A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a either recharge the battery or directly which combines a feed power to an that conventional propulsion system with a drives the vehicle. Many HEVs reduce rechargeable energy storage system idle emissions by shutting down the ICE (RESS) to achieve better fuel economy at idle and restarting it when needed than a conventional vehicle. It includes a (start-stop system). An HEV's engine is propulsion system additional to the smaller than a non-hybrid petroleum fuel electric motors, to be not hampered by vehicle and may be run at various range from a charging unit like a battery speeds, providing more efficiency. electric vehicle (BEV). HEVs became widely available to the public in the late 1990s with the introduction of the Honda Insight and Prius. HEVs are viewed by some automakers as a core segment of the future automotive market. Futurist magazine recently included hybrid electric vehicles as cars of the near future.

History The Prius is one of Toyota's top sellers in the United States. There are over 1 million In 1901, while employed at Lohner worldwide Coach Factory, Ferdinand Porsche designed the "Mixte", a series-hybrid vehicle based on his earlier "System Lohner-Porsche" electric carriage. The Mixte broke several Austrian speed records, and also won the Exelberg Rally in 1901 with Porsche himself driving. The Mixte used a gasoline engine powering a generator, which in turn powered electric hub motors, with a small battery pack for reliability. It had a range of 50 km, a top speed of 50 km/h The Escape Hybrid is launched in 2004, is a and a power of 5.22 kW during 20 Petrol-electric hybrid vehicle powered version of the Ford Escape SUV. minutes.

Modern mass-produced HEVs prolong In 1905, H. Piper filed a US patent the charge on their batteries by capturing application for a hybrid vehicle. kinetic energy via regenerative braking, and some HEVs can use the internal The 1915 Dual Power, made by the combustion engine (ICE) to generate Woods Motor Vehicle electric car maker, electricity by spinning an electrical had a four-cylinder ICE and an electric generator (often a motor-generator) to motor. Below 15 mph (25 km/h) the

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 1 Hybrid electric vehicle electric motor alone drove the vehicle, Program, but the program was stopped drawing power from a battery pack, and by the United States Environmental above this speed the "main" engine cut Protection Agency (EPA) in 1976 while in to take the car up to its 35 mph Eric Stork, the head of the EPA at the (55 km/h) top speed. About 600 were time, was accused of a prejudicial made up to 1918. coverup.

In 1931 Erich Gaichen invented and The regenerative braking system, the drove from Altenburg to Berlin a 1/2 core design concept of most production horse power electric car containing HEVs, was developed by electrical features later incorporated into hybrid engineer David Arthurs around 1978 cars. Its maximum speed was 25 miles using off-the shelf components and an per hour, but it was licensed by the Opel GT. However the voltage controller Motor Transport Office, taxed by the to link the batteries, motor (a jet-engine German Revenue Department and starter motor), and DC generator was patented by the German Reichs-Patent Arthurs'. The vehicle exhibited 75 miles

Amt. The car battery was re-charged by per US gallon (3.1 L/100 km; 90 mpg-imp) the motor when the car went downhill. fuel efficiency and plans for it (as well Additional power to charge the battery as somewhat updated versions) are still was provided by a cylinder of available through the Mother Earth compressed air which was re-charged by News web site. The Mother Earth News' small air pumps activated by vibrations own 1980 version claimed nearly of the chassis and the brakes and by 84 miles per US gallon (2.8 L/100 km; igniting oxyhydrogen gas. An account of 101 mpg-imp). the car and his characterization as a "crank inventor" can be found in Arthur In 1989, Audi produced its first iteration Koestler's autobiography, Arrow in the of the Audi Duo (or Audi 100 Avant duo) Blue, pages 269-271, which summarize experimental vehicle, a plug-in parallel a contemporaneous newspaper account hybrid based on the Audi 100 Avant written by Koestler. No production quattro. This car had a 12.6 bhp Siemens beyond the prototype was reported. electric motor which drove the rear wheels. A trunk-mounted nickel- Forefathers of current technology cadmium battery supplied energy to the motor that drove the rear wheels. The A more recent working prototype of the vehicle's front wheels were powered by HEV was built by Victor Wouk (one of a 2.3-litre five-cylinder engine with an the scientists involved with the Henney output of 136 bhp. The intent was to Kilowatt, the first transistor-based produce a vehicle which could operate electric car). Wouk's work with HEVs in on the engine in the country and electric the 1960s and 1970s earned him the title mode in the city. Mode of operation as the "Godfather of the Hybrid". Wouk could be selected by the driver. Just ten installed a prototype hybrid vehicles are believed to have been made; (with a 16 kW electric motor) into a one drawback was that due to the extra 1972 Buick Skylark provided by GM for weight of the electric drive, the vehicles the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive were less efficient when running on their

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 2 Hybrid electric vehicle engines alone than standard Audi 100s with the same engine. Production HEVs Two years later, Audi, unveiled the second duo generation - likewise based on the Audi 100 Avant quattro. Once again this featured an electric motor, a 28.6 bhp three-phase machine, driving the rear wheels. This time, however, the rear wheels were additionally powered via the Torsen differential from the main engine compartment, which housed a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

The Bill Clinton administration initiated the Partnership for a New Generation of Hybrid Vehicle Sales Chart, by Green Vehicles (PNGV) program on 29 Car Congress; Toyota: 85 % September 1993 that involved Chrysler, Ford, , USCAR, the Automotive hybrid technology became DoE, and other various governmental successful in the 1990s when the Honda agencies to engineer the next efficient Insight and Toyota Prius became and clean vehicle. The NRC cited available. These vehicles have a direct automakers’ moves to produce HEVs as linkage from the ICE to the driven evidence that technologies developed wheels, so the engine can provide under PNGV were being rapidly adopted acceleration power. on production lines, as called for under Goal 2. Based on information received The Prius has been in high demand since from automakers, NRC reviewers 2004. Newer designs have more questioned whether the “Big Three” conventional appearance and are less would be able to move from the concept expensive, often appearing and phase to cost effective, pre-production performing identically to their non- prototype vehicles by 2004, as set out in hybrid counterparts while delivering Goal 3. The program was replaced by 40% better fuel efficiency. The Honda the hydrogen-focused FreedomCAR Civic Hybrid appears identical to the initiative by the George W. Bush non-hybrid version, for instance, but administration in 2001, an initiative to delivers about 50 miles per US gallon fund research too risky for the private (4.7 L/100 km; 60 mpg-imp). The sector to engage in, with the long-term redesigned 2004 Toyota Prius improved goal of developing effectively carbon passenger room, cargo area, and power emission- and petroleum-free vehicles. output, while increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. The Honda Insight, while not matching the demand of the Prius, stopped being produced after 2006 and has a devoted base of owners. In 2004, Honda also

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 3 Hybrid electric vehicle released a hybrid version of the Accord to power the rear wheels negating the but discontinued it in 2007 citing need for a differential. Toyota also plans disappointing sales. to add hybrid to every model it sells in the coming decade. An R.L. Polk survey of 2003 model year cars showed that hybrid electric car In 2007, Lexus released a hybrid electric registrations in the United States rose to version of their GS sport sedan dubbed 43,435 cars, a 25.8% increase from 2002 the GS450h, with "well in excess of numbers.[citation needed] California had the 300hp".The 2007 Camry Hybrid became most HEVs registered: 11,425. The available in Summer 2006 in the United proportionally high number may be States and Canada. announced partially due to the state's higher the release of the Altima hybrid gasoline prices and stricter emissions (technology supplied by Toyota) in rules, which HEVs generally have little 2007.Hybrid cars see record sales. trouble passing. 2008 Lexus Hybrid Honda, which offers Insight, Civic and Accord models, sold 26,773 HEVs in the Commencing in 2008 General Motors first 11 months of 2004. Toyota has sold began to market their 2-Mode Hybrid a cumulative 306,862 HEVs between models of their GMT900 based 1997 and November 2004, and Honda Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon has sold a total of 81,867 HEVs between SUVs. 1999 and November 2004. For the 2009 model year, the same Audi was the first European car technology will be offered in the manufacturer to put in 1997 a hybrid Cadillac Escalade and their 1/2-ton vehicle into series production, the third pickup models, the 2009 Chevrolet generation Audi duo, then based on the Silverado and GMC Sierra2-mode A4 Avant. hybrid models. Also in 2009 GM's Saturn division is releasing the first front 2005 saw the first hybrid electric sport wheel drive version of the 2-mode utility vehicle (SUV) released, the Ford technology with the appearance of the Escape Hybrid. Toyota and Ford entered 2009 Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid model. into a licensing agreement in March 2004 allowing Ford to use 20 patents General Motors has announced plans to from Toyota related to hybrid release this same Saturn Vue 2-mode technology, although Ford's engine was hybrid as a plug-in hybrid electric independently designed and built. In vehicle for the 2010 model year. exchange for the hybrid licenses, Ford licensed patents involving their Hyundai Motor Company plans to start European diesel engines to Toyota. retail sales of its first LPG–electric Toyota announced model year 2005 hybrid vehicle in July 2009. To be sold hybrid electric versions of the Toyota initially in the Korean domestic market Highlander and Lexus RX 400h with under the Avante badge, the Elantra LPI 4WD-i, which uses a rear electric motor Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is the

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 4 Hybrid electric vehicle world´s first hybrid vehicle to be terminology for such vehicles, although powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) they may be termed mild hybrids. and the first to adopt advanced Lithium Polymer (Li–Poly) batteries. The 2000s saw development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which Comparing operating costs among can be recharged from the electrical different types of hybrid vehicles power grid and do not require currently available in the marketplace, conventional fuel for short trips. The the Elantra LPI HEV promises to be the Renault Kangoo was the first production cheapest of all to run. The Elantra LPI model of this design, released in France HEV promises to be as much as 40 in 2003. percent cheaper to operate than other competitor models in the marketplace Engines and fuel sources

Production PHEVs Fossil fuels

In 2007 appear the DoE´s Plug-in Free-piston engines could be used to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Plan and the generate electricity as efficiently as, and PHEV mass-production race. less expensively than, fuel cells.

Technology Gasoline Gasoline engines are used in most hybrid The varieties of hybrid electric designs electric designs, and will likely remain can be differentiated by the structure of dominant for the foreseeable future. the hybrid vehicle drivetrain, the fuel While petroleum-derived gasoline is the type, and the mode of operation. primary fuel, it is possible to mix in varying levels of ethanol created from In 2007, several automobile renewable energy sources. Like most manufacturers announced that future modern ICE-powered vehicles, HEVs vehicles will use aspects of hybrid can typically use up to about 15% electric technology to reduce fuel bioethanol. Manufacturers may move to consumption without the use of the flexible fuel engines, which would hybrid drivetrain. Regenerative braking increase allowable ratios, but no plans can be used to recapture energy and are in place at present. stored to power electrical accessories, such as air conditioning. Shutting down Diesel the engine at idle can also be used to reduce fuel consumption and reduce Diesel-electric HEVs use a diesel engine emissions without the addition of a for power generation. Diesels have hybrid drivetrain. In both cases, some of advantages when delivering constant the advantages of hybrid electric power for long periods of time, suffering technology are gained while additional less wear while operating at higher cost and weight may be limited to the efficiency. The diesel engine's high addition of larger batteries and starter torque, combined with hybrid motors. There is no standard technology, may offer substantially

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 5 Hybrid electric vehicle improved mileage. Most diesel vehicles deploying a small fleet of Hybrid diesel can use 100% pure biofuels (biodiesel), electric delivery . As of October so they can use but do not need 2007 Fedex now operates more than 100 petroleum at all for fuel (although mixes diesel electric hybrids in North America, of biofuel and petroleum are more Asia and Europe. common, and petroleum may be needed for lubrication). If diesel-electric HEVs were in use, this benefit would likely also apply. Diesel-electric hybrid Biofuels drivetrains have begun to appear in commercial vehicles (particularly Some hybrid vehicles uses biofuels and buses); as of 2007, no light duty diesel- electricity (i.e. Chevrolet Volt is an E85 electric hybrid passenger cars are plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). currently available, although prototypes exist. Peugeot is expected to produce a Design considerations diesel-electric hybrid version of its 308 in late 2008 for the European market. In some cases, manufacturers are producing HEVs that use the added PSA Peugeot Citroën has unveiled two energy provided by the hybrid systems demonstrator vehicles featuring a diesel- to give vehicles a power boost, rather electric hybrid drivetrain: the Peugeot than significantly improved fuel 307, Citroën C4 Hybride HDi and efficiency compared to their traditional Citroën C-Cactus. Volkswagen made a counterparts. The trade-off between prototype diesel-electric hybrid car that added performance and improved fuel achieved 2 L/100 km (140 mpg-imp; efficiency is partly controlled by the 120 mpg-US) fuel economy, but has yet to software within the hybrid system and sell a hybrid vehicle. General Motors has partly the result of the engine, battery been testing the Opel Astra Diesel and motor size. In the future, Hybrid. There have been no concrete manufacturers may provide HEV owners dates suggested for these vehicles, but with the ability to partially control this press statements have suggested balance (fuel efficiency vs. added production vehicles would not appear performance) as they wish, through a before 2009. user-controlled setting. Toyota announced in January, 2006 that it was Robert Bosch GmbH is supplying hybrid considering a "high-efficiency" button. diesel-electric technology to diverse automakers and models, including the Conversion kits Peugeot 308. One can buy a stock hybrid or convert a So far, production diesel-electric engines stock petroleum car to a hybrid electric have mostly just appeared in mass transit vehicle using an aftermarket hybrid kit . buses.

FedEx, along with Eaton Corp. in the Environmental impact USA and Iveco in Europe, has begun Fuel consumption

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 6 Hybrid electric vehicle

Hybrid vehicles are the best bet to get economy of HEVs has implication for the most out of each tank of fuel during reduced petroleum consumption and city driving. vehicle air pollution emissions worldwide Current HEVs reduce petroleum consumption under certain circumstances, compared to otherwise similar conventional vehicles, primarily Noise by using three mechanisms: Reduced noise emissions resulting from 1. Reducing wasted energy during substantial use of the electric motor at idle/low output, generally by idling and low speeds, leading to turning the ICE off roadway noise reduction, in comparison 2. Recapturing waste energy (i.e. to conventional gasoline or diesel regenerative braking) powered engine vehicles, resulting in 3. Reducing the size and power of beneficial noise health effects (although the ICE, and hence inefficiencies road noise from tires and wind, the from under-utilization, by using loudest noises at highway speeds from the added power from the electric the interior of most vehicles, are not motor to compensate for the loss affected by the hybrid design alone). in peak power output from the smaller ICE. Reduced noise may not be considered an advantage by some; for example, some Any combination of these three primary people who are blind or visually- hybrid advantages may be used in impaired consider the noise of different vehicles to realize different fuel combustion engines a helpful aid while usage, power, emissions, weight and cost crossing streets and feel quiet hybrids profiles. The ICE in an HEV can be could pose an unexpected hazard.[1] smaller, lighter, and more efficient than the one in a conventional vehicle, Pollution because the combustion engine can be sized for slightly above average power Reduced air pollution emissions, due to demand rather than peak power demand. lower fuel consumption, lead improved The drive system in a vehicle is required human health with regard to respiratory to operate over a range of speed and problems and other illnesses. Pollution power, but an ICE's highest efficiency is reduction in urban environments may be in a narrow range of operation, making particularly significant due to conventional vehicles inefficient. On the elimination of idle-at-rest.[citation needed] contrary, in most HEV designs, the ICE operates closer to its range of highest Battery toxicity is a concern, although efficiency more frequently. The power today's hybrids use NiMH batteries, not curve of electric motors is better suited the environmentally problematic to variable speeds and can provide rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel substantially greater torque at low metal hydride batteries are benign. They speeds compared with internal- can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, combustion engines. The greater fuel

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 7 Hybrid electric vehicle editor of the Green Car Journal.[citation to reach 60 miles (97 km) per charge by needed] Toyota and Honda say that they adopting advanced lithium-ion batteries will recycle dead batteries and that to accomplish their claims. These disposal will pose no toxic hazards. proposed hybrid motorcycles could Toyota puts a phone number on each incorporate components from the battery, and they pay a $200 "bounty" upcoming Honda Insight car and its for each battery to help ensure that it will hybrid powertrain. The ability to mass- be properly recycled. produce these items helps to overcome the investment hurdles faced by start-up Vehicle types brands and bring new engineering concepts into mainstream markets. Motorcycles Automobiles and light trucks Companies such as Zero Motorcycles and Vectrix have market-ready all- A number of manufacturers currently electric motorcycles available now, but produce hybrid electric automobiles and the pairing of electrical components and light trucks. Other types of HEVs are an internal combustion engine (ICE) has manufactured including Microhybrids— made packaging cumbersome, especially small hybrid electric city cars. Diesel- for niche brands. electric hybrid vehicles may soon see mass-production. eCycle Inc produces series diesel- electric motorcycles, with a top speed of Taxis 80 mph (130 km/h) and a target retail price of $5500.

Peugeot HYmotion3 compressor, a hybrid scooter is a three-wheeler that uses two separate power sources to power the front and back wheels. The back wheel is powered by a single Ford Escape hybrid-electric taxi. cylinder 125cc, 20bhp single cylinder motor while the front wheels are each New York City started converting its taxi driven by their own electric motor. fleet to hybrids in 2005, with 375 active When the bike is moving up to 10 km/h as of July, 2007. The mayor plans to only the electric motors are used on a convert 20% of the remaining 13,000 stop-start basis reducing the amount of taxis each year. carbon emissions. San Francisco intends to convert its SEMA has announced that Yamaha is entire fleet to hybrid or Compressed going to launch one in 2010, with Honda natural gas vehicles by 2008. following a year later, fueling a competition to reign in new customers Buses and set new standards for mobility. Each company hopes to provide the capability

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 8 Hybrid electric vehicle

Hybrid technology for buses has seen approximately 300 vehicles, mostly increased attention since recent battery route buses are using Hinos HIMR developments decreased battery weight (Hybrid Inverter Controlled Motor & significantly. Drivetrains consist of Retarder) system. In 2007, high conventional diesel engines and gas petroleum price means a hard sell for turbines. Some designs concentrate on hybrid trucks and appears the first U.S. using car engines, recent designs have production hybrid truck (International focused on using conventional diesel DuraStar Hybrid). engines already used in bus designs, to save on engineering and training costs. Several manufacturers are currently working on new hybrid designs, or hybrid drivetrains that fit into existing chassis offerings without major re- Other vehicles are: design. A challenge to hybrid buses may still come from cheaper lightweight • Big mining machines like the imports from the former Eastern block Liebherr T 282B dump truck or countries or China, where national Keaton Vandersteen LeTourneau operators are looking at fuel L-2350 wheel loader are powered consumption issues surrounding the that way. weight of the bus, which has increased • NASA's huge Crawler- with recent bus technology innovations Transporters are diesel-electric. such as glazing, air conditioning and • Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Eco electrical systems. A hybrid bus can also Hybrid is a diesel-electric deliver fuel economy though through the commercial truck. hybrid drivetrain. Hybrid technology is • (a Toyota also being promoted by environmentally subsidiary) has the world's first concerned transit authorities. production hybrid in Australia (110 kW/150 hp Trucks diesel engine plus a 23 kW/31 hp electric motor). In 2003, GM introduced a hybrid diesel- electric military (light) truck, equipped Other hybrid petroleum-electric truck with a diesel electric and a fuel cell makers are DAF Trucks, MAN AG with auxiliary power unit. Hybrid electric MAN TGL Series, Nissan Motors and light trucks were introduced in 2004 by Renault Trucks with Renault Puncher. Mercedes Benz (Sprinter) and Micro- Vett SPA (Daily Bimodale). International Hybrid electric truck technology and Truck and Engine Corp. and Eaton Corp. powertrain maker: ZF Friedrichshafen. have been selected to manufacture diesel-electric hybrid trucks for a US Military vehicles pilot program serving the utility industry in 2004. In mid 2005 introduced The United States Army's manned the Elf Diesel Hybrid Truck on the ground vehicles of the Future Combat Japanese Market. They claim that System all use a hybrid electric drive

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 9 Hybrid electric vehicle

consisting of a diesel engine to generate vehicle electrical power for mobility and all Regular hybrid Less use of petroleum, other vehicle subsystems. Other military electric vehicle but non-pluginable hybrid prototypes include the Residual use of Plug-in hybrid Millenworks Light Utility Vehicle, the petroleum. More use of vehicle International FTTS, HEMTT model electricity A3,and the Shadow RST-V. All-electric Most use of electricity vehicle Locomotives HEVs can be initially more expensive In May 2003, JR East started test runs (the so-called "hybrid premium") than with the so called NE (new energy) train pure fossil-fuel-based ICE vehicles and validated the system's functionality (ICEVs), due to extra batteries, more (series hybrid with lithium ion battery) electronics and in some cases other in cold regions. In 2004, Railpower design considerations (although battery Technologies had been running pilots in renting can be used to reach the cost the US with the so called Green Goats, parity). The trade-off between higher which led to orders by the Union Pacific initial cost and lower fuel costs (often and Canadian Pacific Railways starting referred to as the payback period) is in early 2005. dependent on usage - miles traveled, or hours of operation, fuel costs, and in Railpower offers hybrid electric road some cases, government subsidies. switchers, as does GE. Diesel-electric Traditional economy vehicles may result locomotives may not always be in a lower direct cost for many users considered HEVs, not having energy (before consideration of any externality). storage on board, unless they are fed with electricity via a collector for short Consumer Reports ran an article in April distances (for example, in tunnels with 2006 stating that HEVs would not pay emission limits), in which case they are for themselves over 5 years of better classified as dual-mode vehicles. ownership. However, this included an error with charging the "hybrid Marine and other aquatic premium" twice. When corrected, the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius Produces marine hybrid propulsion: did have a payback period of slightly less than 5 years. This includes • eCycle Inc. conservative estimates with depreciation • Solar Sailor Holdings (seen as more depreciation than a conventional vehicle, although that is not Hybrid Premium and Cost the current norm) and with gas prices. In particular, the Consumer Reports article Parity assumed $2/U.S. gallon for 3 years, $3/U.S. gallon for one year and Fuel use in vehicle designs $4/U.S. gallon the last year. As recent Vehicle type Fuel used events have shown, this is a volatile All-petroleum Most use of petroleum market and hard to predict. For 2006,

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 10 Hybrid electric vehicle gas prices ranged from low $2 to low $3, However, nearly all the rare earth averaging about $2.60/U.S. gallon. elements in the world come from China, and one analyst believes that an overall A January 2007 analysis by increase in Chinese electronics Intellichoice.com shows that all 22 manufacturing may consume this entire currently available HEVs will save their supply by 2012. In addition, export owners money over a five year period. quotas on Chinese rare earth exports The most savings is for the Toyota Prius, have resulted in a generally shaky supply which has a five year cost of ownership of those metals. 40.3% lower than the cost of comparable non-hybrid vehicles. A few non-Chinese sources such as the advanced Hoidas Lake project in A report in the Greeley Tribune says that northern Canada as well as Mt Weld in over the five years it would typically Australia are currently under take for a new car owner to pay off the development; however it is not known if vehicle cost differential, a hybrid Camry these sources will be developed before driver could save up to $6,700 in the shortage hits. gasoline at current gasoline prices, with hybrid tax incentives as an additional Legislation and incentives saving. In order to encourage the purchase of In countries with incentives to fight HEVs, several incentives and ecotaxes against global warming and have been made into law. contamination and promote vehicle fuel efficiency, the pay-back period can be Canada immediate and petroleum ICEVs can cost more than hybrids because they Residents in Ontario and Quebec, generate more pollution. Canada can claim a rebate on the Provincial Retail Sales Tax of up to Toyota and Honda have already said $2,000 CDN on the purchase or lease of they've halved the incremental cost of a hybrid electric vehicle. Ontario electric hybrids and see cost parity in the recently announced a new green license future (even without incentives). plate for hybrid car users and will announce a slew of benefits that go Raw materials shortage along with it in 2008. Residents in British Columbia are eligible for a 100% There is an impending shortage of many reduction of sales tax up to a maximum rare materials used in the manufacture of of $2,000 if the hybrid electric vehicle is hybrid cars. purchased or leased before April 1, 2011 (extended in 2007/2008 budget from For example, the rare earth element March 31, 2008 and expanded from a dysprosium is required to fabricate many maximum of only $1,000 from April 1, of the advanced electric motors and 2008 to March 31, 2009, at which point battery systems in hybrid propulsion the concession was scheduled to expire.) systems. Prince Edward Island residents can

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 11 Hybrid electric vehicle claim rebates on the Provincial Sales Tax Register. At present, these include the of up to $3,000 CDN on the purchase or cleanest LPG and natural gas cars and lease of any hybrid vehicles since March most hybrid-, battery- and fuel cell- 30, 2004. The Canadian federal electric vehicles. government recently began offering rebates in March 2007 of $1000-$2000. United States Generally cars getting 6.5 L/100 km or better and light trucks getting 8.3 Federal L/100 km or better will quailify. The purchase of hybrid electric cars Republic of Ireland qualifies for a federal income tax credit up to $3,150 on the purchaser's Federal In the Republic of Ireland, a 50% income taxes. The tax credit is to be reduction in VRT applies, which phased out two calendar quarters after normally amounts to 25% of the market the manufacturer reaches 60,000 new value of a car. cars sold in the following manner: it will be reduced to 50% ($1700) if delivered Netherlands in either the third or fourth quarter after the threshold is reached, to 25% ($850) In the Netherlands, the Vehicle in the fifth and sixth quarters, and 0% Registration Tax (VRT), payable when a thereafter. Many states give additional car is sold to its first buyer, can earn the tax credits to hybrid electric car buyers. owner of an HEV a discount up to €6,000. States and local

Sweden • Certain states (e.g., New York, California, Virginia, and Florida) In Sweden there is an "Eco car" subsidy allow singly-occupied HEVs to of SEK 10 000 (~ USD 1.600) cash enter the HOV lanes on the payout to private car owners. For fringe highway. Initially, the Federal benefit cars there is a reduction of the Highway Administration ruled benefit tax of 40% for EV's & HEV's that this was a violation of and 20% for other "Eco cars". federal statute until August 10, 2005 when George W. Bush Drivers of HEVs in the United Kingdom signed the Transportation Equity benefit from the lowest band of vehicle Act of 2005 into law. excise duty (car tax), which is based on • Some states, e.g. California, carbon dioxide emissions. In central exempt hybrid electric cars from London, these vehicles are also exempt the biennial smog inspection, from the £8 daily London congestion which costs over $50 (as of charge. Due to their low levels of 2004). regulated emissions, the greenest cars • The city of San Jose, California are eligible for 100% discount under the issued a free parking tag until current system. To be eligible the car 2007 when it became issued for a must be on the current Power Shift fee annually for hybrid electric

Submitted by: Rahul Raj 12 Hybrid electric vehicle

cars that were purchased at a San http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs08 Jose dealership. The qualified 7‐02/fs087‐02.pdf. owners do not have to pay for • Lunn, J (3 October 2006). "Great parking in any city garage or western minerals". written at road side parking meters. London (PDF). Insigner Beaufort • The city of Los Angeles, Equity Research. California offers free parking to http://www.gwmg.ca/pdf/Insinge all HEVs which started on 1 r_Report.pdf. Retrieved on 2008- October 2004. The experiment is 03-18. an extension to an existing offer • New York City Taxis to go all of free parking for all pure hybrid by 2012 2007-05-22 electrical vehicles. • Mother Earth News article from • In October, 2005, the city of 1978 on the original regenerative Baltimore, Maryland started to braking hybrid car offer discount on monthly parking in the city parking lots, and is considering free meter parking for HEVs. On 3 November 2005, the Boston Globe reports that the city council of Boston is considering the same treatment for hybrid electric cars. • Annual vehicle registration fees in the District of Columbia are half ($36) that paid for conventional vehicles ($72).

References

• Cox, C (2008). "Rare earth innovation: the silent shift to china". written at Herndon (VA). The Anchor House Inc. http://theanchorhouse.com/2008/ 03/. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. • Haxel, G; Hedrick J, Orris J (2006). "Rare earth elements critical resources for high technology". written at Reston (VA) (PDF). United States Geological Survey. USGS Fact Sheet: 087‐02.

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