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Have you ever wondered how a hybrid vehicle actually works? Whether the
increasing price of gasoline has you considering the economic benefits or global
warming has you rethinking the environmental costs of driving, a hybrid car is an
appealing alternative. But what makes a hybrid different from a regular car?
Hybrid vehicles work by combining two (or more) power sources. A moped is
actually a hybrid, combining the gasoline engine with the rider’s pedal power.
Most hybrid cars use gasoline and electric – combining a traditional combustion
engine with an electric motor. This gives you the best of both worlds – you can
still have the power and convenience of a gasoline­powered engine with the
economic benefits of an electric engine.
Though all it takes to be a “hybrid” is two power sources, hybrid vehicles also
have a few unique features that allow them to work more efficiently. The first
feature is Idle off, which turns the gasoline engine off when the car is stopped –
which means fuel savings! The electric engine continues to power the vehicle
while stopped, and the gasoline engine turns back on when you are ready to drive
again.
Regenerative braking is another feature of hybrid vehicles. A typical car relies
on the mechanical brakes to slow and stop, creating friction that reduces the
vehicle’s kinetic energy. A hybrid can use its electric motor for “regenerative
braking.” The electric motor captures the kinetic energy from the moving car and
converts it into electricity. Instead of losing the heat energy from the brakes, your
car can save and store some of the energy in the battery to be used later!
Hybrids also utilize power assist and engine downsizing to operate the vehicle.
To qualify as a hybrid, the electric motor must be large enough to actually
supplement the engine to power the car and accelerate while driving. Some
hybrids rely on engine downsizing, using physically smaller engines or those with
more effective combustion cycles. Power assist then reduces the amount of
engine work and gasoline needed to accelerate and run the vehicle. Through
these methods, hybrid cars achieve the same power as traditional vehicles but
use less gas!
The features above are true of all hybrid vehicles, but hybrid cars can vary from
the basic, minimum features to fully hybrid – offering electric only drive capability
and extended battery electric range. Other variations include how the components
are arranged in the drivetrain, working either in series or parallel (or sometimes
both). The batteries, electric motor, gasoline engine, and other components work
together in the drivetrain to operate the vehicle, allowing you to slow, accelerate,
cruise, and brake.
Hybrid vehicles combine a traditional combustion engine with an electric motor
and battery to operate your vehicle, take advantage of the benefits of both
systems, and save you money on fuel! If you have more questions about hybrid
vehicles, stop by the shop or call (585) 242­2360 for more information.