Drivers are always looking for the most fuel-efficient car possible to purchase. The rising costs of gasoline are starting to make people look at other types of cars. Since there are a growing number of alternatives to gasoline cars, people are looking to hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel cars as suitable alternatives. But are these cars more efficient than gasoline cars?
Let’s explore the differences between hydrogen fuel cars, hybrid cars, and gasoline cars.
Hydrogen Fuel Cars
Hydrogen fuel cars use hydrogen fuel cells to generate power. There are various chemical reactions which take place in these fuel cells to create power for the vehicle. Each fuel cell contains oxygen and hydrogen, and it can produce power for an indefinite amount of time. The fuel efficiency of a fuel cell car is far greater than gasoline efficiency.
Fuel cells exist inside the engine of a hydrogen car. There is about a 64% rate of efficiency with each fuel cell. Compare this to the 20% conversion rate of gasoline energy, and you’ll notice a big difference. Overall, you can get up to 93 miles per gallon from a hydrogen car versus an average of 35 miles per gallon from a gasoline car. So, there is no doubt that hydrogen cars are more fuel efficient. The only problem is that only a limited number of charging stations exist. Fortunately, you don’t need to charge them very often.
Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars are the most popular alternative to gasoline cars. Since purely electric vehicles have a lot of limitations in terms of driving distance and the limited number of charging stations available, hybrid cars are suitable for people who do a lot of local driving. A hybrid car consists of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. When you drive at lower speeds, such as around your town or city, your car’s computer will activate the electric power to sustain your driving needs. But when you start driving at higher speeds, then your gasoline engine takes over and provides the power for that.
Of course, hybrid cars don’t eliminate carbon emissions completely, but they greatly reduce emissions because you’re not always relying on your engine to produce power. The electric motor power won’t produce emissions when it’s being used. This is a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting the environment and trying to move society away from fossil fuel dependency.
Gasoline Cars
Gasoline cars are the most common types of cars that everyone has driven before. An internal combustion engine is used inside of a gasoline car. This engine requires a mixture of gasoline fuel and air to be ignited within its internal combustion chamber. The ignition of this mixture creates the power needed to rotate the wheels underneath the vehicle and get it moving along on the road.
The electrical components of the vehicle are powered by a battery and alternator. An electric motor does not exist here. When the key is turned in the ignition, the battery sends an electric current to the starter motor. This causes the motor to crank the engine so that it can run on its own. Once this happens, the engine sends mechanical energy to the alternator where it gets converted into electrical energy for the other electrical components of the vehicle, such as the radio, air conditioner, and headlights.
Read also:
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Pros and Cons
- The Causes Water Coming Out from Car Exhaust Especially at Morning
- Synthetic Oil Interval between Changes
- 5 Symptoms of Oil Level is Too High in Your Car
- What Do the Numbers on Motor Oil Mean?
Conclusion
The most efficient and economical choice for most consumers would be the hybrid car. Unless you can afford a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and happen to live near their charging stations, the next best choice for fuel efficiency is a hybrid car. Not only can you save money on gasoline, but you can charge the car battery using an electrical outlet in your garage at home. You don’t need to go to a special charging station to charge your hybrid car battery.