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With the increasing awareness surrounding environmental issues, hybrid cars have become a popular option for many drivers. But what is a hybrid vehicle? In simple terms, a hybrid car is a vehicle that receives power from both an electric motor and a traditional petrol or diesel engine.
Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular in different parts of the world due to their ability to seamlessly switch between petrol or diesel and electric power depending on the conditions. This article will explore what a hybrid car is, how it works and why these vehicles are so desirable in different countries around the world.
A hybrid car is a vehicle that combines the power of an electric motor with an internal combustion engine (ICE). These cars typically come with two batteries to power their ICEs and electric motors. The unique design of hybrid cars allows them to use more than one source of power.
Hybrid cars are gaining traction as a green, environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional cars. More people are switching to fully electric or hybrid automobiles as they learn about the impact of greenhouse gas on the environment.
There are more and more interesting luxury hybrid cars on the market. But what is a luxury car?
How Does It Work
A hybrid car works by combining an electric motor with an ICE. The internal combustion engine and electric motor supply power to the batteries, which in turn power the vehicle. You don’t have to plug in most hybrid cars to charge them because their batteries receive power through regenerative braking. However, some modern hybrids allow you to recharge them by connecting to an external power source.
Either the electric motor or petrol engine may be solely responsible for charging the battery in most hybrids. Other times, they may collaborate to provide power. Car manufacturers use hybrid designs to achieve a variety of goals, including maximum fuel savings and keeping vehicle costs as low as possible.
Tip: Use your car’s regenerative braking system by braking lightly and early whenever possible.
Key Components
- Auxiliary battery: The battery supplies electricity to start the car and also powers vehicle accessories.
- DC/DC converter: It converts higher-voltage DC power from the traction battery pack to lower-voltage DC power to charge the auxiliary battery.
- Electric generator: Generates electric power from the rotating wheels while braking and transfers energy to the traction battery pack.
- Electric traction motor: This motor drives the vehicle’s wheels using power from the battery.
- Exhaust system: Transports exhaust gas from the engine out the tailpipe.
- Fuel filler: This is a nozzle that connects the fuel dispenser to the receptacle on the vehicle to fill the tank.
- Fuel tank: This tank stores fuel in the vehicle.
- Internal combustion engine: This device generates electricity for the electric motor.
- Thermal system: The thermal system regulates the operating temperature in the engine.
- Transmission: The transmission transmits mechanical energy from the engine to the electric traction motor.
Most hybrids use automatic transmission. What is an automatic car, and how do automatic cars work?
Types Of A Hybrid Car
Here is one way to categorise hybrid electric vehicles.
Parallel Hybrid
Parallel hybrids are the most common types of hybrid cars. In a parallel hybrid car, the wheels may receive power from the electric motor alone, the gas engine alone, or both power sources simultaneously. These vehicles are available in automatic models (for example, continuously variable transmission (CVT) ones) as well as in manuals.
Series Hybrid
Series hybrids operate much differently from parallel hybrid cars. Their electric motors drive the wheels, while the petrol engine supplies power to a generator that charges the battery. The petrol engine never propels the car forward but provides energy for the electric motor to power the car’s wheels. Series hybrids can use both power sources simultaneously, or they can drive short distances solely on battery power.
Series-Parallel Hybrid
There are also series-parallel hybrid cars, which combine the working mechanism of both series and parallel hybrid vehicles. You can run these vehicles using petrol, electric power or a combination of both power sources. When driving, the petrol engine serves as the primary power source, while the electric motor provides a power boost for overtaking. However, in slow, city traffic, the car relies entirely on power from the battery.
Plug-In Hybrid
A plug-in hybrid, also known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is a modern marvel. It combines the best features of a petrol car with those of an electric car. Plug-in hybrids offer flexibility, allowing you to use either their gas-powered engine or an external power source to charge the vehicle. Plug-in hybrids also have much larger batteries, so your vehicle can rely on battery power for longer.
Find out how plug-in and non-plug-in hybrids compare.
A Hybrid Car: Pros & Cons
Hybrid cars have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
- Fuel economy: Hybrid cars promote fuel economy by combining the power of an electric motor and petrol engine, so they are excellent if you want to save fuel.
- Greener vehicles: Hybrid cars produce fewer harmful pollutants, such as carbon dioxide emissions, than traditional gasoline-powered cars, making them better for the environment.
- Regenerative brake system: Hybrid cars use regenerative braking, which captures the energy that the vehicle typically loses braking and uses it to recharge the battery.
- Lower maintenance costs: Hybrid cars have fewer moving parts than traditional petrol or diesel cars, resulting in lower maintenance costs.
Check out our article to see what represents high mileage for a car with an internal combustion engine.
Cons
Their major cons are:
- Limited range: Hybrid cars rely on their battery to power the electric motor, which means that most of them have a limited range on electric power. If you’re travelling a long distance, you may have to rely on petrol power for most of the journey.
- Battery replacement costs: The hybrid car battery can be expensive to replace when it reaches the end of its lifespan.
- Lower power output: Hybrid cars typically have less power output compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
A Hybrid Vs An Electric
Both hybrid and electric vehicles are environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, but they operate differently and have distinct benefits and drawbacks.
Hybrid cars: Hybrid cars help reduce your environmental footprint while still allowing you to enjoy the convenience of a petrol car. Combining electric motors with internal combustion engines, these vehicles ensure better fuel economy and emit fewer pollutants. However, they still rely on fossil fuels to some extent.
Hybrid cars tend to have longer ranges than electric cars because you can rely on petrol if you run out of power in the battery. It also helps that petrol stations are more widely available than electric charging stations in most parts of the world.
Tip: Your hybrid car can run more efficiently if you perform routine maintenance like oil changes and tyre rotations.
Electric cars: With zero emissions, driving an electric car is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. An electric vehicle is powered entirely by electricity stored in rechargeable batteries, so it doesn’t emit greenhouse gases, unlike a petrol or diesel car.
However, when travelling long distances, make sure you have access to charging infrastructure; otherwise, the limited battery range of an electric car may cause you to be stranded.
Look here for more on electric cars.
Should You Buy A Hybrid?
You should buy a hybrid car if you want a vehicle that is fuel-efficient and emits fewer greenhouse gases. Hybrid vehicles, particularly plug-in hybrids, rely more on electricity, lowering their carbon footprints. While the cost of purchasing a hybrid vehicle may be high, you can make fuel savings and cut maintenance costs that come with full petrol or diesel engines.
Hybrid cars are not necessarily built with long road trips or high-powered performance in mind. If you plan to do a lot of highway driving and need lots of acceleration power, then traditional combustion engines may be the better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Point Of A Hybrid Car?
The point of a hybrid car is that you get a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle. Hybrid cars combine petrol engines with electric motors and batteries to create a fuel-efficient machine. They are an excellent choice for those looking for cost savings as well as eco-friendliness. Hybrid cars allow you to upgrade your car’s efficiency without sacrificing power.
What Is The Biggest Problem With Hybrid Cars?
One of the biggest problems with hybrid cars is their initial cost, which tends to be higher than that of traditional petrol-powered cars. The batteries in hybrids are expensive to replace if they fail, ranging from £1500 to £6500. Furthermore, replacing catalytic converters on hybrids is more expensive than replacing them on ICEs, but overall maintenance costs are usually lower
Is It Better To Drive A Hybrid Or An Electric?
It is better to drive a hybrid car if you want a vehicle that is versatile and has a longer range. Hybrid cars can use both electric energy and petrol/diesel, which makes them more adaptable than electric cars. On the other hand, electric cars produce no emissions and are more energy-efficient than hybrids.
Do Hybrid Cars Charge While Driving?
Yes, hybrid cars charge while driving through a process known as regenerative braking. Regenerative braking uses the energy that the engine normally loses when braking to recharge the battery. Furthermore, some hybrid vehicles can charge their batteries while driving by using the petrol engine to generate electricity.
How Long Does A Hybrid Battery Last?
How long a hybrid battery lasts varies depending on factors such as the make and model of the vehicle, driving habits and climate. Most hybrid batteries last for the life of the vehicle, which is typically around 100,000 to 200,000 miles (160,000 to 320,000 km) or 8 to 10 years. However, some batteries have much shorter lifespans.
Conclusion
This ‘What is a hybrid car?’ article must have answered every question that you have about these new generation vehicles. A hybrid electric vehicle combines the benefits of an electric motor and a gasoline engine. With the advancement of hybrid technology, these vehicles are becoming more popular among drivers looking to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on gas.
