Basics Hybrid Vehicles Explained

Petroleum-based fuels are ideally suited for internal combustion engine technology, which has powered most cars and trucks for over a century.  Burning fossil fuels for over a hundred years however has done some serious damage to the ecology of the planet.  Enter the electric vehicle with lower emissions, but correspondingly lower power.  Finally, both technologies have come together in hybrid vehicles, also known as hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs.

Present-day gas mileage saving hybrid vehicles are equipped with both gas internal combustion engines and electric motors.  The gas engine produces power through small and continuous controlled explosions that push pistons which turn a rotating crankshaft.  The force created by the rotation crankshaft is transmitted through a number of components and ultimately turns the vehicle’s wheels.  The electric motor is powered by a battery which creates energy through a chemical reaction.  The battery is continually recharged by a generator that is powered by the internal combustion engine.

Hybrid vehicles are of parallel or series design, or a combination of the two.

In parallel design vehicles, the electric propulsion system and the energy conversion unit are connected directly to the vehicle’s wheels.  The gas engine is used for highway driving and the electric motor acts an assist and provides additional power for acceleration, hill climbing, and other situations that require more power.

In series design vehicles, the gas engine is connected to an electricity producing generator.  This electricity is used to power an electric motor, which in turn powers the vehicle’s wheels.  Hybrid vehicles can also be designed to use the series configuration at low speeds, and the parallel configuration for acceleration and highway driving.

Braking in conventional vehicles generates heat.  This energy is wasted.  Some hybrid vehicles convert this energy to electricity and use it to help propel the vehicle.  This process is called regenerative braking and contributes to the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

Other hybrid vehicles extend the life of the car’s on-board battery system by using ultracapacitors.  The ultracapacitor is more efficient than a battery for capturing the energy from regenerative braking and utilizing it for initial acceleration.

The Perfect Electric Car?

General Motors is pushing hard to ready its electric powered ‘Volt’ for production by 2010.

Changes have been made to the exterior since GM first pulled the covers back at the Detroit auto show back in 2007.

The Volt has understandably generated massive amounts of interest in a short amount of time due to the current fuel crunch and the political climate. GM says that the time-line for the production of the electric vehicle is not only important to GM but for the auto industry as a whole.

With the grips of the currently energy crisis continuing to tighten around consumers and the entire economy, GM is under huge pressure to deliver the car on the set time-line. To that, GM indicates that the production of the Volt is on schedule even though there are significant challenges centered around delivering a batter power source both durable and affordable enough for the mass market.

Currently, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery would power the Volt. This power source is currently rated to last about 40 miles. The Volt also contains a small on-board motor designed to recharge the battery between stops… this power-train model that GM calls its E-Flex is slated to be used by GM in a range of other models.

Ultra fuel-efficient vehicles is the mantra around the country right now and auto makers are rushing to compete to satisfy this demand. The Volt is GM’s strategy not only for this but to also compete with the success that Toyota is having with its Prius.

Competition is a good thing as auto makers across the board are stepping up efforts to engage in the marketplace.

Honda has indicated that it plans to unveil a new hybrid car next spring to also compete with the Prius. Honda’s goal is to sell 100,000 units of this new hybrid electric car… which by the way… is currently said to be priced lower than the Civic hybrid.

The unique aspect of GM’s Volt is the presence of the on-board motor. The on-board motor makes it possible for the Volt to re-charge while on the road. If this functionality proves to be viable, it would solve a major hurdle in the marketplace as consumers are still reluctant to purchase an electric vehicle that could potentially leave them stranded once a charge is depleted.