Electric Hybrid Technology
So how does this technology work? Here's a simple explanation...
there are actually two engines - A gasoline-powered motor and an electric motor, which work individually and in combination with each other.
That's why these vehicles get up to 60 miles per gallon and are more environmentally friendly. The battery for the electric motor automatically
recharges whenever the driver slows down or brakes. The driver doesn't even have to plug the battery into anything.
That's right - no plug-in or charging stations necessary.
Here's some more info on how these two engines (hybrids) work together:
Starting or Backing Up: When the vehicle is going between 0 and 9mph, there is low engine demand and therefore the electric motor turns the car's wheels.
Cruising Speeds: At cruising speeds, highway, or city straightaway, the gas powers the wheels and recharges the batteries.
Full Acceleration: At full acceleration, additional electric power is drawn from the electric motor to obtain more power.
Decreasing Speed or Applying Brakes: Turning force of wheels makes electric motor operate as a generator and additional electricity is stored in the hybrid vehicle battery. This process is known as "regenerative braking".
Stopping: Gasoline engine automatically shuts off. However, in hybrid cars, both slower acceleration and deceleration will improve fuel efficiency, in fact, hybrid cars unlike their gas engine counterparts; actually get better mileage in stop-and-go traffic.
Don't worry. We will demonstrate this technology to every drivers ed student when they first get in the vehicle, but the most important thing to remember is there truly is no difference in the way these vehicles are driven versus normal gas-powered vehicles.
Going the Extra Mile... Without the Extra Gas
With the ever-prevalent pollution emitted by standard vehicles worsening our Greenhouse effect, the need for more efficient vehicles is a legitimate concern for today's driving world. This is especially true when it comes to driving schools that have an entire fleet of training vehicles running non stop, 14 hours a day. When putting over 1000 miles on the road each day, finding an environmentally conscious training solution should be a goal of any driving school. At Drivers Ed Direct, we've put these words into action by utilizing an entirely hybrid fleet, including Toyota Prius hybrids and hybrid SUVs. By using hybrid driver training vehicles, we've been able to realize the following environmental benefits:
- Not moving? Not using gas: Part of any driving school training curriculum involves significant portions of the lessons spent parked curbside discussing key driving concepts. While a hybrid Prius or Hybrid SUV idles, the gas motor automatically shuts off. Thus no gas is being burnt!
- Cutting Our Carbon Foot Print Nearly in Half: Inevitably any driving school fleet is going to drive hundreds of thousands of miles each year. That means using hybrid cars and hybrid SUV training vehicles can reduce our environmental impact by tens of thousand miles each year!
- A Teen Thinking Green? What better way to move environmental friendliness into the minds of today's youth than by having their first driving experience be in a Hybrid vehicle? Teaching students in eco-friendly vehicles gives them a chance to have a "hybrid experience" they may not otherwise get. In fact, several students and parents have decided to make a Hybrid vehicle purchase after experiencing driver training with us.
But don't take our word for it. Check out the Hybrid Impact Calculator fact sheet to see just how much more efficient our driver training fleet is versus the competition's inefficient standard training vehicles.
To find out more info about our behind the wheel driving school vehicles, please visit the following websites:
