The Hybrid Electric Car Revolution  October/November 2005 Author
John Rockhold test drives a Toyota Prius in Topeka, Kan.
To recharge their batteries, hybrids capture kinetic energy as
the vehicle slows down, a process called regenerative braking.
In conventional vehicles, this energy is lost as heat when
brakes apply friction. But in hybrids, the electric motor helps
slow the car and transfers some of the kinetic energy to the
batteries, which store the power for future use. Hybrids’
conventional brakes kick in when needed, such as with sudden
stops. Because hybrids recharge themselves, there’s no need to
plug them into an electrical outlet overnight. (But plug-in
hybrids are on the horizon — see The Prius You Can Plug In,
below.)                            Available Now: Chevrolet
Silverado (truck) GMC Sierra (truck) Honda Accord (midsize)
Honda Civic (compact) Honda Insight (two-seater) Ford Escape
(SUV) Lexus RX 400h (SUV) Lexus GS 450h (midsize) Mazda Tribute
(SUV) Mercury Mariner (SUV) Nissan A