Hybrid vehicles
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Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, producing significantly lower emissions and increased fuel economy.
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Battery electric vehicles
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Electric motorcars are hardly new: they were introduced in 1834. Electric “motor fuel” pre-dates gasoline and diesel, and offers strong benefits over fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine (ICE).
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Hybrid electric vehicles
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Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are somewhat similar to today’s conventional automobile except for their two “engines”.
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Hybrid electric vehicle models
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Rising gas prices have generated a wave of public interest and publicity about gas-saving hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and for good reason: Hybrids make good sense.
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Service hybrid electric vehicles – safely!
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With record high prices for crude oil, and at the pump, consumers are placing record numbers of orders for gas saving light-duty hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). But how prepared are shops when it comes to servicing these?
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Hybrid vehicle systems
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There are three hybrid vehicle systems which combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. They are: series; parallel; and series-parallel.
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Series-parallel hybrid systems
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The series-parallel hybrid system uses an electric motor to drive the vehicle at low loads and speeds and a gasoline engine when loads and speeds increase. A control unit determines the best balance of power to achieve the most efficient vehicle operation.
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Hybrid system components
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A permanent magnet brushless motor/generator is mounted adjacent to the engine. A smaller motor/generator replaces the engine flywheel. The motor control unit controls the delivery of electric current to and from the battery and the electric motors.
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Hybrid vehicle driving
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When the vehicle is moving off from a stationary position, and when travelling at low to moderate speeds, the main electric motor drives the vehicle. During normal driving, the combustion engine starts and drives the generator & the power divider. |
