Hybrid Electric Vehicle

EVs have gained in popularity in recent years due to concerns about climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many governments and automakers have implemented policies and programs to promote the adoption of EVs, and the market for EVs is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

There are several types of EVs, including all-electric vehicles (AEVs), which are powered solely by electricity, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine a traditional ICE with an electric motor. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a type of HEV that can be charged by plugging them into an external electricity source, while non-plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (non-PHEVs) rely on the ICE to generate electricity for the electric motor.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of vehicle that uses two or more power sources to move. The most common type of HEV is a hybrid electric car, which combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a battery pack.

The hybrid electric powertrain allows the vehicle to operate in two modes: all-electric mode and hybrid mode. In all-electric mode, the vehicle is powered solely by the electric motor, using energy stored in the battery pack. This allows the vehicle to be driven short distances without using any gasoline. In hybrid mode, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor work together to power the vehicle. The battery pack is charged by the internal combustion engine and through regenerative braking, which captures energy normally lost as heat during braking and stores it in the battery pack for later use.

HEVs offer several benefits over traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. They are more fuel efficient, as the electric motor can provide additional power when needed and the battery pack can be charged by the internal combustion engine and through regenerative braking. This allows the internal combustion engine to operate at its most efficient level, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. In addition, HEVs are typically more environmentally friendly than gasoline-powered vehicles, as they produce lower emissions and have a smaller carbon footprint.

Classification of HEVs

There are several types of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which can be classified based on their powertrain architecture and the way they use their power sources.

1. Series hybrid: A series hybrid electric vehicle (SHEV) uses an electric motor as its primary power source, with the internal combustion engine serving only as a generator to charge the battery pack. SHEVs can operate in all-electric mode using energy stored in the battery pack, or they can switch to hybrid mode when the battery pack is depleted and the internal combustion engine is needed to generate electricity.
2. Parallel hybrid: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources. The internal combustion engine and electric motor can work together or independently to power the vehicle, depending on the driving conditions. PHEVs can operate in all-electric mode using energy stored in the battery pack, or they can switch to hybrid mode when the battery pack is depleted and the internal combustion engine is needed to provide additional power.
3. Series-parallel hybrid: A series-parallel hybrid electric vehicle (SPHEV) combines elements of both series and parallel hybrid architectures. The internal combustion engine and electric motor can work together or independently to power the vehicle, and the internal combustion engine can also serve as a generator to charge the battery pack.
4. Power-split hybrid: A power-split hybrid electric vehicle (PSHEV) uses a power-split device to allow the internal combustion engine and electric motor to work together or independently to power the vehicle. The power-split device allows the vehicle to operate in all-electric mode using energy stored in the battery pack, or it can switch to hybrid mode when the battery pack is depleted and the internal combustion engine is needed to provide additional power.

Overall, hybrid electric vehicles offer a combination of the benefits of both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles, making them an appealing choice for many drivers.