Honda Insight

The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda in its first generation as a three-door hatchback from model years 2000 to 2006. The original Insight employed hybrid electric engine technology, optimized aerodynamics and a lightweight aluminum structure to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions. The Insight was introduced in 1999, two years after the Toyota Prius.

The Honda Insight was a subcompact hatchback 3,945 mm (155.3 in) in length with a wheelbase of 2,400 mm (94.5 in) a height of 1,355 mm (53.3 in) and a width of 1,695 mm (66.7 in). The Insight was only available as a two-seater. Only three different trims were available: a manual transmission without air-conditioning, a manual transmission with air-conditioning, and a continuously variable transmission with air-conditioning. Although produced until 2006, the only major change was the introduction of a trunk mounted, front controlled, multiple CD changer.

The gasoline engine is a 70 hp (52 kW/71 PS), 1-liter, 3-cylinder unit providing lean burn operation with an air fuel ratio that can reach 25.8 to 1 [1]. The electrical motor assist adds in another 10 kW (13 hp) when called on, and similarly provides significant deceleration when used in regenerative mode for braking. (This both improves fuel efficiency and also dramatically extends the lifetime of brakes). When the car is not moving, for example, at a stop light, the engine shuts off.

The Insight's engine won the International Engine of the Year award for 2000, and continued to hold the "Sub-1 liter" size category for the next six years. The Insight was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2001.

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a Hybrid Electric Mid-Size Car developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than 40 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the 2008 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S. The UK Department for Transport also reported the Prius is tied as the third least CO2-emitting vehicle on sale in the UK.

The Toyota Prius have released 3 model over 1997 to 2008. Those 3 models are NHW10, NHW11 and the latest NHW20.

The Toyota Prius - NHW10 Model

The first Prius, model NHW10, went on sale in December 1997. It was sold only in Japan, though it has been imported privately to the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Many of these cars are now being exported as second-hand vehicles to New Zealand and other countries.

The Toyota Prius - NHW11 Model

The 2001–2003 Prius for the United States market was powered by a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder gasoline engine, a permanent magnet AC electric motor, and a 274-volt nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack. In the United States, the NHW11 was the first Prius to be sold. The Prius was marketed between the smaller Echo and the larger Corolla.

The Toyota Prius - NHW20 Model

The Prius was completely redesigned into a mid-size liftback which is between the Corolla and the Camry in size. The new model is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version which has more aerodynamic body resulted. The new Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) uses an all-electric compressor for cooling. Combined with a smaller and lighter NiMH battery, the NHW20 is more powerful and more efficient than the NHW11.

4 Main Reason to Buy a Hybrid Car

Many people have the concern about global warming and oil crisis at this time. These people also wanted to take some part to solve those crises by having an Environmentally Friendly Cars or Hybrid Car. This hybrid car surely become the best option both for saving oil deposit and reduces emission gas. By reducing oil consumption this type of car absolutely give the user economic benefit while also give environmental benefit because of emission reduction. Beside all of the benefit of hybrid car, many people still think if this hybrid car is too expensive to afford. However if they just consider the advantage of hybrid car, they should not said like that. I'm trying to define some reason why we should choose hybrid car, here they are :

Finance and Economic

As we all know Hybrid car can be operated by fuel and electric power. One of the advantages of hybrid cars is that the feature called "regenerative braking". Since a hybrid car works using both electric power and fuel power, each can function by itself or conjunction, depending on which is stronger at the time of use. This means that both engines complement each other and do not simply bog one when one of them becomes weaker.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

Hybrid cars are electrically operated and able to function well and consistently at any motor speed. This is a contrast aspect compare to conventional gas-powered engines, which tend to produce less power in low speed. Hybrid cars do not need to use transmissions to make their engines run at full capacity even at reduced speeds.

Ease and Convenience

Hybrid cars are part battery powered so they do not create huge holes on the pocket, compares to users of traditional cars who feel the pain of the continuing oil price increases. Most hybrid cars, particularly the ones that are made in Japan, are also more compact and lightweight, making them easier to maneuver on the road. Other models, particularly those by American and European car makers also do not deviate from the stylish designs their regular counterparts adopt, so users don't have to feel they are being left out in the style department.

Sustainability

Hybrid cars are relatively new product so the contribution over clean environment can't be seen in immediate time. Over the time in the future, maybe in the next generations of our children we will be thankfully for Hybrid Cars, for having a better healthy world.



That's it. 4 things come in my mind when I think about Hybrid Car. Perhaps there are more advantage of Hybrid Car that you can add. Enjoy your opinion....Cheers.

Hybrid Car

A hybrid car or hybrid electric vehicle is a hybrid vehicle which combines a conventional propulsion system with a rechargeable energy storage system. This combination was made to achieve better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle. It includes a propulsion system additional to the electric motors, to be not hampered by range from a charging unit like a battery electric vehicle.

Modern mass-produced hybrid car prolong the charge on their batteries by capturing kinetic energy via regenerative braking. Some Hybrid car also can use the internal combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical motor generator to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle.

Many Hybrid Car reduce idle emissions by shutting down the internal combustion engine at idle and restarting it when needed as a "start-stop system". Hybrid Car engine is smaller than a non-hybrid petroleum fuel vehicle and may be run at various speeds, providing more efficiency.

Hybrid Car became widely available to the public in the late 1990s with the introduction of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. HEVs are viewed by some automakers as a core segment of the future automotive market. Futurist magazine recently included hybrid electric vehicles as cars of the near future.

Automotive hybrid technology became successful in the 1990s when the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius became available. These vehicles have a direct linkage from the ICE to the driven wheels, so the engine can provide acceleration power.

The Prius has been in high demand since 2004. Newer designs have more conventional appearance and are less expensive, often appearing and performing identically to their non-hybrid counterparts while delivering 40% better fuel efficiency. The Honda Civic Hybrid appears identical to the non-hybrid version, for instance, but delivers about 50 mpg–U.S. (4.7 L/100 km / 60.1 mpg–imp). The redesigned 2004 Toyota Prius improved passenger room, cargo area, and power output, while increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. The Honda Insight, while not matching the demand of the Prius, stopped being produced after 2006 and has a devoted base of owners. In 2004, Honda also released a hybrid version of the Accord but discontinued it in 2007 citing disappointing sales.