Hybrid Cars – What Makes Them Hybrids?

The auto market has been devastated, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t pockets that aren’t still doing well. The most popular is undoubtedly the modern hybrid. It seems every car company is kicking them out, but do people really understand what they are?

The modern hybrid gets its name because it is comprised of two power sources. The first is an internal combustion engine, the basic power plant used in 99 percent of vehicles on the road for the last 80 years or so. The second power source is an electrically energy source. The power plants are controlled by a computer that switches between the two as needed.

A car that does not have these two power sources is not a hybrid. Flex fuel cars, for instance, run on gasoline or 85 percent ethanol fuels. While there are two fuel sources, the mechanism that produces power is still an internal combustion engine.

As such, the car is simply a flex fuel vehicle. You might be driving one and not even realize it!

What about electric cars? The Chevy Volt is being touted in advertisements even though GM hasn’t come close to figuring out the battery issue inherent in all electrical vehicles. Regardless, the electric car is not a hybrid because it is purely an electric car. There is no internal combustion engine because gas is not used. Of course, coal is being burned at a plant to provide electricity to the grid, but nobody seems interested in discussing that!

So, are we being overly technical in defining what is and what is not a hybrid? Absolutely! There is a reason, however. Each classification [flex, hybrid, electrical] comes with different issues that need to be debated. It is a fine point with big ramifications.

Each power source comes with ramifications whether they be consumption of oil as a fuel source or environmental in the form of pollution and greenhouse gases.

Honda Hybrid Car Kent

The Honda Insight is Honda’s first ever electric hybrid vehicle; it was the first to use Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology. The first Insight came out in 1999 and was produced until 2006.

The second generation Insight came out in 2009 as a five door hatchback, it was available for £15,490 making it the cheapest Hybrid vehicle in the market, in fact it was a whole £2,000 cheaper than the Toyota Prius.

The Honda Insight has a 1.3 litre petrol engine and a battery powered motor; it is very nippy around town and on motorways. It does take a little while to reach cruising speeds but once there it is fine. The Insight has a set of economic driving guidelines and an Econ switch which cuts torque and adjusts the throttle settings.

The ride is comfortable around town especially with the light steering, on the motorway though you do feel the lack of response through the wheels.

On smooth roads the Insight is very stable but on rougher roads you do feel the front end dip into potholes.

The Honda Hybrid car in Kent is very quiet, the engine and gearbox produce minimal noise. Wind noise is not a problem in the Insight even at motorway speeds but, the engine does kick up a bit of fuss when you put your foot down. The start stop technology does get annoying as it hesitates each time before it restarts.

Overall the Hybrid Insight is a good car, priced very competitively. Consumer reviews have been very positive and there have been no recalls or major customer dissatisfaction reports.