June 07, 2025

Vehicle power

The role of engines

Vehicles themselves are heavy and in order to run while carrying people and heavy objects, significant power is required.
The component that generates this power is the engine. Also, since vehicle must run on various kinds of roads, such as hills and highways, it is necessary for the driver to be able to freely control the power generated by engine.

As an engine runs it continuous to heat up. It felt like this it would break down due to heat. In order for the engine to be run for long periods of time, there is a cooling system.
Power from the engine is also used to operate devices such as the air conditioning.
As such, the engine plays an important role in powering the vehicle. Let's take a look at the different types of engines and power not from engine.

Gasoline engine
Gasoline engine are small, lightweight, have high output and because they make little noise or vibration, they are used in the passenger vehicles, so much so that the gasoline engine is near synonymous when speaking of engines for passenger cars.

Diesel engine
Vehicles equipped with an engine that uses diesel as fuel. Diesel engines are economical as fuel costs are low and they have good fuel efficiency, but they are inferior to gasoline engines when it comes to vibration, noise, acceleration etc.

Hybrid
Vehicle powered by both an engine and an electric motor.
By driving using the efficient points of both the engine and motor, fuel economy and acceleration performance are improved.

Electric vehicle
One characteristic of these is that no exhaust gases are put out, as the vehicle runs only with a motor. On the other hand, a large battery is required, it has a low traveling range compared to gasoline engines, and it takes time to charge the battery.

Fuel cell vehicle
Using hydrogen as fuel, electricity is drawn using a chemical reaction, and the vehicle runs by turning a motor.
It is an environment friendly vehicle that discharges only water. On the other hand the safe handling of hydrogen and few fueling system stations still present a problem.