Exactly how does a hybrid car work?

Question

what fuel is used to run a hiybrid car?

Answer 1

Hi,

this will be a lot of details, so stay with me and I'll give you the full answer...

A hybrid vehicle simply uses two types of energy to move. A moped is a hybrid because you can pedal it or you can start the gas engine. You, and gasoline, provide the energy to make it move. But we'll stick with hybrid cars.

How a hybrid works depends on the type of hybrid, and there are various levels of hybrid vehicles.

The best fuel choice for a hybrid is standard gasoline. Ethanol blends actually lower mileage because ethanol is grain alcohol and grain alcohol is less energy dense than gasoline. You get less bang for the buck. An E10 or E15 blend actually lowers mileage by about 10%. Ethanol is also extremely energy intensive to make. It takes about 1.26-1.29 gallons of gasoline to make one gallon of ethanol usable, according to the US government.

There will be different choices available in the next few years, such as methanol, which are much better for the environment, but for now it is gasoline or ethanol blends.

A full hybrid is able to move using electricity only, the internal combustion engine (ICE) does not have to start or run. A full hybrid has a large storage battery and powerful electric motors. The air conditioning system is not attached to the ICE, so your air conditioning is powered by electricity only.

A partial hybrid has a small storage battery and small electric motors. It is not able to move unless the ICE starts and runs.

The Honda Accord or Civic Hybrids are examples of partial hybrids, and Honda calls their system an "Integrated Motor Assist" system, because the hybrid portion boosts the main ICE.

Mild hybrids have no extra battery storage capacity and the ICE must run to move the vehicle. The mild system essentially turns the ICE off when the vehicle stops (if the air conditioning is running, the ICE runs even at stops) and it may power a power plug (the Silverado Hybrid pickup has a plug in the bed to power electrical tools).

The Prius, and all Toyota and Lexus hybrids, are full hybrids.

When a Prius is started, a charge comes from a lead acid, 12 volt battery (the same type of lead acid battery found in any vehicle, not just a hybrid) and that charge gives power to the main computer so it can start the electric drive.

The electric drive is what actually starts the ICE, there is no starter on a full hybrid. The main electric motor is called an MG1, or Motor Generator 1.

The ICE will shut off when not needed and is turned on instantly by the MG1 when more power is necessary.

When the driver presses the brake pedal, an electric motor called an MG2, or Motor Generator 2, uses the resistance of that generator to slow down the vehicle and that resistance creates electricity to be stored in the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery.

The NiMH is a seperate battery and is part of a different electrical system than the lead acid, 12 volt system.

The 12 volt lead acid battery is only used to start the electric drive, power the headlights and accessories (cigarette lighter power outlets, for example), and store the radio and navigation system presets.

The NiMH is only used to provide power to the electric motors to help move the vehicle.

The Prius can recharge the NiMH in three ways-

1. the friction of the wheels just rolling on the ground

2. the ICE running through the hybrid system

3. pressing the brake pedal through the regenerative braking

The Prius is what is called a series/parallel hybrid, meaning it can move using electicity only (series) or using the electric and gas portions of the hybrid system (parallel).

There are hybrids being developed focusing on series only, meaning the electrical system is the only thing linked to the wheels to move the vehicle, and there is a small ICE that is only used to recharge the storage battery. But that is a much more difficult way to produce a vehicle that most people would be able to use in real life and in real world driving conditions.

A great website is www.hybridsynergydrive.com It is the official European Toyota website and not only shows each component, but also where they are located, how they interact with each part, and plenty of graphs and diagrams.

Answer 2

some hybrid cars use a combination of either or  gasoline is a given in combination with batterys  or hydrogen fuel cells im not sure if there is any other source.. solar.... dont belive there is any production solar hybrid though

Answer 3

The basic design, so far, is a small engine (combustible) that is connected to an electric motor, either AC or DC current. This association allows the car to run economically on electric and assist the engine climbing hills, high speed traveling and recharging the battery pack somewhat. Plans for other alternative power structures are in the works and that will change the designs.

Spartawo...

Answer 4

The fuel is gasoline, or diesel, like a regular car.  They have a battery and electric motor, which work with the regular engine.  Different hybrids have different details (like "Hybrid Synergy Drive") but generally:

The battery and electric motor help the regular engine accelerate the car (or climb a hill), so the regular engine does not have to be as large.

The motor *may* charge the battery (acting as a generator) when you brake, so some of the energy gets recycled for the next time you start moving again.  

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/...

has a diagram and pictures