Improved transportation systems make it easier for
us to go places as often as we like. Vehicles such
as automobiles are an important part of these systems.
However, the use of vehicles has a down side; they
contribute to air pollution and the depletion of natural
resources. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are one
solution to this problem.
Conventional automobile engines burn gasoline, a fuel
made from petroleum (oil). As a by-product, gasoline
engines produce harmful gases called emissions. Automobile
emissions are a major cause of air pollution.
In some areas, laws require that automakers reduce
automobile emissions. One way to do this is to burn
less gasoline per mile traveled. Some vehicles available
today can travel 40 to 45 miles per gallon of gasoline.
Another way to reduce emissions is with electric vehicles.
They do not burn fuel and therefore do not produce
emissions. However, all-electric vehicles are not
yet practical for long-distance use. Most are powered
by batteries. They can only go 80 miles or so before
the batteries need to be recharged. Recharging can
take up to eight hours.
HEVs provide a combination of gasoline engines and
electric motors. These vehicles can travel up to 70
miles per gallon of gasoline. They produce one-half
the emissions of conventional vehicles.
How do HEVs compare to conventional vehicles? How
do government programs influence the design and use
of these vehicles? In this WebQuest, you will explore
the topic of HEVs and find the answers to these and
other questions.
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Your job in this WebQuest is to discover what makes HEVs different from conventional vehicles. You will explore the advantages of these vehicles and the reasons they are becoming more attractive to consumers. Finally, you will answer a set of questions about HEVs to demonstrate what you have learned.
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Read through the following questions. Then research the Internet sites that are listed after them. As you explore each site, look for answers to the questions. Keep a record of the sites where you find answers.
Questions about Hybrid Electric Vehicles
- Why is it important to improve fuel economy
(traveling more miles per gallon of gas)? Describe
at least two reasons.
- Compare two HEVs from the following: Toyota Prius,
Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, or the Ford Escape
Hybrid. Include information about cost, gas mileage,
and emissions.
- An important part of HEV systems is regenerative
braking, used to recharge the batteries. Describe
what happens during the regenerative braking process.
- In the past, government programs promoted the
development of HEVs. Now the U.S. government encourages
their use by providing tax deductions for people
who buy approved models. What is the amount of the
tax deduction for this year?
- Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are a new type of transportation
technology under development. FCVs use electric
motors and create their own electricity. What are
the benefits of FCVs expected to be?
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Look at the web sites given here to find the information
that will enable you to answer questions about hybrid
electric vehicles.
- www.fueleconomy.gov.
Visit this U.S. Department of Energy site to learn
how hybrid electric vehicles work. To consider the
environmental impact of fuel-burning vehicles, select
Why is Fuel Economy Important? For a performance
comparison of HEVs, select Compare Side-by-Side.
For information about research on fuel cells, go
to Other Advanced Technologies.
- How
Hybrid Cars Work. Go to this howstuffworks.com
site to learn all about hybrid cars. Click on Hybrid
Efficiency to find out how regenerative braking
helps an HEV recharge its batteries.
- Ford
Escape Hybrid. Find out about Ford's hybrid
sport utility vehicle (SUV). Click on Hybrid Technology
to explore the technology used for this SUV, including
regenerative braking.
- Honda
Civic Hybrid. Visit this site to learn about
Honda’s Civic Hybrid. It contains information
on pricing, gas mileage, specifications, and engineering.
• Toyota
Prius. Visit this site to learn about Toyota’s
Prius. The site provides information on prices.
Also, go to Prius in Depth for information about
fuel cost savings, etc.
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In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve
become informed about hybrid electric vehicles and
their benefits. You have seen how government programs
influence the design and use of vehicles. You have
developed research skills as you explored the Web
sites given and identified information to answer the
questions. Would you recommend that people buy HEVs?
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