Q. Is it really feasible to produce a car that offers advanced performance features while also preserving the environment?

A. YES! Ordinary powertrains waste energy at stoplights, during braking, and all other times the engine is not running at optimum speed under ideal load conditions. By reducing energy wastage and applying energy more efficiently, a hybrid system can simultaneously double fuel economy, slash emissions and deliver "fun to drive" performance.

How It Works

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STARTUP:		NORMAL:		HARD ACCELERATION:		DECELERATION/ BRAKING:
Only the electric motor is used for start-up and low to mid-range speeds.		When cruising, the engine and motor both drive the wheels: engine power is split between the wheels and an electric generator, which in turn drives the motor. Power allocation is controlled to maximize efficiency. As necessary, the generator also recharges the battery from surplus engine power.		The battery supplies additional energy to boost drive power, while the engine and motor provide smooth acceleration response.		The high-output motor acts as a high-output generator, driven by the car's wheels. This "regenerative braking system" recovers kinetic energy as electrical energy, which is stored in the high-performance battery.
... and it never needs to be plugged in for recharging.

What is a Hybrid System?

A hybrid system combines different power sources to maximize each one's strengths, while compensating for each other's shortcomings. A gasoline-electric hybrid system, for example, combines an internal combustion engine's high-speed power with the clean efficiency and low-speed torque of an electric motor that never needs to be plugged in for recharging.

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