Hybrid cars are powered by an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor. Plug-in hybrids allow battery charging through an electrical outlet.
The latter uses energy stored in a battery, which is generally charged through regenerative braking and the combustion engine.
Efficiency Without Loss of Performance
Hybrid cars offer a few benefits, but one of the main ones is the addition of more efficiency without sacrificing performance. The electric motor or motors provide extra power that makes up for or augments a smaller combustion engine. The combined power typically aids in the performance department, but it also increases fuel economy.
In many cases, hybrid vehicles feature a smaller combustion engine and one electric motor. This allows the electric motor to make up for the loss of power in a smaller engine, while also delivering more fuel economy. In some cases, the automaker adds more than one electric motor solely for the purpose of increasing performance.
Most hybrid cars charge their batteries through power from the combustion engine and regenerative braking. The idea of a plug-in hybrid vehicle is somewhat new, but it allows owners to charge the battery at an outlet.
Hybrid Cars Unique Components
Hybrid cars have some unique components that regular combustion cars don’t. For example, the low-voltage auxiliary battery starts the car before the traction battery kicks in. This battery also powers vehicle accessories.
The DC/DC converter converts high-voltage power from the traction battery to the low-voltage DC power that runs accessories and recharges the auxiliary battery. An electric generator works to produce electricity from the rotating wheels and transfers it back to the traction battery.
An electric traction motor uses power from the traction battery to drive the vehicle’s wheels. Some hybrid cars use motor generators that handle both the regeneration and drive functions for the vehicle.
A power electronic controller manages the flow of electrical energy from the traction battery, which controls the speed of the motor and the amount of torque it produces.
Features That Hybrid Cars Share With Combustion Cars
As a mix of both electric and combustion, hybrid cars naturally share several features with a regular gas or diesel-powered vehicle. Hybrid cars have an exhaust system, a fuel tank, a transmission, and a spark-ignited internal combustion engine. A thermal system works to cool the engine, electric motor, and other electrical components. Some components have to do extra things, for example, the transmission transfers power from the engine and/or the electric traction motor.
Hybrid Cars vs All-Electric
Hybrid cars live up to their name in that they provide hybrid power, using both internal combustion and electricity. An all-electric vehicle does not have an internal combustion engine. Instead, it has one or more electric motors powered by a battery pack. The battery pack has to be charged with an electrical outlet. This generally gives hybrid cars the advantage in that they aren’t limited in range by their battery and whether there’s an outlet nearby.
Although there are many all-electric vehicles on the market today, hybrid cars have enjoyed steady popularity for a longer time.
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