Ford Hybrids and Other Eco-Friendly Cars
Ford has already introduced two full hybrid vehicles in the market. These are the Ford Escape hybrid, which is the very first hybrid SUV to be introduced commercially, and the Mercury Mariner Ford hybrid.
Like its competitors such as Toyota, Honda and GM, Ford is also busy keeping up with the market. Aside from the two commercially available hybrid vehicles, they already have three more models that are expected to hit the market soon. The car maker has over 100 hybrid patent applications on the way.
Why Go Hybrid?
With hybrid cars, you can enjoy higher fuel efficiency, same or even enhanced comfort compared to conventional cars, a roomier vehicle and a performance that is incomparable. What is more exciting is that with every innovation that car manufacturers make with their hybrid models, they are usually able to offer them at a much lower price than the previous model.
The Escape Hybrid
The Ford Escape hybrid has been named the 11th greenest vehicle and has been offered with a price lower than the former models. It has added safety features and makes use of recycled materials. As with other hybrid car makers, environmental concerns have been a consideration in its design.
The Mercury Mariner
Another model of hybrid from Ford is the Mercury Mariner hybrid. This model is not as popular as the Ford Escape hybrid. It is not easy to find this model in the market. To purchase one, you have to directly order from Ford. This model was not the hit that it was expected to be. The good news is that Ford will offer this model at a lower price than the previous model.
Technology of Hybrids
Many car makers now use the full hybrid technology. It means that their hybrid products can run on both gasoline and electricity at the same time or choose between the two sources at a given time. They can run fully on gasoline or electricity depending on the terrain that the vehicle is traveling. Most city driving makes use of electricity. It is an efficient way to save gas when prices are soaring.
Some hybrid cars run by combining two electric motors to a gas engine. These gasoline engines are modified from running on Otto cycle to Atkinson cycle. This modification allows the vehicle to utilize electricity better. The engine will produce lower horsepower due to the less air and fuel, making the electric part more active. This feature is very efficient in city driving, allowing the user to save a lot on gasoline.
Variable Transmission Technology
Hybrid vehicles make use of the variable transmission technology called Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission or eCVT. This technology is responsible for the distribution of load between the gasoline engine and the electric motor. It allows the hybrids to perform very well on both on road and off road terrains. Regenerative braking technology is also used by these cars, allowing them to recover a lot of otherwise wasted energy, thus making fuel consumption more efficient.
Whether you're eying Ford hybrids or cars from other manufacturers like Honda and Toyota, you will find that the units that they offer might be a little more costly than with cars that run fully on gasoline, but in the long run, greater savings can be realized by their use of the more environmentally-friendly technology.
9:57 AM
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