Question

List and elaborates 5 advantages and disadvantages of hybrid engine for automotive application. Prepare a short essay of your finding.

Answer 1

Advantages of Hybrid Cars (Pros):-

Switching to a hybrid car has many advantages, a few of which we have highlighted below:

1. Environmentally Friendly: One of the primary reason public and private organizations are switching to hybrid vehicles is because they run cleaner and have more efficient gas mileage than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, making them environmentally friendly alternatives. The electric motor and the gasoline engine, when working together reduce fuel consumption, conserving energy.
2. Economical: In a bid to promote hybrid vehicles, the government has greenlighted several credits and incentives for those wishing to switch to a hybrid alternative. They are also subject to congestion charge exemptions and considerably fewer tax bills annually in addition to low fuel costs.
3. Less Fossil Fuel Dependent: With an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle runs cleaner and needs less fossil fuel, resulting in lower emissions and less fossil fuel dependency. A consequent reduction in gasoline prices will also be seen because of this.
4. Regenerative Braking System: The interesting thing about hybrid vehicles is that every time you apply the brakes while driving, the electric battery recharges a little. The energy releases as a result of this motion of applying the brakes are captured by an internal mechanism and used to recharge the battery, eliminating the need to stop periodically in order to recharge the battery on longer journeys.
5. Light Build: Lighter materials are used when manufacturing hybrid vehicles, which means they require less energy to run. Energy is also conserved due to the smaller size and lighter build of the engine.

Disadvantages of a Hybrid Car (Cons):-

With a whole host of advantages, there are a few disadvantages of hybrid cars as well, although they’re probably not what you assume they are. Most people assume that hybrid cars produce less power than regular cars which will make them non-ideal vehicles when driving up mountains or for towing, which is just not true. The disadvantages will vary based on what type of hybrid fuel your car utilizes. Some disadvantages are highlighted below:

1. Less Power: Hybrid cars use two independent engines, with the gasoline engine acting as the primary power source. Two engines in the car mean that neither the gasoline engine nor the electric motor is as big as they would be in conventional gasoline or electric vehicles. The result is less power being generated making the cars unsuitable for speed driving and acceleration.
2. Expensive to Purchase: The primary deterrent for many people is the high price of hybrid vehicles, costing an average of five to ten thousand dollars more than conventional vehicles. However, this is a one-time investment, saving you even more over the life of the vehicle.
3. Poorer Handling: Hybrid vehicles house more machinery than a regular vehicle, namely a gasoline engine, a light electric motor, and a bunch of batteries. Extra weight in vehicles reduces fuel efficiency so manufacturers cut down weight in order to counter this, but this results in a smaller engine, motor, and batteries and reduces support in the suspension and body.
4. High Maintenance Cost: Repair and maintenance of these vehicles may prove cumbersome because of the dual engines, continuous development in technology, and high maintenance costs. Since the use of hybrid cars as consumer vehicles is fairly new, it may not be the easiest task to find a mechanic with the required expertise.
5. High Voltage Batteries: In the event of an accident, the high voltage contained within the batteries can prove to be lethal. The presence of such a high voltage increases the risk of the passengers being electrocuted in the event of a major accident, and make the rescuers’ task more difficult.