Question about gas / electric hybrid vehicles.?

Question

I know that there are many other types of alternative fuel vehicles.

I am specifically interested in gas electric hybrids.

If a gas electric hybrid runs out of gas, can you still drive it on electric only to get you to the gas station?

When you start the car, are you just turning on the electric motor, or are you starting the gas engine?

If the electric motor fails to come on, can it be driven to the repair shop using the gas engine only?

If the gas engine fails to come on, can it be driven to the repair shop using the electric motor only?

Answer 1

These all depend on the car ... for the mass marketed ones though....

1.) maybe if the gas station is a block away

2.) Varies between makes and models and state of the car.  The goal in a lot of the new hybrids is to use the electric engine like a starter in gas-only cars.

3.) Yes, this actually happened to me.  A current sensor went out on my car and the electric engine was disabled.  (Was still under warranty).  Performance is limited but it works.

4.) see #1 ... The car is too large of a load for most battery packs.  They will drain too quickly.

Answer 2

1) No, a hybrid can only go on the order of one mile on the electricity stored in the battery at any given time.

2) That depends on how much charge is in the battery, whether the heat or A/C is on, etc. etc.  Usually both start up.

3) Yes, you could still drive the hybrid without the electric motor (though it would be quite underpowered).

4) See #1.

Note that electric motors rarely fail because they have no moving parts that can break.  Electric motors are exceedingly reliable.