Unit 2

Introduction to Hybrid Electric

Vehicles
Prepared by,
Miss. Savita C. Kundargi
Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Electronics
B.V.V.S Polytechnic( Autonomous), Bagalkot
 Introduction
• Conventional vehicles with IC engine provide good performance
and long operating range by utilizing the high energy density
advantages of petroleum fuels.
• But these have poor fuel economy and environmental pollution.
• Hybrid electric vehicles which use two power source ( primary
and secondary) have advantages of both IC engine vehicles and
electric vehicles.
• Modern HEVs make use of efficiency-improving technologies
such as regenerative brakes which convert the vehicle's 
kinetic energy to electric energy, which is stored in a battery or 
supercapacitor. 
• Some varieties of HEV use an internal combustion engine to turn
an electrical generator, which either recharges the vehicle's
batteries or directly powers its electric drive motors; this
combination is known as a motor–generator. 
• The traction electric motor can operate independently or in
association with IC engine to power the wheels of the vehicle
depending upon the type of vehicle architecture.
• The blending of the power from two or more devices can be
achieved through an electrical or mechanical devices.
• The power flow control and blending of the mechanical and
electrical transmission paths are internal and transparent to the
user.
• The vehicle design complexity increases significantly for hybrid
vehicles, since controls and support systems are needed for both
IC engine and the electrical machine in addition to the
components needed for blending of power from two resources.
• The high performance and high efficiency of the electric power
transmission path reduces the run time of the IC engine , thereby
reducing the emissions and increasing fuel efficiency.
What is a hybrid?
• A hybrid vehicle combines any two power (energy) sources.
Possible combinations include diesel/electric, gasoline/fly wheel,
and fuel cell (FC)/battery. Typically, one energy source is storage,
and the other is conversion of a fuel to energy.
• The combination of two power sources may support two separate
propulsion systems. Thus to be a True hybrid, the vehicle must
have at least two modes of propulsion.
• For example, a truck that uses a diesel to drive a generator, which
in turn drives several electrical motors for all-wheel drive, is not a
hybrid. But if the truck has electrical energy storage to provide a
second mode, which is electrical assists, then it is a hybrid Vehicle.
• These two power sources may be paired in series, meaning that
the gas engine charges the batteries of an electric motor that
powers the car, or in parallel, with both mechanisms driving the
car directly.
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor. An
alternate arrangement is a diesel engine and an electric motor . a HEV is formed by
merging components from a pure electrical vehicle and a pure gasoline vehicle.
The Electric Vehicle (EV) has an M/G which allows regenerative braking for an EV; the
M/G installed in the HEV enables regenerative braking. For the HEV, the M/G is tucked
directly behind the engine.
In Honda hybrids, the M/G is connected directly to the engine. The transmission
appears next in line. This arrangement has two torque producers; the M/G in motor
mode and the gasoline engine. The battery and M/G are connected electrically.
 HEVs are a combination of electrical and mechanical components.
Three main sources of electricity for hybrids are batteries, FCs, and
capacitors. Each device has a low cell voltage, and, hence, requires
many cells in series to obtain the voltage demanded by an HEV.
Difference in the source of Energy can be explained as:
• The FC provides high energy but low power.
• The battery supplies both modest power and energy.
• The capacitor supplies very large power but low energy.
 HEV Objectives

Objectives the HEV wants to obtain:

• Maximize fuel economy
• Minimize fuel emissions
• Minimize propulsion system cost to keep affordable : to
minimize fuel cost and by that reduce cost of vehicle.
• Maintain acceptable performance with a reasonable cost
• Reduce the conventional car weight
 HEV Advantages Over Conventional Engines
• Regenerative Braking
• Reduction in engine and vehicle weight
• Fuel efficiency is increased
• Emissions are decreased
• Cut emissions of global warming pollutants by 1/3 or 1/2
• Reduce the dependency on fossil fuels
• Some states offer incentives with owning an HEV
• ~2 times more efficient than conventional engines
 Evolution of Hybrid Vehicles
• 1890 Jacob Lohner, a coach builder in Vienna, Austria, foresaw the
need for an electric vehicle that would be less noisy than the new gas-
powered cars. To extend the vehicle's range, Porsche added a gasoline
engine that could recharge the batteries, thus giving birth to the first
hybrid, the Lohner Porsche.
• Porsche showed his hybrid car at the Paris Exposition in 1900. A
gasoline engine was used to power a generator which, in turn, drove a
small series of motors. The electric engine was used to give the car a
little bit of extra power. This method of series hybrid engine is still in
use today, although obviously with further scope of performance
improvement and greater fuel savings.
• 1915 Woods Motor Vehicle manufacturers created the Dual Power
hybrid vehicle, second hybrid car in market. Rather than combining the
two power sources to give a single output of power, the Dual Power
used an electric battery motor to power the engine at low speeds
(below 25km/h) and used the gasoline engine to carry the vehicle from
these low speeds up to its 55km/h maximum speed. While Porsche
had invented the series hybrid, Woods invented the parallel hybrid.
• 1918 The Woods Dual Power was the first hybrid to go into mass
production. In all, some 600 models were built by. However, the
evolution of the internal combustion engine left electric power a
marginal technology
• 1960 Victor Wouk worked in helping create numerous hybrid
designs earned him the nickname of the “Godfather of the
Hybrid”. In 1976 he even converted a Buick Skylark (passenger car
formerly produced by Buick ) from gasoline to hybrid.
• Modern hybrid cars rely on the regenerative braking system.
When a standard combustion engine car brakes, a lot of power is
lost because it dissipates into the atmosphere as heat. The
Regenerative Braking System, was first designed and developed in
1978 by David Arthurs.
• 1990s Automakers took a renewed interest in the hybrid, seeking
a solution to dwindling(diminishing) energy supplies and
environmental concerns and created modern history of hybrid car
• 1993 In USA, Bill Clinton's administration recognized the urgency for the
mass production of cars powered by means other than gasoline.
Numerous government agencies, as well as Chrysler, Ford, GM, and
USCAR combined forces in the PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation
of Vehicles), to create cars using alternative power sources, including
the development and improvement of hybrid electric vehicles.
• 1997 The Audi Duo was the first European hybrid car put into mass
production and hybrid production and consumer take up has continued
to go from strength to strength over the decades.
• 2000 Toyota Prius and Honda Insight became the first mass market
hybrids to go on sale in the United States, with dozens of models
following in the next decade. The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius were
two of the first mainstream Hybrid Electric Vehicles and both models
remain a popular line.
• 2005 A hybrid Ford Escape, the SUV (sport utility vehicle), was released
in 2005. Toyota and Ford essentially swapped patents with one another,
Ford gaining a number of Toyota patents relating to hybrid technology
and Toyota, in return, gaining access to Diesel engine patents from Ford.
Present of Hybrid Electric vehicle Toyota is the most prominent
of all manufacturers when it comes to hybrid cars. As well as
the specialist hybrid range they have produced hybrid
versions of many of their existing model lines, including
several Lexus (now owned and manufactured by Toyota)
vehicles. They have also stated that it is their intention to
release a hybrid version of every single model they release in
the coming decade. As well as cars and SUVs, there are a
select number of hybrid motorcycles, pickups, vans, and other
road going vehicles available to the consumer and the list is
continually increasing.
Future of Hybrid electrical vehicle
Since petroleum is limited and will someday run out of supply.
In the arbitrary year 2037, an estimated one billion
petroleum-fueled vehicles will be on the world’s roads.
gasoline will become prohibitively expensive. The world need
to have solutions for the “400 million otherwise useless cars”.
So year 2037 “gasoline runs out year” means, petroleum will
no longer be used for personal mobility. A market may
develop for solar-powered EVs of the size of a scooter or golf
cart (a small motorized vehicle for golfers and their
equipment.). Since hybrid technology applies to heavy
vehicles, hybrid buses and hybrid trains will be more
significant.
 WHY A HYBRID CAR?
• Hybrid cars are very convenient, they get you quickly from one place
to another. Everyone hates pollution, it makes plants and animals
and happy pristine environments unhappy.
• The H.E.V. is a compromise. Pure electric vehicles, while emission
"free,”
• H.E.V.'s combine both, so the vehicle can go as far and as long as
most people would want and emit only a fraction of the harmful
gases I.C.E.-powered vehicles do.
• The H.E.V. does this by balancing when and how each motor is used.
On the highway, when internal combustion engines are at their most
efficient, and where the battery would be depleted very quickly in
an electric car, the I.C.E. is used.
• For shorter, city driving trips, the electric motor is either used
exclusively, or in such a manner that the I.C.E. also runs, at its peak
efficiency.
 Components of Hybrid Electric Vehicle
• Primary energy conversion devices in hybrid or electric vehicles are
the IC engine, electric machine and the energy storage device.
• The IC engine is a heat engine that converts chemical energy to
mechanical energy.
• The electric machine can be used either as a motor or a generator
to convert mechanical power to electrical power or vice versa.
• The transmission in the vehicles is a key component for power
transfer from the IC engine to the wheels.
• High energy capacity battery pack is essential energy storage device
in hybrid vehicles. Ultra capacitor bank also be used for energy
storage in hybrid vehicles.
• The electric machine require an electric drive to control the
machine and deliver the required power based on requested
demands and feedback signals.
• Electric drives are made up of power electronic devices and
electronic controllers.
• DC to DC converter is another electrical power management
device used for DC power conversion from high voltage to low
voltage levels or vice versa.
• Energy flow in vehicles starts from source of energy to the
wheels with delivery of propulsion power. This is called power
train of the vehicle.
• The energy source within the vehicle could be the diesel or
gasoline for the IC engines or the stored energy in batteries for
electric motors.
• The primary power train components in IC engine vehicles are
the engine and the transmission. These components deliver the
power to the wheels through the driveshaft and other coupling
devices.
• The coupling devices includes, the differential and final drive in
most cases. The Mechanical Power Transmission Path is a shown
in figure.
 Fuel

IC Engine
Transmissio Coupling Whe
n devices els

MPTP

• The power transmission path in an electric vehicle is mostly electrical

except for the coupling devices between the electrical propulsion motor
and the wheels.
• This power transfer path will be referred to as the electrical power
transmission path (EPTP).
 Energy Electric Coupling
Wheels
storage machine devices
and drive

EPTP

• The coupling device is simply be a gear to match electric

machine speeds to vehicle speeds.
• The coupling can even be direct without any gearing in wheel
mounted motors which are known as hub motors.
• In IC engine vehicles, the power and energy can be bidirectional.
But in electric vehicles, kinetic energy of the vehicle can be
processed back to the energy storage device through the electric
machine when the vehicle brakes to slow down or stop.
• Both electrical and mechanical transmission path exist in the
power train of the hybrid vehicle.
 Electric Coupling
Energy Wheels
machine devices
storage and drive

IC engine Electric Energy Electric

Coupling Wheels
generator machine and
storage drive devices

• The above figure is the general configuration of charge sustaining hybrid.

•The charge sustaining hybrids are those that never need to be plugged in for
recharging the energy storage system.
•The only energy source within the vehicle is the stored fuel for the IC engine.
•All of the propulsion energy gets processed through the engine regardless of whether
the power transmission path is electrical or mechanical.
•The propulsion power comes from electric motor or IC engine.
•The propulsion power transmitted to the wheels through either the MPTP or the EPTP
or the combination of two.
•MPTP is associated with an IC engine and transmission , where as EPTP consists of the
energy storage system, generator, propulsion motor and transmission.
 Components of Hybrid electric vehicles

fuel Engine

Generator Battery Motor Wheels

Petrol Engine: This engine is similar to conventional vehicles eg. Four cylinders, four stroke
normally aspirated, etc. The capacity of the engine used is small and light weighted and
very fuel efficient.
Electric motor: The electric motor is used to propel the car, however with the use of
electronic technology, the motor can also act as generator to recharge the battery.
Electric generator: It generates electricity from the rotating wheels while braking,
transferring that energy back to the traction battery pack. Some motors use motor
generators that perform both the drive and regenerative functions.
Controller: Regardless of the energy source, an electric vehicle needs a controller, which is
connected to the lower voltage dc power needed to run vehicle accessories and recharge
the auxiliary battery.
DC/DC converter: It converts higher voltage dc power from the traction
battery pack to the lower voltage DC power needed to run vehicle
accessories and recharge auxiliary batteries
Transmission: The transmission transfers mechanical power from the engine
and or electrical traction motor to drive the wheels. The transmission can
either be manual or automatic.
Fuel tank: It is used to store petrol for the petrol engine.
Batteries: These are provided the energy source for the electric motor, either
recharged by an external power source or recharged by the generator or
electric motor when it is functioning as a generator. Eg: lead acid battery,
zinc-chlorine, nickel metal hydride, sodium sulphur batteries.
Battery(Auxiliary): In an electric drive, the auxiliary battery provides
electricity to start the car before the traction battery is engaged and also
powers vehicle accessories.
Traction battery pack: It stores electricity for use by the electric traction
motor.
 Working of hybrid vehicles
• Starting: While starting the vehicle, IC engine may run the
motor as a generator to produce some power and store it in a
battery.

• Passing: Passing requires a boost in a speed. Therefore IC

engine and the motor both drives the power train.
• Braking: During braking the power train runs the motor as a
generator to charge the battery by regenerative braking.

• Cruising: While cruising, IC engine runs both the vehicle and

the motor as a generator, which charges the battery. The
power flow is stopped once the vehicle stops.
 Advanced electric drive vehicle technology vehicles
Advanced electric drive vehicles (EVs) such as hybrid-electric
vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), fuel cell
electric vehicles (FCVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) require
power electronics and electrical machines (PEEM) to function.
Note: In some instances on this site, the term electric vehicles (EVs)
may be used which includes both FCVs and BEVs. These devices
allow the vehicle to use energy from the battery to assist in the
propulsion of the vehicle, either on their own or in combination
with an engine.
 HEVs: The most critical aspect in designing HEV is to get most
effective results with controlling conversion of energy on the
power train. Therefore, the controller design of HEV is the key
point of the design process. The aim of the control strategies is to
satisfy a number of goals for HEV
(i)Minimization of fuel consumption or maximum of fuel
economy.
(ii)Minimization of emissions.
(iii)Good drivability.
Vehicle Control in HEV
• HEV’s control system is very complex. The multilevel
hierarchical control is an important control method for large-
scale and complex system.
• HEV controller consists of driver command interpreter, vehicle
system controller, and electronic controller. Vehicle system
controller is the decision level to decide the torque demands
of motor, generator, ICE, and mechanical brake according to
the driver’s torque demand, speed of vehicle, and battery’s
state of charge (SOC), where the SOC is estimated by battery
management system (BMS), the speed of vehicle is feed by
sensor. Electronic controller is execution level to carry out the
command from the vehicle system controller to make
corresponding parts work.
(1) Driver Command Interpreter
The function of driver command interpreter is to compute the driver’s torque demand
according to desired speed of vehicle and actual speed of vehicle. Speed of vehicle is
controlled by accelerator pedal and brake pedal position. This is a feed control system by
adjusting the accelerator pedal and brake pedal position to make the vehicle follow the desired
vehicle speed.
(2) Vehicle System Controller
Compared to the conventional vehicles, HEV is a multiple energy source, then, how to split the
required power among energy sources is called EM. Vehicle system controller performs power
train control by using EM strategies according to command signals received from driver
command interpreter and parameters information feedback from electronic controller.
(i)Required power of vehicle interpreter.
(ii)Energy management strategies.
(iii)Torque interpreter.
 HEV is a multiple energy system, different from
conventional vehicles which can only output power,
battery not only can output power but also absorb
power.
For a required power, how to split the power required
between two energy sources and mechanical brake in
order to minimum the fuel consumption or emission is
the hot topic among technology developers. Then,
torque interpreter converts the power demand of ICE
and mechanical brake to torque demands of ICE,
generator, motor, and mechanical brake.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use batteries to power an electric motor, as well
as another fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, to power an internal combustion engine or
other propulsion source. PHEVs can charge their batteries through charging equipment
and regenerative braking. Using electricity from the grid to run the vehicle some or all
of the time reduces operating costs and fuel use, relative to conventional vehicles.
PHEVs may also produce lower levels of emissions, depending on the electricity source
and how often the vehicle is operated in all-electric mode.
Powered by Electric Motor and Combustion Engine
• PHEVs have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which
uses energy stored in batteries. PHEVs generally have larger battery packs
than hybrid electric vehicles. This makes it possible to drive moderate
distances using just electricity (about 15 to 60-plus miles in current
models), commonly referred to as the "electric range" of the vehicle.
• During urban driving, most of a PHEV's power can come from stored
electricity.
• For example, a light-duty PHEV driver might drive to and from work on
all-electric power, plug the vehicle in to charge at night, and be ready for
another all-electric commute the next day. The internal combustion
engine powers the vehicle when the battery is mostly depleted, during
rapid acceleration, or when intensive heating or air conditioning loads are
present.
• Some heavy-duty PHEVs work the opposite way, with the internal
combustion engine used for driving to and from a job site and electricity
used to power the vehicle's auxiliary equipment or control the cab's
climate while at the job site.
Fueling and Driving Options
• PHEV batteries can be charged by an outside electric power
source, by the internal combustion engine, or through
regenerative braking. During braking, the electric motor acts
as a generator, using the energy to charge the battery, thereby
recapturing energy that would have been lost.
• PHEV fuel consumption depends on the distance driven
between battery charges. For example, if the vehicle is never
plugged in to charge, fuel economy will be about the same as
a similarly sized hybrid electric vehicle. If the vehicle is driven
a shorter distance than its all-electric range and plugged in to
charge between trips, it may be possible to use only electric
power. Therefore, consistently charging the vehicle is the best
way to maximize the electric benefits.
Fuel-Efficient System Design
• Beyond battery storage and motor power, there are various
ways to combine the power from the electric motor and the
engine. The two main configurations are parallel and series.
Some PHEVs use transmissions that allow them to operate in
either parallel or series configurations, switching between the
two based on the drive profile.
• Parallel hybrid operation connects the engine and the electric
motor to the wheels through mechanical coupling. Both the
electric motor and the engine can drive the wheels directly.
• Series plug-in hybrids use only the electric motor to drive the
wheels. The internal combustion engine is used to generate
electricity for the motor. Vehicles of this type are often referred
to as extended-range electric vehicles. The electric motor
drives the wheels almost all of the time, but the vehicle can
switch to work like a parallel hybrid at highway speeds when the
battery is depleted.
FCEVs use a propulsion system similar to that of electric vehicles, where energy stored as
hydrogen is converted to electricity by the fuel cell. Unlike conventional internal
combustion engine vehicles, these vehicles produce no harmful tailpipe emissions. FCEVs
are fueled with pure hydrogen gas stored in a tank on the vehicle. Similar to conventional
internal combustion engine vehicles, they can fuel in less than 4 minutes and have a driving
range over 300 miles. FCEVs are equipped with other advanced technologies to increase
efficiency, such as regenerative braking systems that capture the energy lost during braking
and store it in a battery. Major automobile manufacturers are offering a limited but growing
number of production FCEVs to the public in certain markets, in sync with what the
developing infrastructure can support.
 Advantages of hybrid electric vehicles
1. Higher efficiency of the electric machine: The electric machine is a simpler and more
powerful machine compared with the ICE. For example, an electrical machine's
moving parts consist primarily of the armature (DC motor) or rotor (AC motor) and
bearings.
2. Regenerative braking: A regenerative brake is an energy system that decreases the
speed of a vehicle by transforming some of its kinetic energy into a future storable
type of energy, rather than dissipating it as heat as with a conventional brake.
3. Improved torque characteristics: Electric machines are more suitable for automotive
applications, with low-speed high torque and lower cruising speed torque.
4. Reduced emissions - through smoothing and idle removal of transients.
5. For selected setups, optimum engine operation - run the engine in its 'sweet spot',
staying close to its best output hand.
6. Engine downsizing could be necessary in order to cope with average load (not peak
load) and thereby reduce the weight of the engine and power train.
7. It is possible to shut the engine off, thus reducing fuel consumption, pollution and
NVH.
8. Accessory electrification enables the operation of parasitic loads on the necessary
basis.
 Disadvantages hybrid electric vehicles

1. Power train and electronic complexity increased

2. Increased mass of the vehicle due to additional components
3. Increased cost due to extra components and power
management difficulty
4. Overall system reliability can be lower due to increased
complexity
5. If not optimized for the appropriate drive cycle, benefits may
not be fully realized.
 Economic and environmental impacts of Electric hybrid
vehicle
All stages of the life cycle were considered, starting from
a. The extraction of natural resources to produce materials and
b. Ending with conversion of the energy stored on board the
vehicle into mechanical energy for vehicle displacement and
other purposes (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.).

In addition, vehicle production stages and end-of-life disposal

contribute substantially when quantifying the life cycle
environmental impact of fuel-propulsion alternatives.
Two environmental impact elements were accounted for in the:
a. Air pollution (AP) and
b. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
The main GHGs were CO2,CH4, N2O, and SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride)
• For AP, the airborne pollutants CO, NOX,SOX, and VOCs are
assigned the following weighting coefficients: 0.017, 1, 1.3, and
0.64, respectively.
• The vehicle production stage contributes to the total life cycle
environmental impact through the pollution associated with
a. The extraction and processing of material resources,
b. Manufacturing and
c. The vehicle disposal stage.
Additional sources of GHG and AP emissions were associated
with the fuel production and utilization stages. The
environmental impacts of these stages have been evaluated in
numerous life cycle assessments of fuel cycles.
Regarding electricity production for the electric car case, three case
scenarios were considered here:
1. When electricity is produced from renewable energy sources and
nuclear energy;
2. When 50% of the electricity is produced from renewable energy
sources and 50% from natural gas at an efficiency of 40%;
3. When electricity is produced from natural gas at an efficiency of
40%.
AP emissions were calculated assuming that GHG emissions for
plant manufacturing correspond entirely to natural gas
combustion. GHG and AP emissions embedded in manufacturing
a natural gas power generation plant were negligible compared to
the direct emissions during its utilization.
 Taking those factors into account, GHG and AP emissions for the
three scenarios of electricity generation were presented in Table
Hydrogen charging of fuel tanks on vehicles requires compression.
Therefore, presented case considered the energy for hydrogen
compression to be provided by electricity.
 Economic impacts
• Hybrid Cars' Effect on the Auto Industry
• Hybrid Cars' Effect on Oil Companies
• Hybrid Cars' Economic Effect on the Population
 Comparative study of vehicles for economic, environmental aspects
 

A number of key economic parameters that characterize vehicles

were:
a. Vehicle price,
b. Fuel cost, and
c. Driving range.
This case neglected maintenance costs; however, for the hybrid
and electric vehicles, the cost of battery replacement during the
lifetime was accounted for. The driving range determines the
frequency (number and separation distance) of fuelling stations
for each vehicle type. The total fuel cost and the total number of
kilometers driven were related to the vehicle life
 RESULTS OF TECHNICAL–ECONOMICAL–
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
This analysis showed that the hybrid and electric cars have
advantages over the others. The economics and environmental
impact associated with use of an electric car depends significantly
on the source of the electricity:
a. If electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, the
electric car is advantageous to the hybrid vehicle.
b. If the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, the electric car
remains competitive only if the electricity is generated on-board.
c. If the electricity is generated with an efficiency of 50–60% by a gas
turbine engine connected to a high-capacity battery and electric
motor, the electric car is superior in many respects.
 Examples

Toyota Prius

Honda
Insight
 Pros and Cons of HEV
Some of the benefits to owning a hybrid car include:
1. Environmentally Friendly: One of the primary reason public and private organizations are switching
to hybrid vehicles is because they run cleaner and have more efficient gas mileage than conventional
gasoline-powered vehicles, making them environmentally friendly alternatives. The electric motor
and the gasoline engine, when working together reduce fuel consumption, conserving energy.
2. Economical: In a bid to promote hybrid vehicles, the government has greenlighted several credits and
incentives for those wishing to switch to a hybrid alternative. They are also subject to congestion
charge exemptions and considerably fewer tax bills annually in addition to low fuel costs.
3. Less Fossil Fuel Dependent: With an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle runs cleaner and needs less fossil
fuel, resulting in lower emissions and less fossil fuel dependency. A consequent reduction in gasoline
prices will also be seen because of this.
4. Regenerative Braking System: The interesting thing about hybrid vehicles is that every time you
apply the brakes while driving, the electric battery recharges a little. The energy releases as a result
of this motion of applying the brakes are captured by an internal mechanism and used to recharge
the battery, eliminating the need to stop periodically in order to recharge the battery on longer
journeys.
5. Light Build: Lighter materials are used when manufacturing hybrid vehicles, which means they
require less energy to run. Energy is also conserved due to the smaller size and lighter build of the
engine.
6. Higher Resale Value: As gasoline is becoming more and more expensive, more and more people are
switching to hybrid vehicles. This has resulted in a considerable increase in the resale value of such
vehicles. If you switch to a hybrid car and are not satisfied with it, you can always resell it to someone
looking for it and fetch a premium price. Hybrid cars cost more but you can negotiate a good deal on
a used hybrid. Although, insurance is going to cost a little more for a hybrid vehicle. Click here to find
out how to save money on car insurance
Disadvantages of a Hybrid Car (Cons)
1. Less Power: Hybrid cars use two independent engines, with the gasoline engine acting as the
primary power source. Two engines in the car mean that neither the gasoline engine nor the
electric motor is as big as they would be in conventional gasoline or electric vehicles. The
result is less power being generated making the cars unsuitable for speed driving and
acceleration.
2. Expensive to Purchase: The primary deterrent for many people is the high price of hybrid
vehicles, costing an average of five to ten thousand dollars more than conventional vehicles.
However, this is a one-time investment, saving you even more over the life of the vehicle.
3. Poorer Handling: Hybrid vehicles house more machinery than a regular vehicle, namely a
gasoline engine, a light electric motor, and a bunch of batteries. Extra weight in vehicles
reduces fuel efficiency so manufacturers cut down weight in order to counter this, but this
results in a smaller engine, motor, and batteries and reduces support in the suspension and
body.
4. High Maintenance Cost: Repair and maintenance of these vehicles may prove cumbersome
because of the dual engines, continuous development in technology, and high maintenance
costs. Since the use of hybrid cars as consumer vehicles is fairly new, it may not be the easiest
task to find a mechanic with the required expertise.
5. High Voltage Batteries: In the event of an accident, the high voltage contained within the
batteries can prove to be lethal. The presence of such a high voltage increases the risk of the
passengers being electrocuted in the event of a major accident, and make the rescuers’ task
more difficult.
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5vD_BwE
10. https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric.html
11. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/
12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain