Summary

Uncover the Technology behind Hybrids and Make an Intelligent Decision When Purchasing Your Next Vehicle
With one billion cars expected to be on the roads of the world in the near future, the potential for war over oil and the negative environmental effects of emissions will be greater than ever before. Now is the time to seriously consider an alternative to standard automobiles.

Exploring practical solutions to these problems, Hybrid Vehicles and the Future of Personal Transportation provides broad coverage of the technologies involved in manufacturing and operating hybrids. It reviews key components of hybrid and pure electric vehicles, including batteries, fuel cells, and ultracapacitors. The book also discusses both concept and production-bound hybrids as well as the economics and safety issues of hybrid ownership. In addition, the author supplies effective tips on how to save gasoline with conventional and hybrid automobiles.

Making the jargon of fuel-efficient vehicles accessible to a wide audience, this guide explains the history of hybrids, how they work, and their impact on the environment. It will help you make a sound decision concerning the purchase and operation of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Choice Review

The effect of energy usage on the environment is a major concern for the contemporary world. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) provide a partial solution to the problem by saving fuel and reducing emissions. This new work by Fuhs (emer., aeronautics and mechanical engineering, Naval Postgraduate School) covers technologies involved in the development, manufacturing, and operation of HEVs and related components at a very detailed level. Much of the content is written for readers who do not possess the essential technical background in this area. The book provides excellent information for a consumer to learn about almost every aspect of HEVs, including principles, safety, and maintenance. Technicians and service personnel will find it a useful reference source, and engineers entering the field may find it a helpful starting point to obtain information related to this emerging field. The casual writing style can be entertaining for nontechnical readers, but can be bothersome for highly skilled audiences. In addition, many of the elementary equations in the book often seemed unnecessary. The arrangement of the contents in the 22-chapter work appears rather random, which may sometimes distract readers. Summing Up: Recommended. Two-year technical program students, general readers, and practitioners. C. Mi University of Michigan Dearborn