Question

Your campus bus transit corporation is considering switching its fleet from gasoline to hybrid. From the systems perspective, what advice would you give?

Answer 1

A hybrid vehicle is the vehicle that uses two or more distinct types of power, such as internal combustion engine to drive an electric generator that powers an electric motor (like in diesel-electric trains using diesel engines to drive an electric generator that powers an electric motor, and submarines that use diesels when surfaced and batteries when submerged.) Other means to store energy include pressurized fluid in hydraulic hybrids.

The basic principle of a hybrid vehicles is that the different engines work better at different speeds. For an example the electric motor is more efficient at producing torque or turning power. The combustion engine is better for maintaining high speed which is better than the typical electric motor. Switching from one propulsion to the other at the proper time while speeding up will be advantageous in terms of energy efficiency.

Advantages of Hybrid vehicle

• They are better easy on environment. Major advantage of a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles consume less fuel which in turn emit less. Hence, they are very helpful for our environment.
• They are cheaper than plugin hybrids (electric vehicles). Many hybrids are extremely affordable and they are also more affordable than plugin hybrids. So, it will reduce the pollutant and at the same time cost.
• They recharge as you drive. A conventional hybrid has regenerative braking, which means the battery recharges as you drive. This means that you don’t have to stop the vehicle to charge it up, it simply charges while driving.
• Reduced fuel dependence. With their superb efficiency, hybrids help reduce the nation's dependence on oil and keep the price of gasoline in check.

• Financial Incentives. The federal government provides a tax credit to residents of any state that own or lease a hybrid vehicle. There are also some states, like California, which offer cash rebates to any of its residents who purchase or lease a hybrid vehicle.

Disadvantages of Hybrid vehile

• 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.
• They are not as environmentally friendly as plug-in hybrids or electric cars. If you are looking for the best way to reduce pollution then you might need to consider a plug-in hybrid or an electric car. They are more environmentally friendly as they emit fewer emissions or none at all in the case of an electric car.
• Servicing and maintenance charges can be higher. Because there are two engines and there is quite a bit of technology in those engines, maintenance costs can be higher.
• Low performance. As they use the dual engines, the gasoline engine is smaller resulting that it is not as powerful.
• Electrocution Risk on Accidents. The batteries of hybrid vehicles have a higher amount of voltage in them. While very rare, if you get into an accident, this voltage could injure or even kill you inside the vehicle. It could also make it harder for other people to get you out of the vehicle.
• Poorer Handling: A hybrid car houses an gasoline powered engine, a lighter electric engine and a pack of powerful batteries. This adds weight and eats up the extra space in the car.

Conclusion

Considering the point that the vehicle is used as the campus transit most of the disadvantages listed here would not affect much. For example performance and high speed accidents are not of much concern of an campus vehicle. Eventhough hybrid vehicles are expensive option, the advantages offered by it will balance it (mainly its operational cost is less). Hence I reccomend the purchase of the hybrid vehicle for the campus transit purpose.