The Basics

• HEV History: How HEV history began a revolution toward “green” cars.
• How HEVs Work: Computers switch back and forth between gas and electric power to make these HEVs truly “smart” cars.
• HEV Technology: What hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are, their advantages, key components and their future.
• HEV Recommendation Panel Report: An Indiana University panel recommends how we can increase HEV knowledge and usage in the United States. (pdf)
• U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Forecast to 2030: HEVs constitute just over three percent of vehicle sales in the United States. This report forecasts that lithium-ion batteries will replace conventional hybrid electric vehicle batteries to provide for longer drives and greater consumer satisfaction. (pdf)
• Hybrid Electric Vehicle Primer: There are two HEV designs: mild and full hybrids. The way they combine power is through the common parallel hybrid or through the series design, most common in plug-in HEVs.
• HEV Fuel Cells: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the research and development arm of the hybrid electric vehicle industry, getting HEVs to the marketplace.
• Hybrid Structure: Take a look at the parts of an HEV.
• Stepping Out with HEV: Hybrid electric vehicle technology is called “step-out” technology as it utilizes technology already in place—there’s no need to invent something totally new.
• Plug-in HEVs: The benefits of owning PHEVs include battery prices, projected energy costs and long-term cost recovery.
• Pollutant Overview: The Environmental Protection Agency’s take on how PHEVs reduce gas emissions and how they later will be more cost-effective as technology upgrades emerge.
• The California Cars Initiative: Converting hybrids to plug-in hybrids is an expensive process—up to $13,000 and mostly are available for America’s best selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius.
• Electric Glossary: The Electric Auto Association’s electric vehicle glossary includes hybrid definitions.
• The Climate Lab on PHEVs: Compare the new PHEV features and benefits to conventional gasoline vehicles—there are some limitations.

Real Concerns, Real Hybrid Owners

• Who's Got Hybrids: Bill Nye, the Science Guy, takes you for a behind the scenes look at real people who own HEVs.
• Family Hybrid Shoot-Out: The National Motorists Association puts to the test HEVs to see which ones are family-friendly.
• 2012 Hybrid Vehicle Comparison: Select up to four vehicles to compare estimated city and highway mileage, annual fuel cost, air pollution and carbon footprint scores.
• Hybrid Details: Learn about HEV power systems and their benefits.
• Impact Study: Although HEVs lower tailpipe emissions, the emissions from creating the HEVs make an environmental impact. Plug-in HEVs may allay some of the concern.
• IRS Hybrid News: Past news releases, legal guidance and fact sheets from the Internal Revenue Service on HEVs.
• Student's Guide to Hybrids: Help teach the next generation about transportation energy basics and hybrid vehicles.
• Hybrids or Electric Cars?: See the benefits of full electric cars so that you can make an informed choice to go hybrid or totally electric.
• International Battery Seminar 2007: This report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory details the battery requirements and cost-benefit analyses for PHEVs. (pdf)
• Energy Storage: San Diego State University College of Engineering drafted conceptual and final designs for viable electrical energy storage systems for HEVs.
• Ecological HEV Advantages: Comparison among the Honda HEV, a popular mid-sized Honda and an SUV shows the differences between annual fuel cost and greenhouse gas emissions.
• HEV Vehicle Dynamics: Class notes from the University of Colorado at Boulder regarding fuel economy standards, HEV dynamics and traction power requirements with equations that detail power and performance.
• Lithium-ion Batteries: Use the calculator to find out how long a lithium-ion battery would last in a hand-held video game—then realize why HEV makers want to use them in their vehicles.
• Powering Up with a Smart Grid?: Could sharing electrons be the wave of the future? If you don’t use all your plug-in HEV battery energy, can you just “de-charge” it back into the U.S. power grid system to help meet energy demand? This is an interesting question considering the aging power grid system in the U.S.
• Economic Advantages of HEVs: Expensive to buy, cheap to use? An HEV averages $5,000 above the cost of their gasoline counterparts.
• Hybrid Fact Sheet: Road testing HEVs and plug-in HEVs: will the plug-ins give better gas mileage?

Additional Hybrid Resources

• Alternative Energy: Energy resources from battery dealers to information about solar water heaters.
• Government Resources: A collection of some government resources and a handful of others that pertain to electric drive vehicles.
• Green Sanctuary: Rethink transportation with these articles and studies about energy efficient cars.
• Small Actions, Big Impact: Users of this site share their home initiatives. One chooses to drive a Prius and shares her experiences.
• CirKits: Dealer of circuits for solar lighting systems.
• Elektryczne: A collection of car manufacturer resources and car articles.
• Environment: A brief article on Light Electric Vehicles with some great resources.
• Plug In Hybrids: Links to information on plug-in hybrid electric cars.
• Education and Learning Opportunities: Video, radio and text resources about energy solutions and sustainability.
• Show and Say: Additional resources pertaining to hybrid cars.