What is a hybrid vehicle? Automotive engineers have been creating and marketing hybrid cars since the late 1800s. However, because of the high cost of producing them on a large scale, their popularity in the market is still low. However, car manufacturers continue to develop hybrid technology to meet strict emission norms. Please continue reading to learn more about hybrid cars, their benefits and their differences from electric and hybrid cars.
What is a Hybrid Car, and how does it work?
Two engines power hybrid cars: one petrol and one electric. Each engine works together to spin the wheels. This results in less petrol being used and better fuel efficiency. Hybrids are more efficient than conventional vehicles because they combine the advantages of low emissions and high fuel efficiency. Hybrid vehicles can be cruising or braking while producing excess power used to charge their batteries. This leads to increased fuel efficiency and range.
How do Hybrid Electric Cars work?
Hybrid electric vehicles are also known as “hybrid cars”. They use power from both an internal combustion engine (petrol motor) and one electric motor. Learn more about hybrid electric cars.
Hybrid vs. Electric Cars
A hybrid car and an electric car are different in that they use an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to power their wheels. However, the electric car draws power only from one source: the electric motor(s).
Hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient and can travel longer distances/ranges than electric cars, but they still have a long way to go before they reach this level of potential. However, electric cars emit less carbon dioxide than hybrids that rely on internal combustion engines.
There is a difference between Hybrid and Electric Cars.
Specifications Hybrid Cars Electric Cars
Power/Fuel Source Electricity and fossil fuel (Petrol, Diesel) The DC Battery Pack (Electricity)
Engine Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), and Electric Motor(s). Electric Motor(s).
Fuel Efficiency Combination of ICE with Battery Range Battery Range – Depends
Emission Levels Electric Cars are more expensive Lower than Hybrid and ICE Cars.
Price range Similar to Conventional ICE Cars High
Charging Not necessary Not required
The Key Components of Hybrid Electric Cars
Here are the main components that power the hybrid car.
Internal Combustion Engine
A regular petrol engine uses fuel injection to ignite the internal combustion chamber. The spark plug ignites the fuel mixture with air.
Electric Traction Motor
The motor draws power from the battery and then sends power to all the wheels.
Electric Generator
This motor produces electricity using the regenerating power while braking, which recharges the battery. Some electric generators can be used as both a drive and regenerative function.
Traction Battery Pack
The battery stores enough electricity to power electric motors. The generator can also recharge it.
The hybrid’s primary power source is still the internal combustion petrol engine. Regenerative braking provides power to the electric motor. However, the primary petrol engine is required for the hybrid’s battery to recharge.
Types of hybrid cars:
Automobile companies employ different hybrid designs to achieve the highest fuel efficiency and keep hybrid car prices as low as possible. Here are some examples of hybrid cars.
Parallel Hybrid
The most common or popular hybrid design is the parallel hybrid. It combines both internal combustion and electric engines to power the vehicle. Both can be run together, or one can be used to power the vehicle’s primary power source. The other can kick in when needed, such as for a climb, overtaking a vehicle, and so on. Parallel power sources are connected to the transmission or gearbox in parallel. They are therefore called “parallel”. Parallel Hybrid Cars include the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, Toyota Prius and Hyundai Sonata.
Series Hybrid
The Series Hybrid is a hybrid car that uses both the petrol engine and the electric motor. The internal combustion engine doesn’t propel the car; instead, it generates electricity that can be used to charge the battery. The battery pack powers the electric motor(s), sending power to wheels. A Series Hybrid car would include the BMW i3, Kia Optima and Ford Fusion.
Plug-in Hybrid:
The Plug-in Hybrid is a hybrid that uses a larger battery pack than a conventional car. It charges the battery pack using a 110-volt socket, similar to an electric vehicle. The Plug-in Hybrid car is dependent on an internal combustion engine. It can still be used after the battery pack is fully charged. This results in a significant improvement in fuel efficiency. The BMW 330e, Hyundai Uniq Plug-in Hybrid and Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid are examples of the plug-in car.
Two-Mode Hybrid:
Two different modes of operation are available for this hybrid design. It works in the first mode, just like any other hybrid card. The second mode allows the design to adapt to the engine’s requirements to fulfil specific vehicle tasks.
Mild-Hybrid:
The cost of building a hybrid car is still high. Companies are coming up with new ways to offer hybrid technology to the public. Car companies have adopted mild-hybrid designs to comply with emission norms and improve fuel economy without increasing the price. This hybrid uses the electric motor to assist the petrol engine in improving fuel efficiency, Performance, or both. It also acts as an ignition switch for the automatic start/stop function. This switches off the engine when at rest, reducing fuel consumption. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Ciaz are examples of mild-hybrid vehicles.
Check out this list of hybrid cars:
Here is a list of hybrid cars that are very popular around the globe:
- Toyota Prius
- Ford Fusion Hybrid
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota Corolla
- BMW i8
- Honda CR-Z
- Kia Optima
- Hyundai Sonata
Here is a list of upcoming hybrid cars in India for 2020
Here is the 2020 Indian Hybrid Cars List:
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Expected price: Rs.20 lakh
- Expected launch: End 2020
- Nissan Leaf
- Expected price: Rs.30 lakh
- Expected launch: Early 2021
- BMW I8
- Expected price: Rs.3 Crore
- Launch expected in late 2020
- Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid
- Expected price: Rs.90 Crore
- Launch expected in early 2021
- BMW I3
- Expected price: Rs.1 Crore
- Launch expected in mid-2021
Check out this list of the cheapest hybrid cars:
Here is a list of the cheapest hybrid cars on the global market.
- Toyota Corolla
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota Prius
- Kia Niro
- Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid
- Toyota C-HR
Here is a list of hybrid cars in India for 2020
- Toyota Camry
- MG Hector
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Vellfire
- BMW 7 Series
- Toyota Prius
- Volvo XC90
- Lexus LC
- Lexus RS
- Lexus NX
Here is a list of mild-hybrid cars in India
Here is a list of mild and smart hybrid cars from India that do not use an electric motor to propel them but help conserve fuel.
- Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
- Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
- Maruti Suzuki Baleno
- Toyota Glanza
Hybrid Cars’ Advantages and Drawbacks
Hybrid cars could be a step-stone before pure electric vehicles are introduced to the market. Understanding the pros and cons of hybrid cars can help you understand the technology.
The pros of hybrid cars:
- Less Emission: Hybrid cars use both internal combustion and electric engines. This results in a reduction of emissions and is more environmentally friendly.
- Lower Fuel Dependency: An electric motor power the primary petrol engine. This gives you more power. This reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
- A smaller and more efficient engine: Because the electric motor powers the hybrid car, small engines are not required to power it. Hybrid cars also have smaller petrol engines that are comparatively fuel-efficient and smaller.
- Regenerative brake: When the brake pedal is applied to a hybrid vehicle, the electric generator generates electricity that recharges the battery. This eliminates the need to stop the vehicle from charging its battery.
Cons of Hybrid Cars
- Lower Performance Because the main purpose of the hybrid car is to improve fuel efficiency and range; it can have a slower acceleration or power than a conventional internal combustion engine car.
- More expensive to buy: While car companies try to close the price gap between conventional vehicles and hybrids, hybrids still demand higher prices.
- High Maintenance cost: There are many parts to the cars and two engines that power the hybrids. This means maintenance is more expensive. Not all mechanics have the necessary skills to fix hybrid cars.