Since the first automobile hit the road over a century ago, it has been through significant technological and mechanical changes and the modern car has evolved significantly from its original form. In recent times, many efforts to modify the car have centred on the desire to improve its fuel efficiency and reduce the pollution, emissions and greenhouse gases that are the by-product of oil based fuel propulsion technologies. For car novices, however, the different types of car running systems and engines can be a little confusing. Do you know the difference between petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric running cars?
Here’s an explanation of the different engine, fuel and car running systems that are available today.
Petrol – Most engines today are propelled by petrol (also known as gasoline). The purpose of a petrol car engine is to convert the petrol into motion so that your car can move. In laymen terms, this involves the burning of the petrol inside the engine to create the energy needed to turn the motor. Petrol using engines are also known as internal combustion engines. Because of the rising cost of oil and the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions, there has been a movement to create alternative fuel and energy sources.
Diesel – Diesel engine cars burn diesel in the same way that petrol engines do, but use a different type of oil – diesel. The main difference between the two is that diesel engines have a 50% fuel burn efficiency as opposed to petrol’s 27%. A criticism of diesel engines, however, is that they produce a higher level of exhaust gases. Peugeot was the first car manufacturer to introduce the diesel engine. If you’re interested in driving a diesel-run car, Sydney Peugeot dealers will cater to your engine needs.
Hybrid – A hybrid vehicle means that two different power sources are used to move a car, usually referring to a mix of a petrol or diesel fuelled internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Hybrid vehicles are aimed at addressing both the rising price of petrol and reducing harmful emissions. Hybrid vehicles require less petrol and the electric motor charges itself while the car is running. There is an increasing number of hybrid cars to choose from. For those living in Sydney, Honda now offers their popular Civic in hybrid form.
Electric – The latest propulsion technology is the electric car, which uses an electric motor for movement in the place of fuel run engines. Because electric vehicles run on electricity, they must be recharged. While the top speeds of electric cars are lower, they are favoured for their low environmental impact and for travelling short distances (although for most people they are still prohibitively expensive).
Now you have a better understanding of the different technologies and engines used to move a car, which one will you choose to drive?
This article is brought to you by Trivett. Find a great city vehicle at a Trivett dealership or visit their website.
Trivett is Australia’s largest prestige car dealer automotive group. We operate dealerships in Parramatta, Blacktown, Alexandria, East Sydney and Melbourne. Visit our website and see our great range of marquees including Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Bentley, Porsche and Harley-Davidson, plus many more.
