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A Look At a Hybrid


Many hybrid technologies out there can help drivers "go green." With advancing knowledge, many more are expected in coming years. There are already hybrid vehicles out on the market already. One of them is the Toyota Prius. Let's look at what goes into it.


  • It is important to know that hybrid vehicles use draw power from both a battery and an engine. The hybrid is propelled using a lower power engine and utilizes the power of the battery when harsher conditions arise. The Prius uses regenerative braking; this converts the kinetic energy from the use of brakes in electrical energy. This is stored in the battery for later use.
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  • The Prius engine is called an internal combustion engine. This is defined as an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer occurs in its combustion chamber. This causes heat to create gas from the high temperatures and pressure, which then expand. The expanding gases cause the various components of the engine to move and function. The Prius uses the Atkinson-cycle engine, which by not allowing a power stroke to be longer than a compression stroke, increases effectiveness at the expenditure of the muscle gas-guzzling engines generate. This is where the battery steps in.
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  • The Prius uses a Hybrid Synergy Drive. This causes many of the car functions to be replaced with an electromechanical system. This system will automatically allocate fuel-efficient maneuvers in various situations without the driver even knowing. This system will shut off the engine when idle, on a decline and reversing for maximum fuel efficiency.
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  • The Prius was designed with a Kammback car body style. The teardrop shape of this style is defined by the car slowly lowering towards the tail, and then coming to an abrupt halt at the end of the vehicle. This gives the car better aerodynamics with a reduced wind resistance.
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  • The Toyota Prius stores its fluids in a vacuum flask. This thermal compartment keeps its contents warmer or cooler than the external environment to maximize vehicle warm-up and cool-down times.
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  • Through using aluminum instead of steel for the engine components, the Toyota Prius weight is dropped significantly. It is known that a lower weight does well for fuel economy.


That is the inner-workings of the Toyota Prius in a nutshell. Hybrid technologies are continuing to advance, so only expect more in the coming years!