Alternate fuel sources such as methanol, ethanol, propane, and hydrogen have been suggested. This, however, will not work because the transition would decrease vehicle range and increase the cost of the transportation system. The pure electric car has also been proposed. A hybrid vehicle, such as the Honda Insight, utilizes both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor. The Insight, launched in December 1999, is America s first gasoline-electric hybird vehicle.
Hybrid cars adjust to weather, traffic and driver s habits.
Hybrids recognize normal route, congestion, amount of hills, and the hardness of acceleration and braking of the driver. Although a driver cannot operate a hybrid solely on the electric motor, if the electric motor becomes unusable, the gasoline engine will function independently. Also, lightweight materials, aerodynamic design, and low rolling resistance tires give the Insight the inside track in fuel efficiency. Two of the most interesting features on the Insight is the battery recharging by regenerative braking and the idle-stop feature. Regenerative braking takes the energy from the forward momentum when braking and recharges the battery.