HYBRID ELECTRIC

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV, or hybrid) uses developing HEVs that achieve up to 80 miles per gallon, or
both electrical and mechanical energy to propel it. It three times the fuel economy of conventional 1993 vehicles.
combines the efficiency of electrical drive systems with the
longer driving range provided by liquid or gaseous fuels. Auto manufacturers throughout the world are
interested in HEVs. The Japanese were the first to market
HISTORY them: Toyota introduced the first HEV in Japan in 1997.
From the 1830s until the 1920s, electricity, stored In 1999, Honda sold the first gasoline-electric hybrid in
in lead-acid batteries, was a popular energy source for the United States.
vehicles. Electricity is a highly efficient means of propelling
vehicles; the range of battery SOURCES
electric vehicles is relatively The first model
short, however, because the hybrids depended on
energy density of batteries gasoline, but hybrids can
is low compared with that be designed to operate on
of liquid or gaseous fuels. a wide variety of gaseous
When petroleum became or liquid fuels, including
an inexpensive and widely fossil fuels or a renewable
available fuel, electric alternative fuel such as
vehicles lost their popularity biodiesel or ethanol.
as long-distance vehicles.
Because of their quiet operation and lack of exhaust, they VEHICLE ALTERATIONS
continued to be used off road in factories, warehouses, Hybrids essentially combine a mechanical power
and golf courses. unit, an electrical energy storage system, and a propulsion
system. Many combinations or configurations are possible.
Hybrid power systems were conceived as a way to The power unit may be a spark-ignition engine, compression
extend the range of electric vehicles for on-road use. Early ignition direct-injection engine, gas turbine, or fuel cell.
designs assumed that HEVs would get most of their power The energy storage system may be a battery, ultracapacitor,
from wall-plug electricity. For longer trips, an onboard or flywheel. Propulsion may come entirely from the
generator powered by an internal combustion engine electric motor or from both the motor and power unit.
would extend the power needed. This system was expected
to be as efficient and emission free as possible until better Several vehicle alterations lead to greater fuel
batteries were developed that made hybrids unnecessary. economy for hybrids than with traditional vehicles. If an
internal combustion engine is used, the engine can be
In recent years, design approaches for HEVs have smaller and lighter because it shares the workload with the
changed. They no longer rely on wall-plug electricity and electrical motor. The engine can be optimized to operate
are no longer seen as transitional vehicles. Most experts feel within a speed range where fuel economy is greatest. HEVs
that the car of the near future will be an HEV of some kind. typically use regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle
by capturing kinetic energy, converting it to electricity,
RESEARCH and channeling it to the battery pack, thus minimizing
From 1993 to 2002, two programs supported the energy lost when slowing down.
research and development of hybrid vehicles in the United
States: the Department of Energys HEV Program and the MAINTENANCE
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) Because HEVs have combined systems, they are
Program. The latter was a collaboration between the more complex than either battery-powered or conventional
federal government and the Big Three automakers Ford, vehicles. Maintenance schedules and the cost of parts and
General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler. The goals of the two service are expected to be higher than for other types
programs were closely aligned. The HEV Program aimed to of vehicles.
develop HEV drivetrains and other internal components that
would be twice as fuel efficient as those of conventional SAFETY
vehicles. The PNGV Program researched vehicle characteristics Care needs to be taken in transporting and refueling
that affect fuel efficiency such as the chassis, body, whatever gaseous or liquid fuel is used to power the hybrid.
aerodynamics, and rolling resistance with the goal of For batteries, vehicle manufacturers are using a number of

FUEL FACT SHEETS 78

 HYBRID ELECTRIC

HOW A HYBRID ELECTRIC CAR WORKS

1. FUEL TANK (or high-pressure cylinders) - 6. ENERGY-STORAGE SYSTEM - stores
contains gasoline, diesel, methanol, ethanol, electricity until it is needed. The system may
compressed or liquid natural gas. include batteries, supercapacitors, and/or
a flywheel.
2. SPARK OR COMPRESSION IGNITION
ENGINE - converts fuel to mechanical energy. 7. MOTOR CONTROLLER - sends
electricity smoothly and efficiently
3. IN PARALLEL SYSTEMS - engine to the motor as needed. It is
may provide power directly to the controlled by an accelerator
drivetrain (transmission and/or pedal. If regenerative braking
differential) is installed, the controller will
allow the motor to act as a
4. GENERATOR - driven generator and return braking
by the engine, it converts energy to the energy-storage system.
mechanical energy to
electrical energy in 8. MOTOR - converts electrical
both parallel and energy to mechanical energy and
series hybrids. vice versa.

5. COMPUTER - decides 9. DRIVETRAIN - transfers mechanical

whether electric power from energy to wheels through a differential and
the onboard generator or an sometimes a transmission.
external power source is stored in
the battery or sent directly to the motor. 10. PLUG - if installed, enables the energy-
(In parallel systems, a computer also controls storage system to be charged by plugging into
when power to the drivetrain comes from the the electric grid, or by home-mounted solar
engine and from the motor.) collectors.

disconnect systems in the high-voltage circuits, which isolate Insight the first hybrid sold in the United States
the rest of the vehicle from the battery voltage. Lethal levels gets 61/68 city/highway miles per gallon. U.S. automakers
of electricity may be present in the battery pack, however, aim to create a vehicle getting 80 miles per gallon.
so it should be treated with the same caution and respect
as a full fuel tank in an internal combustion vehicle. In case EMISSIONS
of accidents, emergency response personnel will need special Because hybrids are two to three times as fuel
training to handle such hazards as exposure to high-voltage efficient as conventional vehicles, emissions per mile are
systems and possible leakage of flammable, toxic, or greatly decreased. The type of emissions depends on the
corrosive battery chemicals and/or fuel. by-products of the specific fuel used. The first hybrids,
which use gasoline, cut emissions of greenhouse gases by
PERFORMANCE a third to a half; later models may cut emissions even more.
HEVs are meeting or exceeding the performance
of conventional vehicles. Toyota Motor company reports that the Prius
greatly reduces emissions: 50 percent for carbon dioxide
RANGE AND REFUELING and 90 percent for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and
Gasoline-powered HEVs are rapidly refueled and nitrogen oxides. The Prius is rated by the California Air
need fueling less often. Toyota Motor Company reports that Resources Board as a super ultra low-emission vehicle
its Prius, the first gasoline-powered HEV, gets 48 combined (SULEV), and the Insight is rated as an ultra low-emission
highway/city miles per gallon. According to Honda, its vehicle (ULEV).

PARALLEL HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERIES HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

In a parallel In a series
configuration, configuration,
the drive system the drivetrain
can be powered is powered
simultaneously solely from the
by the electric motor, which is
motor and the connected to
mechanical the electrical
device. For example, during acceleration, passing, or hill storage device. The power unit (internal combustion engine,
climbing, the electric motor and internal combustion engine turbine, or fuel cell) generates electricity to charge the electrical
can both provide power to the drivetrain. Once the vehicle storage device (e.g., battery, flywheel, or ultracapacitor).
reaches cruising speed, the hybrid relies solely on the the
engine to maintain speed.
79 FUEL FACT SHEETS