A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses three or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle.Actually,the term hybrid is most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles(HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) combines a conventional propulsion system with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to achieve better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle. It includes a propulsion system additional to the electric motors, to be not hampered by range from a charging unit like a battery electric vehicle (BEV).
HEVs became widely available to the public in the late 1990s with the introduction of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. HEVs are viewed by some automakers as a core segment of the future automotive market.
Here are some examples of hybrid vehicles:
There are several reasons why smaller engines are more efficient than bigger ones:
- The big engine is heavier than the small engine, so the car uses extra energy every time it accelerates or drives up a hill.
- The pistons and other internal components are heavier, requiring more energy each time they go up and down in the cylinder.
- The displacement of the cylinders is larger, so more fuel is required by each cylinder.
Gasoline-electric Hybrid Structure:
- Gasoline engine - The hybrid car has a gasoline engine much like the one you will find on most cars. However, the engine on a hybrid is smaller and uses advanced technologies to reduce emissions and increase efficiency.
- Fuel tank - The fuel tank in a hybrid is the energy storage device for the gasoline engine. Gasoline has a much higher energy density than batteries do.
- Electric motor - The electric motor on a hybrid car is very sophisticated. Advanced electronics allow it to act as a motor as well as a generator
- Generator - The generator is similar to an electric motor, but it acts only to produce electrical power. It is used mostly on series hybrids (see below).
- Batteries - The batteries in a hybrid car are the energy storage device for the electric motor. Unlike the gasoline in the fuel tank, which can only power the gasoline engine, the electric motor on a hybrid car can put energy into the batteries as well as draw energy from them.
- Transmission - The transmission on a hybrid car performs the same basic function as the transmission on a conventional car
