Features of Hybrid SUV Models

Executive Summary by Tania Penwell

hybrid suvs

The hybrid sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are high performance vehicles that are compatible to using two distinct sources of power- the gasoline engine and the electric motor. The ‘milder’ hybrids are dependent primarily on the gas engine. They use a small electric motor/ generator to supplement this.

Hybrid SUV Models

Toyota and Lexus are providers of hybrid SUVs. Honda provides the mild hybrids. These are the ones that rely mainly on the gas engine while using a small electric motor or generator to supplement it. Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid are examples of strong hybrids which have a larger role ascribed for the electric motor.

Features and Functionalities of Hybrid SUVs

Usually it is the electric motor that provides most of the momentum while driving at lower speeds despite the engine revving. There is a third electric motor or generator in case of the RX400h and Highlander Hybrid 4WD-i – two models of Hybrid SUVs. It is worth noting that the front-wheel-drive Highlanders do not have this motor. While moving under force of gravity (coasting) and braking, this rear electric motor acts as a generator.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The best hybrid SUVS have all the good attributes of the traditional SUVs plus some additional advantages. Like

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

traditional SUVs, these also contain an internal combustion engine. Up to this point, there is not much difference between traditional and hybrid SUVs, but the hybrid SUVs also have an electric motor, which is attached to a battery.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was designed more for power then for gas efficiency. The main idea was to produce a hybrid SUV that would offer the cleaner drive of a hybrid without sacrificing power. With concerns about the environment and the amount of pollution from gasoline vehicles, consumers wanted such an SUV.

With hybrid vehicles, the larger the vehicle, the less powerful it is. Consumers want an SUV for its power and capabilities and with the earlier models of hybrid SUV’s they were rather disappointed. This cleaner SUV is helping to cut pollution and allowing consumers to still follow their love of these large, all terrain vehicles.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers all the features of a gasoline Highlander. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid runs off the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology and features a 3mz FE 3.3 liter V6 engine.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 11:49 am and is filed under Hybrid Car, Hybrid Vehicle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.