2012 Hybrid Vehicle Buyers Guide Includes Specs, Prices and Comparisons Of Hybrid Vehicles Sold In North America

How a Hybrid Vehicle Works

SEE: All Hybrids Sold In North America Ranked By MSRP
SEE: All Hybrids Sold In North America Ranked By Combined MPG
SEE: All Hybrids Sold In North America Ranked By Horsepower
SEE: All Hybrids Sold In North America Ranked By Passenger Capacity
SEE: Hybrid Vehicle News Archive 1996-2012
COMPARE: Total Ownership Costs (1-5 years, by State) of Hybrids Vs. Gasoline Vs. Diesel Models.

2012 HYBRIDS

The trendiest vehicles on the road today are hybrids, cars and trucks powered by drive-trains that use both internal combustion engines, and electric motors for propulsion or extended range electric generation.

The two current strategies are "full hybrids", which can operate under internal combustion power only, electric power only, or a combination of the two, and "light hybrids", which use an electric motor to aid the internal combustion engine when necessary. New to the hybrid scene are "Plug-ins" which carge the vehicles battereies from various electric sources and in effect extend the electric only range.

Toyota has the best-known full hybrid system, used in its Prius, Camry and Highlander Hybrids, and offers its Lexus RX450h, CT 200h and other models that use the Toyota system, which has also icensed its hybrid technology to several other manufacturers.

Honda has gone for a simpler light hybrid system for its Insight and Civic Hybrid models; Nissan offers its Altima as a Hybrid and Infiniti it M35h. For 2012 Hyundai offers the Sonata as a hybrid.

GM continues to offer a variety of Hybrid models, Chevrolet's Volt, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Buick LaCrosse, GMC Sierra and Yukon Denali.

For 2012 Ford offers its Fusion and Escape (but not in 2013)as Hybrids, with more Hybrid models announced for 2013, and Lincoln is offering hybrids as well.

There are many new hybrid models this year coming from BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

To see them all and find each hybrid's specs, costs, comparisons just click on the links above.

Hybrid Vehicles Increase Gas-saving Options for Consumers

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include

Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.