2008 Hybrid Leads in Fuel Efficiency

GM Two-Mode Technology

2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid In 2008, hybrid vehicles are expected to claim 2.5% - 2.8% market share of new vehicles sold in the U.S.A.  The 2008 Toyota Prius hybrid again leads the pack accounting for 50% of all hybrids sold.  This over-achieving fuel efficient vehicle is a gas/electric hybrid, also referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV).  The Prius recovers energy from the braking system when the brakes are applied and uses that energy to charge a battery.

Best Selling 2008 Hybrid Cars: Toyota Prius Toyota Camry Honda Civic Toyota Hylander Ford Escape

Many other car manufacturers, including Honda, Ford and Chevy, marketed fuel efficient hybrids in 2008 with limited success.  But their efforts continue as the industry goes green.  A spokesman for GM recently predicted that 4 out of 5 cars sold in the year 2020 will be fuel efficient hybrids as a result of increasingly tougher emissions standards.

Toyota is expected to continue leading other manufacturers in fuel efficient automobiles over the next few years.  Currently Toyota uses Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries in the Prius and other 2008 Hybrids.   Long term Toyota will be introducing lighter materials (carbon fibre and aluminum) and plug-in Lithium-Ion batteries with a goal of achieving 90 mpg.  One advantage of plug-ins is that they can be charged at night when electricity demand is low.

2009 Hybrid Reviews: Nissan Altima Toyota Highlander Toyota Camry Honda Civic Chevy Malibu Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra Trucks Cadillac Escalade SUV Dodge Durango / Chrysler Aspen

Hybrids have no specific advantage for highway driving and in some cases fuel efficiency may be slightly lower than for traditional vehicles.  The fuel advantage being seen today above 40 mph is a result of advanced powertrain designs, not the direct result of hybrid technology itself. Hybrid Terminology For 2008 Hybrid Synergy Drive Hybrid Synergy Drive is a refinement of the original Toyota Hybrid System (THS) used in the 1997–2003 Toyota Prius.  The name was changed to accommodate usage outside the Toyota brand.  Toyota describes HSD-equipped vehicles as having E-CVT (Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission). Two-Mode Hybrid System Most 2008 hybrids do a good job in stop and go traffic but not highway usage.  The Two-Mode system increases fuel efficiency above 40 mpg by use of a re-designed automatic transmission.  GM has introduced this technology on the Chevrolet tahoe and GMC Yukon 2008 hybrids with more models to be converted over in 2009.   The 2009 Chrysler Aspen hybrid will also include Two-Mode.  Integrated Motor Assist Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is Honda's hybrid car terminology, first introduced on the Insight in 1999.   It uses an electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission.  The implementation employs a parallel drivetrain. Super-Capacitor Hybrid A variation of the gas/electric design is being developed by BMW. Instead of using a stack of rechargeable batteries, BMW is investigating use of super-capacitors, making the car lighter, faster and more fuel efficient. As with the original hybrid concept, energy is recovered by regenerative braking. But instead of charging batteries, super-capacitors are charged instead. The capacitors store less power but unlike rechargeable batteries, all 100% of what is stored can be utilized.   A 20% improvement in fuel efficiency has been reported with this technology. Micro-Hybrid The micro-hybrid is an initiative similar to the HEV, but without the large battery. The micro-hybrid, also called “stop-start”, causes the engine to stop idling during car slow down and stop conditions. This fuel efficient technology saves an estimated 5% - 15% for city driving and comes with a much lower price tag than full blown hybrids. Stop-start was introduced by Peugeot-Citroën on the Citroën C3 in 2004 and will be installed on most Peugeots and Citroëns in the EU on or around 2010. One big advantage of the micro-hybrid is that it is easier to implement and less expensive than other hybrid technologies.  It is now also being combined with other fuel efficient hybrid technologies. --------       2008 Hybrid Leads in Fuel Efficiency by Steve Auger       --------

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Comments

[Melinda]

I wanted to thank you for this great article (which I dugg by the way). I found this to be extremely helpful. I just wandered onto your site today and here was the information I had been looking for which compares all of the latest models of hybrids (I am in the market for a new car!).

Great article! Thank you for posting it.

Melinda

[Johan Young]

Great article. Same with your article, i'm agree that prius in number one, esp. prius third generation. They've atkinson cycle, intelegent parking, mode 3, 1000 patents and many more. Prius is the most very efficient hybrid cars.