Trystan Casey
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are vehicles that are powered by an electric motor and either a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine. They are often associated with environmentalists but have now become mainstream, with most automakers offering at least one hybrid option. HEVs are self-charging and do not need to be plugged in, and they are known to have lower fuel consumption and produce fewer CO2 emissions than conventional vehicles.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power Sources | Gas-powered engine and an electric motor |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Battery | Rechargeable, small, and stores electricity |
| Engine | Internal combustion engine |
| Energy Source | Energy stored in batteries |
| Charging | Self-charging through regenerative braking and internal combustion engine |
| Fuel Consumption | Lower than conventionally-powered vehicles |
| Emissions | Less CO2 emissions than conventionally-powered vehicles |
| Driving Modes | Can be driven in fully-electric mode for short distances |
| Performance | Better fuel economy without sacrificing performance |
| Braking | Longer-lasting brake pads and rotors due to regenerative braking |
| Speed | Seamlessly switch between power sources at different speeds |
| Types | Mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, parallel hybrid, series hybrid, and fuel-cell hybrid |
| Examples | Toyota Prius, Hyundai Elantra, BMW 5 Series, Volvo ECC, Toyota Maverick |
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What You'll Learn
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV)
HEVs can be driven in fully electric mode, but due to the smaller battery size compared to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), they can only maintain this for short distances. At low speeds, the vehicle can be powered by the electric motor alone, but once speed increases, the ICE will automatically kick in. This switch is seamless, and the two power sources can also be used simultaneously for optimal performance.
HEVs are often more fuel-efficient and produce fewer CO2 emissions than conventional vehicles. They also benefit from longer-lasting brake pads and rotors due to their focus on regenerative braking. Mild hybrids are a form of HEV that cannot be driven solely on their electric motors, as the motor does not have enough power to propel the vehicle independently. Instead, the mild hybrid system assists the engine during acceleration and allows the engine to be turned off when coasting, braking, or stopped, improving fuel efficiency.
The development of HEVs has progressed since the 1990s, with many automakers now offering hybrid options. Examples of HEVs include the Toyota Prius, early Honda hybrids, and current offerings from Hyundai and Kia, such as the Elantra.
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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, which use energy stored in batteries. The battery in an HEV is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine, and cannot be plugged in to charge.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a type of HEV that can be plugged into an external power source to charge their larger battery packs. PHEVs combine electric and gasoline power, offering a practical and efficient step towards greener mobility. They have three modes: combustion, hybrid, and electric. The combustion mode allows drivers to store their charge until it is needed, while the hybrid mode optimises engine and motor use through a computer. The electric mode uses only the battery's energy, allowing drivers to perform their daily commute and errands around town without using any gasoline. The majority of a PHEV's power requirements when travelling in cities can be met by its stored charge.
PHEVs are popular for their ability to use electric power for shorter trips and gasoline for longer trips, working with the electric motor for better fuel consumption. They are also eligible for local, state, and federal tax credits, which helps to lower the cost of the vehicle.
PHEVs have larger battery packs than HEVs, which is referred to as the vehicle's "electric range". This allows them to travel on electricity alone for moderate distances (between 15 and 60+ miles for modern models). However, some PHEVs have batteries that rely on engine heat in the winter, which can be a disadvantage.
Overall, PHEVs offer a good compromise between traditional gasoline vehicles and electric vehicles, providing the benefits of both systems.
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Mild hybrids
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine two power sources, typically a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. Mild hybrids (MHEVs), on the other hand, are not to be confused with HEVs or plug-in hybrids, as they cannot be powered solely by electricity. They are equipped with a minimally extended battery and an auxiliary electric motor and generator in a parallel hybrid configuration. The electric motor in a mild hybrid is smaller and cannot propel the vehicle on its own. Instead, it assists the engine, providing extra propulsion energy when accelerating and allowing for a smaller engine overall.
MHEVs are also known as smart hybrids, power-assist hybrids, or battery-assisted hybrid vehicles (BAHVs). They are designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in both petrol and diesel-engined cars. The technology is relatively inexpensive to fit, making it a cost-effective way to improve vehicle efficiency. Mild hybrids can also keep systems like climate control functioning when the engine automatically shuts down, and they provide a smoother start-stop system operation.
MHEVs have been introduced by various car manufacturers, including Honda, Chevrolet, GMC, VW, Fiat, Suzuki, Ford, Audi, and BMW. They offer a gentle electrical assistance to the engine, improving efficiency and reducing emissions without the need for a purely electric setup. While MHEVs may not provide the same environmental benefits as full hybrids, they are a more affordable option for those looking to dip their toes into the world of electrified vehicles.
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Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (HFEV)
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by two different energy sources: a fuel tank and a battery pack. The battery pack provides energy to the electric motor(s). The electric motor can be used on its own at lower speeds, while the engine is typically used at higher speeds. The battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine.
Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (HFEVs) are a type of electric vehicle that uses hydrogen as a source of electrons for an electric motor. HFEVs are not hybrids as they are purely electric and do not contain any type of heat engine. Hydrogen fuel cells create electricity that is fed into an electric motor to drive the wheels. This electricity is generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack, with water being the only byproduct. HFEVs may also comprise closed-cell batteries for the purpose of power storage from regenerative braking.
HFEVs are crucial in delivering zero emissions across many kinds of road transport, from passenger cars to vans, trucks, and buses. Refuelling the hydrogen tank of an HFEV from a pump takes less than five minutes. The Toyota Mirai, introduced in 2014, is an example of an HFEV and has been used by the International Olympic Committee and in taxi fleets.
Several vehicle manufacturers are now using hydrogen fuel cells to power future models. For example, Jaguar Land Rover aims to achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2036 with a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on the Land Rover Defender SUV. Honda is also making a stronger push with hydrogen technology, with the CR-V e set to launch in 2025 as the first North American vehicle to incorporate both plug-in EV charging and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
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Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a car or truck that uses two different power sources. Typically, this is a combination of a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. Hybrid cars use one or both power sources for motivation, often using the electric motor at lower speeds and the engine at higher ones.
Now, onto battery electric vehicles (BEVs). BEVs, also called EVs, are fully electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries and no gasoline engine. All energy to run the vehicle comes from the battery pack, which is recharged from the grid. BEVs are zero-emissions vehicles, as they do not generate any harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution hazards caused by traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. BEVs include automobiles, light trucks, and neighborhood electric vehicles. They also include battery-driven electric cars, buses, trucks, forklifts, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, skateboards, railcars, boats, and personal watercraft. In common usage, however, the term usually refers specifically to passenger cars.
BEVs have no fuel tanks and replenish their energy storage by plugging into a charging station, electrical grid, or getting a new battery at a battery swap station. They use a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor. The electric traction motor then drives the vehicle's wheels. Some vehicles use motor generators that perform both the drive and regeneration functions. Onboard chargers take the incoming AC electricity supplied via the charge port and convert it to DC power for charging the traction battery.
The concept of BEVs is to use charged batteries on board for propulsion. BEVs are becoming more and more attractive with higher oil prices and the advancement of new battery technology (lithium-ion) that has higher power and energy density. Compared to older battery types such as lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries now have an energy density of 0.9–2.63 MJ/L, whereas lead-acid batteries had an energy density of 0.36 MJ/L. However, there is still a long way to go if comparing it to petroleum-based fuels and biofuels.
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Frequently asked questions
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is powered by an electric motor and either a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine. Hybrid electric vehicles are self-charging and do not need to be plugged in. They can be driven in fully electric mode but only for short distances.
Hybrid electric vehicles have lower fuel consumption and produce fewer CO2 emissions than a conventionally powered vehicle. They are also more affordable than fully electric vehicles.
Some examples of hybrid electric vehicles include the Toyota Prius, the Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid, the BMW 5 Series (E34) CVT, and the Volvo ECC.
