Hybrid Cars Special: What are they?

What is a hybrid car? . Lately, people are starting to talk a lot of different types of alternative propulsion, fuel cells, electric cars, cars that run on natural gas .... and there is some confusion about it, in a sector that is changing day by day, and many of you can come to confuse you. Today we will try to explain what a hybrid car.

A hybrid car is an alternatively powered vehicle that combines an electric motor that gets its power from batteries and an internal combustion engine. The combination of these two engines, as its main objective the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions outside the vehicle. These environmentally friendly vehicles are currently the most effective solution is in terms of environmentally friendly vehicles.

Types of hybrid cars

At first, we will create a differentiation by powertrain have these cars (ie, as the distribution of both engines):

1. Hybrids in parallel: the combustion engine is the main source of energy, and the electric motor acts only as a support system, providing more power when the system needs it. Precisely because of this configuration, the drive consumes less (when accelerating), and thus being more efficient.
2. Hybrid combination: more complex, the engine alone, operates at low speed, while at high speed both engines working. In this case the combustion engine also provides power to the electric motor to recharge the batteries as well.
3. Series hybrid, the vehicle is driven only by the electric motor, and uses the heat engine as a generator to recharge the batteries.

To clarify these three categories, we'll put three examples of cars that are currently, so you can tell them apart. For example, the Honda Insight , this is a car in parallel, and the Toyota Prius a hybrid combination.

Many people believe that the Insight is the same as the Prius, but this is not true. The Insight is less than the Prius hybrid, by using only the electric motor to support the heat, however, the Prius can get to shoot in certain situations only with electric or support it as thermal acceleration. In theory, the Prius should be more efficient than the Insight. In fact, all we have heard very good things so the Prius and the Insight no .

It should be noted that the weak point is the poor performance híbirdos with internal combustion engines because of their nature. It is clear that internal combustion engines are becoming more efficient, consume less and have less pollution. But there is something that can not be avoided, and the gears are all carrying these engines produce a friction that results in loss of performance, and that's something we all have heat engines. In addition, we must have the transmission system 5, 6, or 7-speed is in the market, and this makes them even more inefficient.

On the other hand an electric motor is simpler, only have one way, less gear, and therefore more effective than heat.

That said, it is clear that pure electric cars are more effective in the thermal performance, however, we must take into account that today requires the availability of better batteries for increased battery life and also of adequate infrastructure to more effectively recharging electric cars.

This is where one step further in the subject of hybrids, such as serial hybrids. The best example is the now the Chevrolet Volt , the Opel Ampera and perhaps the future A1 e-tron (if it production). This car uses only the electric motor as drive unit, and if you run out of battery, internal combustion engine generates enough electricity to power electric motor that will not fade.

These hybrids are theoretically more effective for its philosophy of operation, as the engine more efficient, is in charge of the drive the car, and less efficient recharge batteries more efficient.

Besides these three types of hybrids, according to their performance there are different categorizations:

1. Micro-Hybrid stops only turns off the engine. When progress is required again, the car alternator reverses the energy recovered in the arrest of the car to restart it, and so do not spend the car battery.
2. Semi-Hybrid electric motor provides assistance to the electric motor generates energy through braking, but can not propel itself.
3. Hybrid-pure: it can move under certain conditions only with the electric motor, while the heat is only turned off. The change can occur between them as required by the march.
4. Plug-in hybrid: it belongs to this group only if their batteries are rechargeable, and runs at least 32 km without other propulsion system. In this case, for example, would be the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid .
5. Extended range hybrid: the same as in the case abroad, but also when batteries run out of the combustion engine is used only to generate electricity. In this case, for example, enter the e-tron A1 of which we spoke earlier.

Obviously, depending on the configuration of the hybrid offer advantages and disadvantages according to the philosophy of the whole. Though the basic scheme of the most common hybrids is shown in the following picture (often combined type híbirdos or in parallel).

The batteries, the main problem

Without doubt, the batteries today (although each time the problem is minor) is the main drag. Electric motors have proved their ability to drive different vehicles throughout history, such as trains. However, to get an idea of the situation, equivalent to 1 kg of batteries 18 grams of fuel!. Obviously, we are not taking into account the performance difference between both engines.

On the issue of durability of the batteries and there are brands such as Nissan (Leaf) securing up to eight years in the batteries, thus, this should not be a problem for the buyer.

Finally, one last point. We all know the environmental problem we face lately. And the issue of mobility is very important today, coupled with the prevailing crisis worldwide, the automotive sector is moving towards an environment greener and more sustainable.

Ideally, there were already fully electric cars, but different constraints to be discussed in another article to write, have made the automobile sector of a less radical evolutionary step, and more logical as they are hybrids. At present, hybrid cars are an interim step that the industry has to give up the infrastructure, economy and technology allow for a greater evolutionary step.

In coming days we will explain the various alternatives on the market and its prospects, as though they are the most widespread, there are alternatives to hybrid cars.

Hybrid Cars Special: What are they? written MotorFull on 3 August, 2010 weitxu
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