It is learned that students of the Mechanical Engineering department of Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi, have developed a hybrid vehicle in order to bridge the gap between conventional vehicles and electric vehicles while reaping the advantages of both systems. The price of petrol is rising every single day. At present, the price of petrol in Goa is Rs 82.07. Electricity in Goa also does come at a price. Hence it appears that a hybrid vehicle is the best bet to save on fuel. A hybrid vehicle combines at least one electric motor with an engine to move the car and its system recaptures energy via regenerative braking. At times, the electric motor does all the work, and sometimes it is the engine and at times they even work together. The result is less petrol used and hence better fuel economy. Adding electric power can also boost the performance of the vehicle. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine. Car companies use different hybrid designs to accomplish different missions, ranging from maximum fuel savings to keeping the vehicle’s cost as low as possible. The hybrid vehicle also makes a difference in the reduction of carbon footprint. The government needs to encourage the citizens to go for hybrid vehicles as it has a lot of advantages besides fuel efficiency and reduction in air pollution.
