Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Hybrid Cars Update
Hybrids are cars that run on two or more power sources - usually gasoline and electricity. Hybrid cars are recognized for their fuel economy and their low emissions. They also produce less noise pollution.
Cars that get at least part of their power from electricity aren't something new. In fact, since the time of Henry Ford, automobile makers have tried to create electric-powered cars. Until recently, none of the attempts have been very successful.
Then in the 1990s, the push for a car that was better for the environment led to renewed efforts toward a hybrid gas-electric car. By 2000, there were two hybrids in mainstream production - the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius. The two-door Insight was the first mass market hybrid, and it won many awards. The Prius was the first four-door hybrid sedan.
Gradually, more car makers entered their own hybrid models into the market. In 2002, Honda came out with the Civic Hybrid. In 2004, there was the Ford Escape Hybrid.
