What's a Hybrid Car & Why do I need one.
What's a Hybrid Car & Why do I need one.
Posted on October 14, 2022
A hybrid car has a gas-powered motor, usually small and very fuel efficient, and at least one electric motor to propel. Depending on the vehicle's make, the gas-powered engine may do all the work, the electric motor may do all the work, or it can be a combination of the two. The energy to charge the battery can come from an external source, the gas-powered engine, or the vehicle's regenerative braking system. The regenerative braking system uses energy usually lost during deceleration to turn a generator to charge the battery.
Hybrid Variations
As with all technologies, there is more than one way of achieving the same result. We’ve outlined the different types below:
Parallel Hybrid
This is the original and most common form of the hybrid drive. In Parallel Hybrids, the gas engine and the electric motor provide drive and are coupled via a common transmission. The transmission can be manual or automatic. The transmission type and the capacity of the gas engine will determine the vehicle's driving characteristics. Vehicles carrying this hybrid form can be found in the hybrid line-up from most brands.
Series Hybrid
This design has all the thrust provided by the electric motors. There is no physical connection between the gas engine and the wheels; the gas engine is there to enable the recharging of the electric battery. As the electric motors provide the drive, this type of hybrid resembles driving a pure electric vehicle, with sharp acceleration, smooth cruising, and silent running.
It can be disconcerting for the car's occupants when the vehicle is cruising along, and suddenly the gas engine comes to life, with no noticeable change to the vehicle's speed. It takes some getting used to that the gas engine is only recharging the battery.
Plug-In Hybrid
This hybrid is an enhanced version of the Series Hybrid. It is fitted with a much larger battery pack to give an extended electric-only range. This battery pack can be charged from an external source, and if you drive many short trips, likely, you will not need to use the gas engine as the battery pack will be sufficient for your needs. Once the energy in the battery pack is exhausted, the gas engine will kick in and charge the batteries like the Series Hybrid design.
Honda has a new hybrid design in which the engine drives the generator most of the time but can be used to drive the wheels as well, while Volvo has a hybrid design with a gas engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rear! Other manufacturers also use Volvo's design, except the electric motors drive the front wheels rather than the rear.
Final Thoughts
Buying a hybrid makes a huge amount of sense. Not only will you be doing your bit to save our planet, but you will also save a great deal on your monthly fuel bill.
At the Myers Group, we have a range of hybrids that will meet the needs of the most discerning buyers. Feel free to browse our selection of hybrid vehicles online or come in and test-drive any of the cars on the floor.