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Hybrid Electric Vehicle Definition
by Frank Rawland
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Overview
Commercial and public interest in the concept of hybrid cars has been growing since at least the mid-1990s. In recent years, more hybrid cars have taken the road as development of the technology moves ahead. Since your next car might be a hybrid, you should understand what they are.
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Definition
A hybrid car is a vehicle that has two power sources: an electric motor to propel its wheels, and a gasoline engine to recharge the vehicle's electrical storage system. In some configurations the gasoline engine also assists the electric motor with propulsion.
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Electricity Storage
Usually, electricity in these vehicles is stored in a bank of nickel metal-hydride batteries. But lithium ion batteries with more capacity are in development. Ultracapacitors and flywheels are also under investigation as storage devices.
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Types
Broadly speaking, there are two: series and parallel.
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Series Hybrid
In a series hybrid, the electric motor handles all wheel driving duties. The gasoline engine's only purpose is to recharge batteries. In theory, this configuration is the most efficient and least polluting class of vehicle because the engine can run exclusively at its optimal temperature and RPM; the engines in conventional internal combustion engine cars must operate over a wide range of parameters, not all of which are efficient.
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Makes and Models
As of this writing (March 2009), there are no series hybrid cars on the road. General Motors is planning to introduce one, the Chevy Volt, for the 2010 model year. Other automakers have announced plans for their own, but are less far along.
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Parallel Hybrid
In a parallel hybrid, the gasoline engine assists an electric motor in driving the wheels and also recharges batteries. Some "light hybrid" configurations allocate even more of the driving duties to the engine, with the electric motor providing an assist. In theory, parallel hybrids lose a measure of efficiency because the engines sometimes have to operate outside of their optimal range.
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Automakers
Toyota, Honda and Lexus have parallel hybrid cars. The Toyota Prius is presently the sales leader in this class. Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lexus and Mazda all have parallel hybrid SUVs, and are preparing to introduce hybrid cars.
