How Hybrid Cars Work

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.

source: fueleconomy.gov

New technology to convert waste into petroleum

BANGALORE: A small-time Mumbai-based company claimed to have developed a technology to convert waste into petroleum fuels in a cost-effective manner and is set to commercialise it, already bagging an overseas customer.

Mumbai-based Sustainable Technologies & Environmetal Projects Pvt Ltd (STEPS), which has eight engineers and three scientists working for it, has come out with a caged catalyst unit for conversion of waste into petroleum fuels.

The technology is one of the gold winners of the Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme, which focuses on commercialisation of innovative Indian technologies.

The unit developed by the one-year-old company converts hydrocarbon-based materials, including plastics, auto fluff, bio-medical waste, slaughterhouse waste, animal fats, petroleum sludge, sewage, grass, organic matter and petroleum byproducts into liquid, gas and solid fuels.

STEPS director Raghavendra Rao T said that the company had just signed an agreement with Australian firm B100 Biofuels under which the latter would use the technology for conversion of agriculture waste.

"B100 Biofuels plan to set up very large biodiesel plants in the Far-East region. They are looking at this technology for conversion of agriculture waste, particularly waste coming from palm oil mills and agricultural fields," Rao said.

"They would like to convert the waste either into methane gas or liquid fuels so that they can power electrical needs to run the plant and also meet other social needs."

Rao said the company is in discussion with five-six overseas companies to clinch similar deals. "We see huge market."

According to him, prototypes of this technology has been tested in Far-East, Europe and India.

Source: www.economictimes.indiatimes.com