EST FORM 4S

Read the passage below carefully to understand more about

HYBRID CARS.
When a vehicle combines two or more sources of power, then it is a hybrid. In fact, many would have
probably owned a hybrid vehicle at some point in their lives. For instance, a ‘mo-ped’ (a motorised pedal bike ),
is a type of hybrid because it combines pedal power with the power of a gasoline engine. Hybrid vehicles are
already commonly used. The locomotives that we see pulling trains are diesel-electric hybrids. Cities in the US
have diesel-electric buses. These buses can harness the electric power from overhead wires or run on diesel
when they are away from the wires. Giant mining trucks are mostly diesel-electric hybrids. Submarines are also
hybrid vehicles where some are diesel-electric and the more recent ones are nuclear-electric. When two or more
sources of power are combined that can directly or indirectly provide propulsion power for a vehicle, it is
termed a hybrid. When you cross a gasoline-powered car and an electric car – a gasoline-electric hybrid is born.
Hybrid cars contain the following components.

 Gasoline engine
The gasoline engine on a hybrid is smaller than normal cars. However, it uses advanced technologies
that reduce emissions and increase efficiency.

 Fuel tank
It is the energy storage device for the gasoline engine. Gasoline has a much higher energy density than
batteries do. For instance, it requires about 1 000 pounds of batteries to store as much energy as one gallon ( 7
pounds ) of gasoline.

 Electric motor
This component is sophisticated. Due to its advanced electronics, it is able to act as a motor as well as a
generator. This motor can draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car, but it can also slow down the car
and return the energy to the batteries; thus, acting as a generator.

 Generator
It is similar to an electric motor, but its role is to only produce electric power.

 The batteries
The batteries in a hybrid car are the energy storage devices, serving the electric motor. The gasoline in
the fuel tank can only power the gasoline engine. But, the electric motor in a hybrid car can put energy into the
batteries as well as draw energy from them.

 Transmission
The transmission or the gear system in a hybrid car performs the same basic functions as the
transmission in a conventional car.

You can combine the two power sources found in a hybrid car in different ways. One way is known as a
parallel hybrid. It has a fuel tank that supplies gasoline to the engine. Another source of power that is available
is a set of batteries that supplies power to an electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can turn on
the transmission at the same time and the transmission then turn the wheels.
Why the hybrid car? The reasons are twofold: to reduce emission and to improve the vehicle’s mileage.
A car that burns twice as mush gas to go a kilometre will contribute to approximately twice as much pollution.
This pollution can be removed by the emissions control equipment in the car. Therefore, by decreasing the fuel
consumption of the car, we are decreasing the emissions. Furthermore, carbon dioxide ( CO 2) is another type of
pollution that a car coughs up. Scientists suspect that CO2 contributes to global warming. For the moment, a
conventional car has no device to remove CO2 from the exhaust. Hence, the hybrid car could help reduce
pollution in our environment
Peragas Nadason /SMKK/27/1/05
 EST FORM 4S

A. Vocabulary

Fill in the box with the word below to match the meanings given

gasoline harness transmission termed

locomotive generator sophisticated storage device
coughs up components efficiency carbon dioxide

No. Meaning Word___________

1. the gear system that drives a machine ____________________________

2. petrol ____________________________

3. tap the energy from, get power from ____________________________

4. known as ____________________________

5. parts ____________________________

6. giving out smoke ____________________________

7. a part designed to store something ____________________________

( e.g. a fuel in a car )

8. complicated, not simple ____________________________

9. a part that provides electricity for a car ____________________________

10. a normal car, a traditional car ____________________________

11. performance (of a car ), in terms of power and fuel

consumption ____________________________

12. a type of pollution that car coughs up ____________________________

Peragas Nadason /SMKK/27/1/05

 EST FORM 4S
B. Understanding The Text

Answer the following questions

1. What is a hybrid?

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2. Why is the ‘mo-ped’ considered a hybrid?

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3. How is the gasoline engine in a hybrid car better than the one in a normal car?

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4. Explain the dual function of the ‘motor’ in a hybrid.

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5. The hybrid car can be said to be environment friendly. Why?

Peragas Nadason /SMKK/27/1/05

 EST FORM 4S
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Peragas Nadason /SMKK/27/1/05