Definition of a True Hybrid

What is a TRUE hybrid? It's the best of both worlds.

Sad to say, most of the OEMs are following Toyota's lead in their rush to sell "partial hybrids". Partial hybrids are electrically-assisted or enhanced mechanical drive systems. Whenever there is a direct connection between the internal combustion engine and the wheels, you're looking at a mechanically driven system with electrical enhancements.

A true hybrid uses equal parts of a combustion engine and either electric or hydraulic pumps, generators & motors. In other words, true hybrids fall between mechanically-driven cars and electrically-driven vehicles - using a 50/50 mix of parts. This approach means that you can run the ICE and all other components at their BEP (best efficiency point) greater than 90% of the time, under all load conditions.

By capturing energy & using it at BEP, this design strategy delivers what we're looking for:

• much higher MPG,
• less pollution
• better overall efficiencies.

In fact, we believe that true hybrids represent the only system that can enable us to cut vehicle emissions by 50% before the global warming "point of no return".