With the demand for fossil fuels peaking up the world has been looking for alternate fuels and ways to cut down on the consumption of fuels. Alternate energies like solar and harnessing hydrogen from water have been tried out. Some efforts were also made to develop vehicles driven by electric power. A possible solution is hybridization of vehicles.
A hybrid vehicle involves the combination of one or more sources of energy. Gasoline and electric power is combined in Hybrid vehicles. The two ways of achieving a hybrid car are Gasoline Assist and Electric Assist. In the gasoline assist the vehicle propels on an electric motor in low speeds. Whenever more power is required it draws gasoline form the vehicle. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape use this technology. The Toyota Prius has been a very successful vehicle.
The second type of combination is the electric assist where the vehicle is run using gasoline. The electric motor steps in to enhance the power when the vehicle is required to negotiate steep climbs or is to move at high speeds. The Honda Civic Hybrid falls in this category.
The major advantage of the technology is greater fuel economy and reduced emissions thereby contributing to a greener earth. Energy is recaptured during braking and used in other forms. The engine shuts down on traffic stops and during idling. This gives a much better performance and increased mileage. This could well be one of the solutions to saving the earth from a disaster.