Hybrid Electric Vehicle Benefits
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) provide benefits to consumers, fleets, and the nation. These advanced vehicles cut fuel use and costs while maintaining performance, protecting public health and the environment, and increasing U.S. energy security.
Cutting Fuel Use and Costs while Maintaining Performance
Hybrid electric vehicles can drive 40 to 70 miles on one gallon of gasoline, much farther than a conventional vehicle. Compare the fuel economy of available HEVs using the Fuel Economy.gov or HybridCARS.com Web sites.
Hybrid electric vehicles are cost competitive with similar conventional vehicles. What cost premiums there are for HEVs can be offset by fuel cost savings and tax incentives. Evaluate the costs of HEVs versus similar gasoline vehicles using the HEV Cost Calculator. HEVs have performance and safety characteristics comparable to conventional vehicles.
Unlike in electric vehicles, the batteries in HEVs do not need to be plugged in to recharge. They are recharged by regenerative braking and onboard generators. However, there are benefits to driving a vehicle that must be plugged in. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can produce even better fuel economy than today's HEVs!
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
Hybrid electric vehicle emissions vary depending on the vehicle and its configuration. In general, HEVs have lower emissions than conventional vehicles of the same class because the electric motor offsets how much the internal combustion engine is used. In addition, HEVs have the potential to operate in electric-only mode. In this mode, the vehicle operates with no emissions, which is optimal in congested areas and where emissions are not tolerated.
An HEV's advanced control software can easily manage the engine's operating characteristics, which enables the vehicle to be more efficient and pollute less. The engine can be downsized because the motor/battery helps power the vehicle, and the engine can be turned off during non-use times, such as at stops or while coasting. The engine also can operate more smoothly, which decreases power spikes that cause the engine to use more fuel and produce more pollution. Finally, an HEV powertrain can directly power electric vehicle components, for example using the electric motor instead of hydraulic power for steering, which further increases efficiency. Use the HEV Cost and Emissions Calculator to compare HEV and conventional vehicle emissions.
Increasing Energy Security
The United States imports more than 60% of its petroleum, two thirds of which is used to fuel vehicles in the form of gasoline and diesel. The demand for petroleum imports is increasing. With much of the worldwide petroleum reserves located in politically volatile countries, the United States is vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Because HEVs have higher fuel economies than conventional vehicles, they use less petroleum for fuel. HEVs also could be designed to use renewable and domestically produced alternative fuels, further decreasing U.S. reliance on imported petroleum.