Are looking into buying a hybrid or plug-in vehicle in the near future?
Before you dive into buying one, you should have a general understanding of hybrid vehicle and plug-in vehicle technology.
Early Concept Chevrolet Volt
How Hybrids Work:
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology is a combination of an electric motor and gasoline engine. This technology can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as better gas mileage, increase in horsepower, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power equipment.
Depending on the type, design and usage, hybrids can range from operating mostly on the internal combustion engine with some assistance from the electric motor, to almost the opposite, operating predominantly on the electric motor, using the internal combustion engine only when significant power is needed.
Advanced technologies typically used by these vehicles include:
- Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drive train causing the wheel to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.
- Electric Motor Drive/Assist. Electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in acceleration, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.
- Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the brake is released. By doing so, it prevents energy wasted by idling.
There three basic types of hybrids:
- Mild hybrids use the electric motor and battery as an assist to the internal combustion engine.
- Full hybrids use two propulsion systems (electric motor and internal combustion engine) and can work independently or in conjunction with each other.
- Plug-in hybrid systems use an external electrical source to recharge the battery system, in addition to onboard charging.
A mild hybrid is one that cannot drive on the electric motor alone. It always needs the internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle while the electric motor acts as an assist.
A full hybrid, unlike its mild counterpart, has the ability to propel the vehicle solely on its electric motor - without the internal combustion engine running. However, it is only able to do this under certain conditions (usually low load conditions). Under very light cruising load and under light acceleration, a full hybrid can run on just the electric motor. As soon as additional power is needed, the internal combustion engines will kick-in to provide full acceleration power.
Full hybrids tend to get much better fuel mileage than mild hybrids, plus much better city mileage, since the electric motor is used much more in city driving.
Hybrids are always in a state of flux - either drawing from, or recharging the battery. Hybrid batteries are not lead acid, like the starting battery. They are predominantly Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), which is a more sophisticated and reliable battery system. NiMH batteries charge better and hold charges longer. Both mild and full hybrids have the ability to shut down the internal combustion engine. Mild hybrids only turn the engine off at an idle to save gasoline and emissions - as long as the brake pedal is depressed. For example, when stopped at a traffic light, the internal combustion engine shuts off, but as soon as the brake is released, the engine re-starts in an instant, ready to go.
How Does a Plug-In Hybrid Work?
Plug-in hybrids are just what the name implies - they can actually be plugged in to an outlet (110v or 220v household electrical outlet) to be recharged.
The most well-known plug-in hybrid available on the U.S. market is the Chevrolet Volt, made by General Motors.
Plug-in hybrids take electric vehicles to the next level since they are designed to rely predominantly on the electric motor for propulsion, with the internal combustion engine as back up, solving the short-range dilemma and speed limitations of all-electric and neighborhood electric vehicles.
They are designed to handle a commuter-type range (20 to 60 miles) on just their electric charge, and they actually can drive on just their electric vehicle power. Unlike other hybrids, they don’t need the engine to kick on to get around town. The internal combustion engine serves as a back up to provide increased range: In the case of the Volt, if the battery runs low, the engine will kick on to charge the battery.
Nissan also makes a plug-in. It’s an all-electric vehicle, so it’s not a hybrid. Information on the Nissan Leaf is available in a series of Kiman Wong’s AroundHawaii.com articles here:
There is more to just buying a Hybrid or Plug-in vehicles. Next month we will discuss the maintenance of these types of vehicles and unexpected cost after the warranty is up.
About.com Guide provided some information on Hybrids and Plug-in vehicles.
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