Passionate about sustainable development? Introducing the world’s first guide to electric cars! In the first edition of what promises to be the new bestseller in the world of cars, our authors explain the latest on electric vehicles. Speaking to amateurs and more seasoned enthusiasts alike, our two experts answer all your questions: how do you recharge and service an electric vehicle? Are electric cars built for North American winters? Can you even drive on electricity every day of the week? Do you really save money when you go electric? Do electric vehicles have the speed you need? Would a hydrogen car be a wiser choice? Are the batteries in electric cars harmful to the environment—are they dangerous like the oil companies say? Does the government chip in when you buy an electric vehicle? Jacques Duval and Daniel Breton have tested over 70 different models that are on the market now or will be in a matter of months. They get down to the nitty-gritty with in-depth commentary from page one. Learn all there is to know about tech features, pricing, energy consumption stats, greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants. Just fifteen years ago, electric cars were a novelty—now, they’re becoming increasingly central to the automobile industry. Soon, the entire world will turn to this eco-friendly mode of transportation!

Electric and hybrid cars use less fuel than conventional cars—but fuel economy is only one consumer consideration when choosing a new vehicle. Speed, cost, and even convenience also play a role, even if these aspects of a car mean it’s less eco-friendly. Full-color photographs of hybrid engines, batteries, and solar-powered cars will draw readers in while they learn about this fascinating new car technology. Including accessible explanations of the greenhouse effect, carbon emissions, and the creation and use of fuel, the main content will help readers shape an informed opinion about the many positives and negatives about electric and hybrid cars. Readers will gather even more knowledge from sidebars focusing on specific topics and conservation information from fact boxes offering important ecological points of view.

This illustrated history chronicles electric and hybrid cars from the late 19th century to today's fuel cell and plug-in automobiles. It describes the politics, technology, marketing strategies, and environmental issues that have impacted electric and hybrid cars' research and development. The important marketing shift from a "woman's car" to "going green" is discussed. Milestone projects and technologies such as early batteries, hydrogen and bio-mass fuel cells, the upsurge of hybrid vehicles, and the various regulations and market forces that have shaped the industry are also covered.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles, by car expert Jack R. Nerad of Kelly's Blue Book, sorts out the dizzying array of choices faced by motorists in America. In clear, jargon-free and non-political language, Nerad explains the nature of each kind of car, their advantages and disadvantages, so that consumers can understand and make a practical choice.

Modern Hybrid Electric Vehicles provides vital guidance to help a new generation of engineers master the principles of and further advance hybrid vehicle technology. The authors address purely electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, hybrid hydraulic, fuel cell, and off-road hybrid vehicle systems. They focus on the power and propulsion systems for these vehicles, including issues related to power and energy management. They concentrate on material that is not readily available in other hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) books such as design examples for hybrid vehicles, and cover new developments in the field including electronic CVT, plug-in hybrid, and new power converters and controls. Covers hybrid vs. pure electric, HEV system architecture (including plug-in and hydraulic), off-road and other industrial utility vehicles, non-ground-vehicle applications like ships, locomotives, aircrafts, system reliability, EMC, storage technologies, vehicular power and energy management, diagnostics and prognostics, and electromechanical vibration issues. Contains core fundamentals and principles of modern hybrid vehicles at component level and system level. Provides graduate students and field engineers with a text suitable for classroom teaching or self-study.