Hybrid Automobiles: Research and Recent Advancements
Since the beginning of the 21st century, more and more people have expressed interest in owning hybrid automobiles. As a natural consequence, a good deal more effort is being put into research and development when it comes to the hybrid automobiles. In point of fact, each year there have been some significant and interesting advancements made in the area of technology and hybrid automobiles.
One of the latest technological innovations impacting hybrid automobiles involves the so-called “air hybrid” engine. Researchers at UCLA has been working on “air hybrid” engine technology over course of the past several years.
Air hybrid technology in hybrid automobiles does not differ that greatly from the technology associated with some elements of electric hybrid automobiles. One of the elements of electric hybrid automobiles involves the “recapture” of kinetic energy. The electric hybrid automobiles is augmented by an energy conversion and storage system that “captures” brake energy, stores it as electricity and releases the energy when it is needed to power the auto.
Conceptually, air hybrid technology is fundamentally fairly easy to understand. According to researchers working in this field of hybrid automobiles technology, air hybrid technology includes a valve design that allows the engine to not only burn fuel efficiency but additionally compresses and expands air during the braking phase of operation as well. The researchers advise that when the air is compressed, the air stores energy that is neither toxic nor explosive. When the air is expanded, the burst of energy that is thereby released is then used to accelerate the vehicle.
The UCLA experts and researchers working in this area of hybrid automobiles technology maintain that these developments can bring about significant fuel savings for drivers. Experiments performed at UCLA in regard to this area of hybrid automobiles technology suggests that air hybrid engine and fuel efficiency can be improved 64 percent in city driving and 12 percent in highway driving.
Another plus to the air hybrid system in development for hybrid automobiles is that it is believed that manufacturing costs associated with hybrid automobiles generally will be reduced using this new and seemingly more efficient technology.
Over the course of the next several years, more and more research centers are expected to continue work at redesigning hybrid automobiles and their attendant technology.
Get the facts before you invest in a hybrid vehicle!