Hybrid Vehicles Explained

Types and How they Work

Nov 3, 2009 David Greenfield

Hybrid vehicles are generally classified by the way that electric power is used and generated in the vehicle.

Hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular. Ever increasing environmental pressure from the government to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy has created innovation to develop alternative technology.

By combining electric power with a conventional combustion engine car manufacturers have been able to reduce vehicle emissions and increase fuel economy.

Hybrid vehicels are catagorized by the type of systems and how they work. Hybrids like other cars differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, while all hybrids basically serve the same purpose there are some key differences. These are the basic types of hybrids and this is how they differ.

Mild Hybrids

Mild hybrid vehicles primarily use a gasoline engine to propel the vehicle and a small motor/generator is used as secondary source of power.

Full Hybrid - Two-mode Hybrids

Full Hybrids, also referred to as “Two-mode hybrids” have the capability of propelling the vehicle solely by electric motor under certain conditions. Full hybrids are classified by the type of drivetrain used in the vehicle. The types are series, parallel and series/parallel drivetrains.

Series Hybrids

In a series drivetrain the electric motor is only able to propel the vehicle. The engine is only used to turn a generator to create electric power. The computer determines the amount of power that comes from the battery pack or the generator. The battery packs in a series hybrid are larger and they also use a larger electric motor which adds to the cost of the vehicle. The battery pack is recharged from the generator or from regenerative braking.

Parallel Hybrids

Parallel hybrid vehicles allow the engine or the electric motor to propel the vehicle. The transmission and the computer allow the engine and motor to work together to propel the vehicle forward. Parallel hybrids use smaller battery packs and rely more on regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack. These hybrids are more efficient on highways and are less expensive than series hybrids.

Series-Parallel Hybrids

This system is a combination of the series and parallel systems. This system has a power diverter which allows the engine to either propel the vehicle or turn the generator. This allows the engine to propel the vehicle or charge the batteries depending on the driving conditions.

Plug-in Hybrids

Plug-In Hybrids are basically hybrids that plug into any 120-volt outlet as a power source to recharge the battery packs. The vehicle will only use the engine when there isn’t enough battery charge to drive the vehicle. With local commutes most drivers essentially would rarely if ever need to fill up on gasoline.

Hydbrid vehicles have changed the standards for fuel economy and emissions. They have also sparked innovation in both gasoline and electric technology. The automotive industry is changing to keep in line with the changing times and the growing feeling that we need to be more environmentally conscience.

The copyright of the article Hybrid Vehicles Explained in Car Care/Ownership is owned by David Greenfield. Permission to republish Hybrid Vehicles Explained in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid by M&J Enterprises

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