Hybrid Cars

Drew Tepper
What is a hybrid?

• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) include

both a combustion engine as well as an
electric motor.
• If we had better batteries, we would not
need hybrids at all.
• Hybrids can be implemented in many
kinds of vehicles.
Global-Warming: Still An Issue.

• Hybrids are not zero-emission vehicles.

• Will cut down emissions of global-warming
pollutants by a third to a half.
• Later models may cut these emissions
down by even more.
Why hybrids?

• Regenerative braking actually makes city driving

more economical than on the highway.
• Fuel efficiency is greatly increased (twice).
• Emissions are greatly decreased.
• Dependency on fossils fuels can be decreased.
• Hybrids can be run on alternative fuels as well.
• New materials can be implemented.
EPA at work

• Federal guidelines for emissions:

– Tier 1 took effect in 1997
– Tier 2 will phased-in beginning 2004.
• National LEV (NLEV): builds on the
California Emissions Standards until Tier 2
is implemented.
• LEV II: California Emissions Standards.
ULEV/SULEV

• Tier 1, TLEV, LEV, ULEV, SULEV, ZEV.

• CARB: California Air Resources Board.
• CO2 reductions not called for. Only HC,
CO, NOx.
• Cars can be certified Low Emissions
Vehicles but at the same time have high
fuel consumption.
Reductions
Tax Incentives

• ‘The IRS has determined that purchasers

of a new Honda Insight, Honda Civic
Hybrid or Toyota Prius are eligible for a
"Clean-Fuel" vehicle tax deduction of
$2,000. The current incentive is scheduled
to phase out in 2004-06. ‘

www.fueleconomy.gov/
Some EPA facts

• Every gallon of gasoline your vehicle burns

puts 20 pounds of CO2 into the
atmosphere.
• A 5 mpg difference in fuel economy
equates to about 2,800 pounds of CO2 a
year.

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles
Tons of greenhouse gas

• NLEV program does not take CO2 into

account but let’s see some numbers:
– Honda Insight: 3.4 t/yr.
– Honda Civic Hybrid: 3.9 t/yr.
– Toyota Prius: 4.0t/yr.
– Ford Explorer: 11.0 t/yr.
– Honda Civic: 5.7 t/yr. (calculated)
Honda Insight 2003

• Cost:
$19,080/$21,280
(MT/CVT)

MT: manual transmission

CVT: continuously variable transmission
 Honda Insight 2003
Horsepower 67(65)@5700 or 73(71)@5700 (with IMA)
Emissions Rating ULEV/SULEV
Power Output 13 hp/10 kW @ 3000 rpm
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
Battery 144V (120 cells @ 1.2V)
Length 155.1 inches
Curb Weight 1847/(1878) or 1967 lbs.

Mileage (City/Highway) 61/68 or 57/56 mpg

Tank Capacity 10.6 gal.
0 to 60 11.3/11.2 seconds

IMA: integrated motor assist system

Honda Civic Hybrid 2003

Cost: $19,550/$20,550 (MT/CVT)

Honda Civic Hybrid 2003
Civic DX Auto
$13,010
Horsepower 85@5700 or 93@5700 (with IMA) 115@4500
Emissions Rating ULEV ULEV
Power Output 13.4 hp @ 4000 rpm
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-  
MH) Battery 144V (120 cells @ 1.2V)  
Length 174.8 inches 174.6 inches
Curb Weight 2661/2732 lbs. 2500 lbs.
Mileage (City/Highway) 51/46 or 48/47 mpg 29/38 mpg
Tank Capacity 13.2 gal. 13.2 gal
0 to 60 11 seconds 8.4 seconds
Toyota Prius 2003

Cost: $20,480 CVT

Toyota Prius 2003
Horsepower 70@4500 (98 HP combined)

Emissions Rating SULEV

Power Output 44 hp/33 kW @ 1040-5600 rpm

Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Battery 273.6V (228 cells @ 1.2V)

Length 169.6 inches

Curb Weight 2765 lbs.

Mileage (City/Highway) 52/45 mpg

Tank Capacity 11.8 gal.

0 to 60 12.7 seconds
A note about Ford

• I believe Ford is behind in the Hybrid

world.
• The Hybrid Escape is due at the end of
2003 with 40/29 mpg as compared to
19/25 mpg.
• The Explorer: 239 HP, 4422 lbs., gets
17/21 mpg, and has a 22.5 gallon tank.
Tepper Fleet Consumption

• 33.3 t/yr. CO2

• Could be reduced to less than half if all
cars were hybrids.

www.fueleconomy.gov
Cars to come

• GM: Chevy Pickup 2004, Chevy Suburban

2004.
• Daimler-Chrysler: Dodge Ram Pickup
2005, Mercedes S-Class 2006.