise drivers as the engine shuts down and the car goes quiet, only to restart once the gas pedal is pushed. And since most hybrids use continuously variable transmissions, acceleration is a lot smoother due to the fact that the transmission isn't traveling through a succession of gears. Full hybrids, such as the Ford Escape, give an almost futuristic feeling as they move at slow speeds because up to about 20mph of electric power alone drives them, making for very quiet operation.


Ford bills its Escape Hybrid as the first hybrid SUV
The instrument panels of hybrids tend to look a little different from your average car. Most have a gauge that displays the hybrid system's electrical power. Many also have gauges that display the hybrid system's running state. For example, the Honda Civic Hybrid shows battery charge and whether power is going into the battery or out of it. Similarly, the Toyota Prius has a display, common among all Toyota hybrids, which graphically shows the car's battery, engine, motor, and wheels. While the vehicle is running, animated lines show where power is moving around the system. These types of displays change constantly while driving and are fascinating to watch, but drivers need to remember to keep their eyes on the road.

Just about all hybrids use regenerative braking, a system that uses generators placed on each wheel to send electricity to the battery pack when the brake pedal is pushed. This system means less wear-and-tear on brake pads as the generator takes most of the energy from braking. The power flow displays mentioned above will also show energy moving from the wheels to the battery pack, which helps drivers realize that hitting the brakes is actually good for the car, as opposed to the generally wasted energy from braking in a gasoline-only car.


A monitor screen of a hybrid car could show the driver where power is coming from at any given time.
Because of the complexity of hybrid systems, these cars generally can't be taken to independent mechanics. The dealer is the best bet for maintenance or repairs. Most carmakers run schools for their mechanics, requiring them to keep updated on all the latest models and technology. Unless independent mechanics get certified by these schools, they will have a hard time diagnosing problems on a Hybrid.

There is also a lot of debate about the battery packs on hybrids requiring costly replacement. Toyota has tested its hybrid system at over 100,000 miles and found no problems with the battery pack. Michael Taylor interviewed Nathan Dwiri, president of San Francisco's Yellow Cab Cooperative, for the San Francisco Chronicle about the reliability of the Ford Escape Hybrid. Yellow Cab has been using 25 Escape Hybrid's as part of its fleet. Dwiri pointed out that the battery packs tended to fail at 150,000 miles, and Ford replaced them for free. Taxi cabs get very harsh treatment and are on the road 24/7.


 
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More Tips for Your Car

Maintain a regular service log to keep your car tip-top
Keep a schedule of regular servicing and checks. The data inside will ensure that the correct parts are always fitted and that your car can be easily repaired even after many years of use.

Regular servicing is essential to keeping your car road-worthy
Have servicing carried out regularly by an authorised workshop - It not only affects the road worthiness of the car but also establishes the foundation for better fuel efficiency and consumption.

Service your engine regularly to save on petrol
A badly tuned engine may use up to 10% more fuel than normal, so regular servicing can actually save you money and engine trouble in the long run. It’s also better for the Earth!