Hybrid engine history. What is a hybrid car

22.09.2019

A hybrid car (hybrid) is a vehicle that is equipped not with the usual internal combustion engine, but with the so-called hybrid power unit. The main difference between hybrid cars is that vehicles of this type are driven by the use of several energy sources: thermal and electrical. In other words, a hybrid car has several types of engines on board that power the car.

As for the very concept of a hybrid engine, this term is misunderstood by many as a special power plant. In fact, a “hybrid” should be understood as several engines of different types, which are combined into a complex single system for converting various energy sources into useful work. In modern automotive industry, hybrid cars are equipped with two types of power units: an electric motor is paired with an internal combustion engine.

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The main advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars

One of the first developments was a scheme in which each of the power plants is activated under certain conditions. If the car is idle or the movement occurs at low speed, then the electric motor turns the wheels. To accelerate and further maintain speed, a gasoline engine is connected. The subsequent development of technology has led to the fact that on hybrids there are several options for implementing the interaction of a familiar engine and an electric motor. Such interaction can be:

consistent;
parallel;
series-parallel;

Consistent interaction

The sequential circuit resembles electric vehicles, since the movement of the vehicle is realized through the operation of an electric motor. The internal combustion engine in this design is connected to a generator, power is supplied from the generator to the electric motor itself, and the battery is also charged in parallel. On a single charge of a lithium-ion battery with increased capacity, you can often go about 50 km. way, after which the internal combustion engine is activated, which extends the specified segment up to 10 times (about 500 km.)

Parallel interaction

Hybrids with parallel interaction of installations suggest the possibility of both separate operation of the internal combustion engine and electric motor, and simultaneous operation. This design is implemented by combining with the help of special couplings of an electrical unit, an internal combustion engine and a transmission. Such hybrid vehicles receive a low-power electric motor that not only drives the car, but also gives power during acceleration. Often, such an electric motor is a starter and a car generator, structurally occupying an intermediate position between an internal combustion engine and a gearbox.

Serial-parallel communication

In this design, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are connected by means of a planetary gearbox. A feature of this implementation scheme is that each power plant can be turned on and off, while giving a minimum or maximum of power to the wheels. Moreover, the specified power is given separately or simultaneously. In the device of such a circuit, there is a generator that feeds the electric motor of the hybrid.

The market leader in hybrid vehicles today is Toyota Corporation, which uses a series-parallel implementation called Hybrid Synergy Drive.

The electric motor, internal combustion engine and generator are combined into a common system by means of a planetary gearbox. The internal combustion engine gives a minimum of power at the "bottom" (Atkinson cycle), allowing you to save fuel. A hybrid car with such an interaction scheme assumes:

Economy mode of driving only on electric traction with the engine off, during which the electric motor is powered by the battery.
Maintaining the set speed by distributing the power of the internal combustion engine to the wheels and the generator, from which the parallel operating electric motor is powered. The battery is also recharged.
The mode of intensive acceleration and serious loads, when the internal combustion engine and the electric motor work in parallel. In this mode, the electric motor is powered by the battery, without power take-off from the generator.

Exploitation of hybrids: busting the myths

Hybrid cars are a novelty that has not been fully improved and has many flaws. This is a myth, as the Toyota brand has been in full-scale mass production of hybrid models for almost 20 years.
In hybrids, the batteries are drained, which leads to problems. This is true, but only partially. At the initial stages of technology development, such cases occurred, but today high-precision electronics do not allow deep discharge of the battery.
Hybrid cars are more likely to break down, expensive, and difficult to repair. This is a myth, as hybrid vehicles are no less reliable than conventional diesel and petrol ICEs. Most service stations comprehensively service hybrids on a par with conventional cars. Moreover, the gearbox in hybrids eliminates the presence of frictions, which makes such a transmission simple and reliable, which cannot be said about various types of automatic transmissions. As for the internal combustion engine, the engine in hybrids often works at low speeds, does not reach peak loads. If we also take into account the Atkinson cycle, then the engine life of a hybrid engine is much longer than a conventional engine.
The ICE of a hybrid has less power, such cars lose in dynamics compared to their counterparts. Yes, the power of internal combustion engines in hybrids is less, but due to the addition of an electric motor, the total power of the units significantly exceeds the power of conventional analogues with one gasoline engine.
The consumption of a hybrid car in practice is not much different from a conventional car. This is partly true, since the consumption rate of hybrid cars directly depends on the driving modes. To achieve maximum economy, it is necessary to change the driving style to slow, calm and smooth, avoiding acceleration, active throttling, etc. In other words, strong pressure on the gas pedal will instruct the control system to start the internal combustion engine.

The idea of saving fuel in hybrid cars is to drive on electric power at speeds up to 60 km/h for as long as possible with a charged battery, which is often enough in dense city traffic. It is also necessary to add that the system takes into account a large number of factors: outside temperature, the degree of heating of the internal combustion engine and, battery charge, movement downhill or on a hill, etc. Under different conditions, the hybrid can use the internal combustion engine, or it can move only on electric energy.

A hybrid battery is hard to find commercially and takes up a lot of space in the trunk of a car. This is a myth, since batteries for hybrids are always available for order in auto stores, and there is also a wide selection on various Internet resources. As for free space, the battery practically does not occupy usable space in the luggage compartment.
You can't put gas on a hybrid car. This is a myth, since global manufacturers produce equipment that is compatible with a hybrid car.

Device and principle of operation

The most common mode of operation of a hybrid engine is that when driving a car at low speed, for example, in a city, its electric unit is used. When the car moves along the highway, the internal combustion engine (ICE) is turned on. In the case of a heavy load, for example, during sharp uphill climbs, both engines are switched on.

Of course, the advantages of such a device include the fact that when using an electric motor, fuel consumption is significantly reduced, since it runs on constantly replenished battery energy.

The ability, at least in part, to reduce the amount of harmful substances emitted into the air is another plus of the car's hybrid system.

Hybrids are characterized by low power, which the internal combustion engine helps to compensate.

Hybrid engines can be either petrol or diesel. Moreover, manufacturers of natural gas equipment (LPG) have developed systems that can work on these vehicles.

An example of a hybrid design

The hybrid device includes:

Its design and dimensions are designed to reduce weight, emissions and fuel consumption.

The electric motor is developed taking into account features of a hybrid. It was made not only generated to work with a fuel block, but also paid special attention to power indicators. In parallel, it generates energy to recharge the car's battery. It can be made built into the power plant or placed separately from it, in some models both options are used at once.

Transmission. The operation of the hybrid transmission is actually the same as its arrangement on conventional cars. But, depending on the type of hybrid engine, they may differ. Gearboxes in them are either hybrid with an integrated electric motor, or conventional mechanical and automatic. For example, the transmission of a Toyota car is designed with a branching of power flows. This type of engine operates in smooth load mode, which helps to significantly save fuel consumption.

Fuel tank. Needed to fuel the internal combustion engine. To illustrate what has a number of advantages, I would like to cite one fact in favor of this: the energy obtained from the combustion of 1 liter of gasoline is comparable to the energy generated by a battery weighing about 450 kg.

Battery. Its main function is to generate a sufficient level of energy for the operation of the electric motor. The car uses two batteries, high-voltage and regular 12 (V) to power the on-board network. Initially, before the start of all systems, power comes only from the standard one, since constant cooling is necessary for the operation of the high-voltage battery and the inverter.

The inverter converts the direct current of the high-voltage battery into three-phase alternating current for the electric motor and vice versa. It also regulates the distribution of energy and controls the electric motor.

Generator. Its principle of operation is the same as that of an electric motor, but it is aimed at generating electrical energy.

3 types of hybrid units

As noted earlier, the hybrid system of a car is a combination of motors, a kind of two different crossed technologies. The hybrid drive technology is characterized in two ways - it is a dual-fuel or bivalent and a hybrid power unit.

This division into two combinations of power units is defined for their classification according to a different principle of operation.

The device of the hybrid power unit includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor-generator. Thus, the electric motor is both an energy generator, and a traction electric motor, and a starter for starting the internal combustion engine.

There are three types of hybrid powertrain. The main criterion for classification is the execution of the main structure. Therefore, there are: a micro-hybrid power unit, a medium hybrid power unit and a full-hybrid power unit.

Micro hybrid powertrain

The conceptual feature of this type of drive is its electrical part, which is only needed to perform the start-stop function. At the same time, part of the generated kinetic energy is reused as electricity (recovery process).

The drive solely due to the operation of electric traction is not possible. The performance of the 12-volt fiberglass-filled hybrid battery is adapted to frequent engine starts. Also, a storage device in the form of an electrochemical capacitor can be used to accumulate energy from recuperation.

Micro hybrid from Mazda

Medium hybrid powertrain

The electrical drive assists the operation of the internal combustion engine. At the same time, the movement of the hybrid only due to electric traction is not carried out. With this type of hybrid motor, electrical energy is regenerated during braking and then stored in a high-voltage battery.

The device of the high-voltage battery of the hybrid and all its electrical parts meets the required voltage level, which makes it possible to generate sufficiently high power. As a result, thanks to the support of the internal combustion engine by an electric motor, its operation is characterized by maximum efficiency.

Full hybrid powertrain

The operation of two motors: an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, in this type is combined with each other. The full hybrid type allows the car to move only due to electric traction and a sufficiently long distance. Under certain conditions, the power unit functions as a medium hybrid.

These vehicles are equipped with a sufficiently powerful electric motor and high-voltage batteries of a larger volume, which allows them to produce such characteristics. The basis of battery recharging is also the process of energy recovery.

The "start-stop" function is implemented for the internal combustion engine, which starts only when necessary. And the separation of the internal combustion engine from the electric motor is carried out due to the established clutch between them, so they can function independently of each other.

Schemes of interaction between the operation of the electric motor and the internal combustion engine

Hybrid cars are designed according to three engine interaction schemes. Let's consider each of them.

Sequential scheme of interaction

This principle of the device is the simplest version of a hybrid car engine. Its operation scheme is as follows: the torque from the internal combustion engine goes to the generator. The generator then generates the electricity it needs to run and transfers it to the battery. Additionally, the battery is recharged by the process of recovery of kinetic energy. In this scheme, the movement of the car is carried out only due to electric traction.

This circuit is characterized by sequential energy conversion, i.e. the energy coming from the combustible fuel in the internal combustion engine is converted into mechanical energy, then transformed into electrical energy by a generator, and then again converted into mechanical energy.

Positive aspects of the serial scheme:

The operation of the internal combustion engine is carried out at constant speed.
There is no need for an engine with high power and fuel consumption.
A gearbox, like a clutch, is not needed here.
The electrical energy of the high-voltage hybrid battery allows the car to move with the engine turned off.

Negative sides of the serial circuit:

At the stages of energy conversion, it is lost.
The dimensions and cost of the battery are quite high.

The brightest representative of a hybrid car with a consistent scheme of interaction Chevrolet Volt

If we talk about the most suitable variant of the car movement with a sequential scheme of interaction, then this is urban traffic with frequent stops, when the energy recovery system is constantly turned on.

Parallel interaction scheme

This scheme got its name because the car engines work constantly together. The principle of operation of this type of interaction of two modules occurs due to the electronics of the car, electric motor and internal combustion engine. Both engines are connected to the gearbox by means of a planetary gear.

Purely on electric energy, such hybrids are able to drive for a short time, while the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the transmission by the clutch.

The control unit distributes the torque from both engines depending on the vehicle's driving mode. The internal combustion engine is assigned a more important role, and the electric motor starts when additional traction is needed, for example, when the car accelerates sharply. During braking or smooth movement, the electric motor works as a generator of electricity.

Electric motor integrated into BMW 530E iPerformance gearbox

There are modifications with an electric motor separate from the internal combustion engine, they are a complex system, but at the same time effective. This module consists of two electric motors, the traction motor connected via a planetary gear to the second one, which serves as a generator and starter.

In such a scheme, the internal combustion engine is not directly connected to the wheels, which allows you to constantly transfer part of the moment to the generator and recharge the battery.

Parallel hybrid powerplant with independent electric motors

Positive aspects of the parallel circuit:

Since the main work is assigned to the internal combustion engine, there is no need to install a powerful high-voltage battery. The internal combustion engine is directly connected to the drive wheels, so the energy loss is much less.

Negative sides of the parallel circuit:

The main disadvantage of this scheme is the higher fuel consumption in comparison with other engine interaction schemes. It turns out that saving on city traffic will not work, the most successful option would be to move along the highway.

Serial-parallel scheme of interaction

The very name of this circuit indicates that this type is a variant of combining the two previously considered circuits: serial and parallel. The movement of the car at low speed and its start from a place is carried out only due to the power of the electrical part. The internal combustion engine supports the operation of the auto generator, as in a sequential interaction scheme. The transfer of torque from the internal combustion engine to the wheels occurs when driving at high speed.

At high loads that require increased power, the car's generator may not produce the right amount of energy, in which case the electric motor is powered additionally from the battery, as in a parallel interaction scheme.

In this scheme, an additional generator is provided, it recharges the battery. The electric motor is only needed to drive the drive wheels and to provide regenerative braking.

Part of the torque transferred from the internal combustion engine goes to the drive wheels, and some of it goes to the generator, which in turn feeds the electric motor and charges the battery.

For the direction of the torque to the wheels, generator or electric motor and its ratio, the planetary mechanism is responsible - the power distributor. The power supply from the alternator and battery is controlled by the vehicle's electronic control unit.

This technology is also used on hybrid all-wheel drive cars. An internal combustion engine with an electric motor in a parallel circuit is installed on the front axle, and only an electric motor connected to the internal combustion engine in a serial circuit is installed on the rear axle.

All-wheel drive hybrid from Mitsubishi

Positive aspects of the series-parallel circuit:

It is not difficult to guess that the indisputable advantage of this hybrid scheme is its great fuel economy combined with good power characteristics. Nature lovers will appreciate its environmental friendliness.

Negative sides of the series-parallel circuit:

Among the negatives is a more complex design compared to previous schemes, and as a result, a high price. Since an additional generator is needed, a capacious battery and a complex electronic control circuit.

Conclusion

We have considered all types of hybrids and their interaction schemes, but in general, there are many types that are difficult to attribute to one of them, since over time technologies are more and more mixed and refined.

On some, hydraulic couplings with a gearbox are used instead of a planetary gear; on others, they experiment with a rear-mounted internal combustion engine or generally spread the internal combustion engine and electric motor along two axes. Designers do not stop there and are increasingly developing this direction.

Autoleek

The hybrid car is not a new invention. The first step towards hybrid vehicles was taken in 1665 when Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit priest, began work on plans for a simple four wheeled vehicle that could be powered by steam or horse drawn. The first cars with a hybrid engine appeared at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Moreover, some developers have managed to move from projects to small-scale production. Starting in 1897 and over the next 10 years, the French Compagnie Parisienne des Voitures Electriques produced a batch of electric and hybrid vehicles. In 1900, General Electric designed a hybrid car with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine. And the "hybrid" trucks left the assembly line of the Walker Vehicle Company of Chicago until 1940.
Of course, all these were only prototypes and small-scale cars. Now, however, an acute shortage of oil and the economic crisis have spurred the development of hybrid engines. Now let's take a closer look at what a hybrid engine is and what is the use of it? A hybrid engine is a system of two engines - electric and gasoline. Depending on the operating modes, both petrol and electric can be switched on simultaneously or separately. This process is controlled by a powerful computer, which decides what should work right now. So, when driving along the tracks, the gasoline engine is turned on, since the battery on the track will not last long. If the car is moving in urban mode, then an electric motor is already used here, both of them work during acceleration or heavy loads. While the petrol engine is running, the battery is being charged. Such an engine, even taking into account the fact that the system uses a gasoline engine, can reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere by 90% and at the same time, gasoline consumption in the city is significantly reduced (only a gasoline engine works on the highway, so there is no savings there).

Let's start with how the car moves off. At the beginning of the movement and at low speeds, only the battery and electric motors are involved. The energy stored in the battery goes to the energy center, which, in turn, sends it to the electric motors, making the car move smoothly and silently. After picking up speed, the internal combustion engine is connected to work, and the moment on the drive wheels is supplied simultaneously from electric motors and internal combustion engines. In this case, part of the energy of the internal combustion engine goes to the generator, and now it feeds the electric motors, and gives off the excess of its energy to the battery, which has lost part of the energy reserve at the beginning of the movement. When driving in normal mode, only front-wheel drive is automatically used, in all others - all-wheel drive. In the acceleration mode, the torque to the wheels comes mainly from the gasoline engine, and the electric motors, if necessary, increase the dynamics, complement the internal combustion engine. One of the most interesting moments is braking. The electronic “brains” of the car decide for themselves when to apply the hydraulic braking system, and when regenerative braking, giving preference to the latter. That is, at the moment the brake pedal is pressed, they transfer the electric motors to the “generator” mode of operation, and they create a braking torque on the wheels, generating electricity and feeding the battery through the energy center. This is the highlight of the “hybrid”.

In classic cars, braking energy is completely lost, leaving as heat through the brake discs and other parts. The use of braking energy is especially effective in urban areas, when you often have to brake at traffic lights. Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) integrates and manages all active safety systems.
One of the first successful cars equipped with a hybrid engine that went to the masses was the Toyota Prius developed by Toyota, which consumes 3.2 liters of gasoline per 100 km (in the city). Toyota also released an SUV with a Lexus RX400h hybrid engine. The cost of such a car, depending on the configuration, ranges from 68 to 77 thousand dollars. It should be noted that the first versions of the Toyota Prius were inferior to cars of the same class both in speed and power, but the Lexus RX400h is no longer inferior to its classmates in either speed or power.

The world's leading automotive concerns have also turned their attention to hybrid engines as a solution to the problem of fuel economy and environmental pollution. So the Volvo Group announced the creation of a hybrid engine for trucks, tractors, semi-trailers and buses. The company's developers expect that their brainchild will allow you to get 35% fuel savings.
With all this, it must be said that hybrid cars "with a bang", so far, have gone only in North America (Canada and the USA). And in America, the demand for them is growing more and more, since until recent years cars that consumed a lot of fuel were popular there, and since fuel began to rise sharply and steeply in price, the Americans sharply thought about saving it and, as a solution to the problem, they began to use cars with hybrid engines. In Europe, the appearance of hybrid engines was taken calmly, since there they drive an economical and more environmentally friendly than a gasoline engine, the good old diesel. Unlike the USA, more than 50% of cars in Europe are equipped with diesel engines. In addition, diesel cars are cheaper than hybrid cars, simpler and more reliable. After all, everyone knows that the more complex the system, the less reliable it is! And precisely because of their complexity and capriciousness, there are practically no hybrid cars in the post-Soviet space. Official dealers do not bring them here. And any owner of such a car will inevitably face the problem of service stations. We do not have service stations that would deal with hybrid cars. And you can’t fix such a machine yourself!

The vast majority of modern cars use an internal combustion engine as a power unit. Against the background of the gradual depletion of oil reserves, as well as increasing demands for environmental friendliness, auto engineers are developing new technologies that allow them to abandon the use of hydrocarbons as a fuel or, at least, reduce consumption.

There are two ways to solve this problem: install an electric motor or a hybrid engine instead of an internal combustion engine. The latter is used by many car brands.

As the name implies, such a power unit is a classic internal combustion engine and at the same time an electric motor, combined into one. For many reasons, this solution is preferable to electric traction alone.

To date, the electric car has serious disadvantages. The most significant of them are the lack of a developed network of electric charging stations, as well as the insufficient travel distance without recharging (for different models of electric vehicles, it ranges from 80 to 160 km).

In addition, it will take several hours to fully charge the batteries, which means that the mobility of such a car is limited to trips from home to work and back.

Nevertheless, we must not forget about the advantages of an electric motor, including higher efficiency (for internal combustion engines, maximum efficiency is achieved only at certain speeds), the absence of any emissions, and high torque.

An electric motor, unlike that running on petroleum products, does not need a constant supply of fuel. It can be in the off state for an arbitrarily long time until voltage is applied to it. When electricity is supplied, it almost instantly transfers maximum traction to the wheels.

The hybrid engine combines the advantages of both engines, thereby achieving efficiency, environmental friendliness and good dynamic performance.

The principle of operation of hybrid engines

The hybrid engine is designed in such a way that both motors work, relatively speaking, on each other. The internal combustion engine turns the generator and supplies energy to the electric motor, which allows the “partner” to work in the optimal mode without sharp fluctuations and loads. In addition, hybrids are usually equipped with a KERS kinetic energy recovery system (similar to that used on Formula 1 cars).

This system allows the batteries to be charged during braking and when the machine is coasting. The principle of its operation is that when braking, the wheels are driven by an electric motor, which in this case itself plays the role of a generator and charges the batteries. KERS is especially useful when driving around the city in the “start-stop” mode.

According to the degree of hybridization, power units were divided into three types: “moderate”, “full” and plug-in. In the "moderate" the internal combustion engine is constantly running, and the electric motor is turned on only when additional power is needed.

A car with a "full" hybrid is able to move on one electric traction without consuming fuel.

Plug-in, like a full hybrid, can only run on electricity, but has the ability to charge from a wall outlet, thus combining all the advantages of an electric car, and getting rid of its main drawback - limited mileage without recharging. When the batteries run out, the plug-in works like a normal hybrid.

Schemes of interaction between an electric motor and an internal combustion engine

Engineers from different companies have different approaches to the issue of hybrid propulsion. Modern cars are equipped with hybrid engines built according to one of three schemes for the interaction of the fuel and electric components, which will be discussed below.

Series circuit

This is the easiest option. The principle of its operation is as follows: in this case, the torque from the internal combustion engine is transmitted exclusively to the generator, which generates electricity and charges the batteries. At the same time, the car moves only on electric traction.

Also, a kinetic energy recovery system is used to charge the battery. This scheme owes its name to successive energy conversions: the energy of fuel combustion by an internal combustion engine is converted into mechanical energy, then into electrical energy using a generator, and again into mechanical energy.

The advantages of this design are as follows:

The internal combustion engine always operates at constant speed, with maximum efficiency;
there is no need to equip the car with a powerful and voracious engine;
no need for clutch and gearbox;
the car is able to move even with the internal combustion engine turned off due to the energy stored by the battery.

However, the serial scheme also has its drawbacks:

energy losses in the process of transformation;
large size, weight and high cost of batteries.

The greatest efficiency of such a scheme is achieved when driving with frequent stops, when KERS is actively working. Therefore, it has found application in urban transport. Also, series hybrid engines are used in mining trucks, which require high torque and do not require high speed for operation.

parallel circuit

The principle of operation of the "parallel" hybrid engine is completely different from the above. Parallel hybrid vehicles run using both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The electric motor in this case must be reversible, i.e. able to work as a generator. The coordinated operation of both motors is achieved through computer control.

Depending on the driving mode, the control unit distributes the torque coming from both elements of the hybrid. The main work is performed by the internal combustion engine, while the electric motor is connected when additional power is needed (when starting, accelerating), when braking and decelerating, it works as a generator.

The advantages of this arrangement are that there is no need to install a high-capacity battery, energy losses are much less than with a sequential scheme, since the internal combustion engine is directly connected to the drive wheels, and besides, the design itself is quite simple, which means cheap.

The main disadvantages of the scheme are lower fuel efficiency compared to other options and low efficiency in urban environments. Cars with a hybrid engine built according to a parallel scheme are most efficient when driving on the highway.

According to this scheme, hybrid cars of the Honda brand were built. The main principle of the company's management: the hybrid engine scheme should be as simple and cheap as possible, and the function of the electric motor is only to help the internal combustion engine save the maximum possible amount of fuel. This brand has two hybrid models - Civic (out of production in 2010) and Insight.

Serial-parallel circuit

The series-parallel circuit is a combination of the first two. An additional generator and power divider has been added to the parallel circuit. Due to this, when starting off and at low speeds, the car moves only on electric traction, the internal combustion engine only ensures the operation of the generator (as in a sequential circuit).

At high speeds, torque is also transmitted to the drive wheels from the internal combustion engine. At increased loads (for example, when climbing a mountain), when the generator is unable to provide the required current, the electric motor receives additional power from the battery (parallel circuit).

Because the system has a separate alternator that charges the battery, the electric motor is only used to drive the drive wheels and during regenerative braking. Through the planetary mechanism (aka power divider), part of the torque from the internal combustion engine is partially transferred to the wheels and partially taken away for the operation of the generator, which feeds either the electric motor or the battery. The electronic control unit constantly regulates the power supply from both sources.

The advantages of a series-parallel hybrid engine of this scheme are maximum fuel efficiency and high environmental friendliness. The disadvantages of the system are the design complexity and high cost, since an additional generator, a sufficiently capacious battery and a complex electronic control unit are required.

A series-parallel circuit is used on Toyota cars (Prius, Camry, Highlander Hybrid, Harrier Hybrid), as well as on some Lexus models. The Ford Escape Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid are equipped with similar hybrid engines.

Dear compatriots, today we will talk about what a hybrid engine is in a car, how it works, what it consists of, about the pros and cons of new developments.

In most cases, an internal combustion engine is used as a power plant, but given the depletion of oil reserves and the increasing requirements for the environmental friendliness of engines, auto corporations have been developing new technologies that would make it possible to abandon hydrocarbons as the main fuel or at least reduce their consumption.

Instead of an internal combustion engine, it is not yet effective to install electric motors, because the energy consumption of batteries is associated with a large weight and, accordingly, their high cost.

However, almost all the world's largest auto manufacturers have already begun to produce their own models of hybrid cars. They combine an internal combustion engine and an electrical power plant.

The recognized leader in the development and production of hybrid vehicles remains Toyota. This concern launched the first hybrid in a series back in 1997 and continues to produce several more models of reliable cars.

Hybrid - translated into Russian as crossing. The combination of these two different technologies safely perform the main task - the movement of the car.

The function of the hybrid engine is that the internal combustion engine sets in motion, which gives energy to the power plant: battery-electric motor. And the power plant, in turn, transmits torque to the wheels through the transmission.

Thus, an optimal mode of movement is achieved and an additional force is created. In addition, peak loads and fluctuations are smoothed out, as a result of which productivity and efficiency increase.

hybrid engine. Device

There are several options for a hybrid engine:

Parallel. The gasoline engine is powered by a fuel tank, and the electric motor is powered by a battery. As a result, two engines rotate the transmission, which then transmits torque to the wheels.
Microhybrid. This option was developed by Toyota specialists. Their hybrid car starts and moves at low speeds only with the help of electric propulsion. But at an increased speed, the internal combustion engine starts to work. At the same time, on difficult sections of the road - uphills, sand, dirt, other loads, the electric motor is also powered by a battery for parallel operation and increased traction. All these modes are controlled by electronics.
Medium hybrid. Such a car has its own characteristics - riding on an electric motor is not provided. But electric traction significantly increases efficiency, due to the receipt of a higher voltage than the battery gives, and this accordingly increases the power of the power plant as a whole.
Full hybrid. Here, electricity is in the first place - due to it, movement is provided. The battery is charged by recuperation. And a separate clutch between the two engines makes it possible to decouple these systems. As a result, the petrol engine is switched on only when absolutely necessary.
Separated. It contains a pair of engine-generator and a gasoline engine. By means of a planetary gear, torque is supplied to the gearbox. Some of the energy is used to propel the car, while the rest is sent to a high-voltage battery.
Consistent. Here the scheme is as follows: the gasoline engine rotates the generator, which charges the battery, and from it the energy is supplied to the electric motor, and already it rotates the transmission and, in fact, the wheels.

Pros and cons of a hybrid car engine

Of course, the pros outweigh the pros, but there are also cons, as in all new products. For example, a gasoline hybrid engine is more common, although it is not questioned.

But it just so happened - the technology was developed in America, and there diesel fuel is not held in high esteem. Yes, and a hybrid diesel unit would cost more, and given that the price is already far above average, the issue can be considered closed.

Most of all, car enthusiasts are confused by the hybrid engine because of the battery. This is a very capricious component, as it requires constant operation, otherwise its service life will be significantly reduced.

Also, batteries are afraid of temperature changes, self-discharge. Plus, the high cost of spare parts and repairs. And it's unlikely that you can do it yourself.

But let's talk about pleasant things. One of the main advantages of a hybrid engine is low fuel consumption and minimal emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, and all this is due to:

coordinated work and electric motor;
the use of a large capacity battery;
the use of braking energy (regenerative braking), which converts the kinetic energy of movement into electricity.

In addition, the hybrid engine has collected a lot of other innovations that will save fuel and save the atmosphere. Among them:

change in valve timing;
stop start;
exhaust gas recirculation;
antifreeze heating with exhaust gases;
electric water pump, climate control and;
tires with improved rolling.

A noticeable effect is observed when using a hybrid car in an urban cycle, when there are frequent stops, the engine is idling.

But on the highway, when driving at high speed, the hybrid engine is no longer as efficient.
On the other hand, the same battery makes it possible to drive for a longer time without refueling. Moreover, the battery can not be charged, but the car can only be filled with fuel.

The engine, thanks to computer control, always works in the optimal mode, no matter how hard you try to overload it.

Often these hybrid vehicles can run without fuel. And they differ in that the motor runs barely audibly.

I hope that the article will help you find the right solution if the question arises of choosing a car with a hybrid power plant.

See you again.