Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technologies

The future demands efficient use of our energy resources, less emission production, and low use of carbon based fuels. The electric and hybrid vehicle technologies attempt to take advantage of large storage batteries, and charging systems reliant on either coal, natural gas, nuclear, or solar power. The devil is always in the details, because there is no such thing as free energy. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The electric generators, that power the wheels, or turned by the gasoline engine to charge the high voltage battery, require energy to turn the rotor inside the collector of electrons, the stator.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe major automotive systems and how they interrelate to each other.

2. Describe how electric and hybrid vehicles basically work.

Learning Activities:

1. Read the articles and web links.

2. Complete the chapter quiz.