Hybrid motor. Should you buy a hybrid car? Hybrid car - pros and cons

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:

1. Economy mode of driving only on electric traction with the engine off, during which the electric motor is powered by the battery.
2. 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.
3. 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 give a command to the control system that it is necessary 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.

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A hybrid engine (or hybrid) is a power plant that uses several types of fuel (two or more sources) and the synergistic effect of their combined use. It can be gasoline and electricity, gasoline and gas, diesel and electricity, hydrogen, gasoline and electricity, and many other combinations. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to do this.

History of hybrid engines.

Considering a hybrid engine as some kind of cutting-edge invention is a slight delusion. Yes, modern hybrids are a high-tech engineering project, but if you look closely, the hybrid engine dates back to the 19th-20th centuries. So, in 1897, the French company Parisienne des Voitures Electriques began to produce cars with hybrid engines.

A little later, in 1900, the famous American corporation General Electric began to master the production of hybrids. Interestingly, hybrid trucks were manufactured in Chicago until 1940, although, in general, this was a non-serial production.

Hybrid technology did not take root at that time for several reasons. First, fuel and energy prices in those years were so low that they discouraged any economic viability of producing hybrids. Secondly, the power of a conventional gasoline engine was definitely much greater then.

The energy crisis of recent years, associated with the rapid rise in energy prices, as well as the tightening of environmental regulations, have spurred manufacturers to develop and produce new generation efficient hybrid engines. A modern hybrid is, as a rule, a system of two main power plants: gasoline (or diesel) and electric. In addition to them, several more providing nodes are involved in the chain. For example, they can be: an electric generator, a battery (accumulates charge), an inverter (converts direct current to alternating current) and an electronic variator. All this is controlled and controlled by a modern powerful computer, which increases the efficiency of energy use by dozens of times compared to traditional manual or analog control. The fuel part of the system can work simultaneously with the electric part, but separate cycles are also provided. It is important that during the operation of the fuel system, the electric one does not stand idle, but accumulates (accumulates) energy.

The device, the principle of operation of a hybrid engine. To date, there are several types of hybrids:

• Sequential (series hybrid). In this scheme, the internal combustion engine drives a generator, the electricity from which powers the electric motor. The latter, in turn, rotates the wheels of the car. This approach allows the use of a low power gasoline engine, provided that it will constantly operate at maximum efficiency. Cars with this layout tend to be small and have a large battery (such as the Chevrolet Volt);
• Parallel (parallel hybrid). In this case, the wheels of the car are driven by both a gasoline engine and an electric one. Depending on driving conditions, the electric motor can generate additional power. This pattern is very common. The batteries in this case are compact and are charged directly while the vehicle is moving. The main disadvantage here is that the electric motor cannot simultaneously rotate the wheels and charge the battery. A similar scheme is implemented on Civic Hybrid and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid cars;
• Series-parallel (mixed). From the name it is easy to assume that the third type combines the two previous ones. At the moment, this is the most efficient hybrid scheme. Combined traction (petrol engine plus electric motor) can be used to turn the wheels. In addition, an electric motor can simultaneously generate electricity (act as a generator) and generate thrust (as a motor). The disadvantage of the scheme is its very high cost.

An example of a mixed circuit is the Hybrid Synergy Drive from Lexus (Toyota). There is a 3.3-liter gasoline engine, 2 electric motors and a battery. For communication between these three structural elements, a power distribution device with a compact planetary gear is used, which reduces energy losses due to friction. To control the energy flows, there is a control unit and a semiconductor switching device. The inverter in the HSD unit converts the DC battery current into AC power for the motor.

An electric motor is used to move the car at low speeds and to start. This allows you to save gasoline and move off smoothly. When switching to normal driving mode, the gasoline engine is turned on, which works in parallel with the electric motors. Excess energy is given to the battery. During acceleration, the internal combustion engine is actively working. In braking mode, the so-called regenerative braking system is used, when the electric motors operate in generator mode, recharging the battery. Those. in the main modes of operation, a gasoline engine is used, and in intermediate (transitional) electric ones.

Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid engine. Of course, despite the high level of technology, the hybrid installation has both undeniable advantages and some disadvantages that leading engineers continue to work on. Let's start with the advantages:

• efficient fuel consumption and saving up to 35%;
• low level of toxicity of exhaust gases;
• low noise;
• excellent handling and smoother acceleration of the car;
• full control of the installation using the on-board computer and electronic systems;
• hybrid vehicle battery components are easy to dispose of and recycle;
• regenerative braking system helps conserve energy;
• long battery life in a hybrid vehicle.

Among the disadvantages of hybrids, it is worth mentioning the following:

• the high cost of cars with a hybrid power plant;
• high cost of spare parts and repairs. It is unlikely that it will be possible to repair it on your own, and so far such cars can only be provided with a full-fledged service in very large cities. In addition, there may be hitches with the supply of the necessary spare parts;
• the electrical system does not tolerate significant temperature changes.

A popular misconception about hybrid engines is the loss of power and efficiency of the propulsion system. This is not so, the power of the hybrid is in order. In addition, no special fuel is required for refueling.

The world's leading automakers have already appreciated the benefits of hybrid engines. Every year the number of hybrid cars is growing, gaining more and more popularity among drivers. The markets are expanding. The hybrid engine is a true masterpiece of engineering, an ultra-modern economical and environmentally friendly device, which holds the near future of the global automotive industry. In view of the rise in the cost of hydrocarbon fuel, we can safely predict that in 5-10 years hybrid power plants will be widely distributed throughout the world.

Why did we touch this issue on our portal? And why do we want to educate you about the operation of hybrid engines? Everything is extremely simple and clear. The fact is that many areas of our life are literally permeated with the interaction of all kinds of technologies, which in their symbiosis give rise to much more effective methods, gadgets and mechanisms. And of course, they did not dare to put aside the engines for our four-wheeled pets. And it is precisely about such units, their positive and negative sides, about how they work that we will talk in this topic. In the meantime, let's take a little digression into history. Go!

A bit of history

Cars with hybrid "hearts" - the invention is far from new, as it might seem at first glance. The pioneer and embodiment of the idea of ​​a hybrid engine was a Jesuit clergyman named Ferdinand Verbiest. In 1665 he began working on plans for simple four-wheeled wagons powered by steam and horses. But the first production models with hybrid engines saw the light already at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. For ten years, starting in 1887, the French Compagnie Parisienne des Voitures Electrics released a series of cars with hybrid engines. And in 1900, the General Electric company created a hybrid car with a four-cylinder gasoline engine. The Walker Vehicle Company of Chicago produced hybrid trucks until 1940.

Of course, at that time the production of such cars was limited to small batches and the creation of various kinds of prototypes. However, in our time, an acute shortage of oil resources and an ever-growing economic crisis have prompted automotive designers and developers to return to their roots and resume production of cars with hybrid engines.

How a hybrid engine works - in simple words about new technologies

Well, now is the time to figure out what kind of unit a hybrid engine is and why so zealously began to produce cars with such hearts? A hybrid engine is a system of two interconnected engines: gasoline and electric. Two engines can work both in conjunction and separately, it all depends on which mode of operation is used at the moment. The process of redistribution of "powers" is controlled by a powerful computer, which at one time or another decides which of the engines should now work. To move in the suburban mode, the fuel engine takes over all the work, because the battery does not last long on the highway. To move around the city, the electric motor is turned on.

If the car is subjected to heavy loads or it has to accelerate frequently and quite intensively, then both engines are already working together. An interesting fact is that while the car is moving on a fuel engine, the electric one is charging at this time. A car with a hybrid engine emits 90% less substances into the atmosphere than the fuel engines we are used to, and this despite the fact that it also includes a gasoline unit. Also, the consumption of gasoline in the city can be reduced to zero, which, of course, cannot be said about country trips.

Let's take a look at how a hybrid car pulls away. At the very beginning of the movement and at low speeds, only the battery and the electric motor work. The energy that is stored in the battery feeds the energy center, which then distributes it to the electric motors, which already start the car silently and very smoothly. After the maximum speed for the electric motor is reached, the gasoline unit is also connected. Torque to the drive wheels already comes from two engines overnight. In the process of such work, the internal combustion engine gives part of the generated energy to the generator, which further feeds the electric motors, unloading the battery, while the excess energy is transferred to the battery, replenishing it, lost at the start of the movement, the reserve.

If the car is moving in normal mode, then only the front-wheel drive is used automatically, in other cases, the distribution of torque is already supplied to two axles. In acceleration mode, the torque to the wheels comes mainly from the internal combustion engine, and if it is necessary to increase the dynamics, then electric motors are already used to complement the internal combustion engine. But the more interesting point is still braking. The electronic "brain" of the car controls the on and off when it is worth connecting the hydraulics, and when the regenerative braking, but the preference is still given to the second. That is, when the driver of a hybrid vehicle presses the brake pedal, the electric motors go into generator operating mode, thereby creating a braking torque on the wheels, which also generates electricity, which feeds the battery through the power distribution center. This is where the whole essence of the "zest" of the hybrid engine is hidden.

In the classics familiar to us, the energy released during braking is wasted, simply lost in space as heat from brake discs and other parts. The use of brake energy is very efficient in urban areas where frequent braking at traffic lights is a common thing. The VDIM system, which is the controlling vehicle dynamics, manages the operation of all vehicle active safety systems, combining them into a single "organism".

Perhaps the first successful instance equipped with a hybrid engine, released to the masses, has already become known Prius from company Toyota. This miracle car consumes only a little more than three liters of gasoline for every hundred kilometers in urban mode. Also, the Japanese company went further by releasing its luxury hybrid crossover Lexus RX400h. But the cost of this car is on average within 70,000 USD. Note that the first generation Toyota Prius was inferior to cars of the same class with internal combustion engines in terms of speed and power characteristics, in contrast to the Lexus RX400h, which initially competed well in its class.

After Toyota, the world's leading automotive concerns also did not disregard the use of hybrid engines, as they saw this as a solution to the global problem of environmental pollution and fuel economy. And so followed the announcement of the creation of hybrid trucks and transport vehicles from the Volvo Group. According to their calculations, the release of these products will reduce fuel consumption by as much as 35% over time.

But with all the greatest desire and calculations of automobile concerns, cars with hybrid engines have not yet been snapped up all over the world like hot cakes. The popularity of hybrid cars is gaining momentum only in Canada and the States. Demand for hybrids among the American population has grown due to a sharp rise in the price of fuel, which was mercilessly fired before. After all, the American auto industry has always been famous for its "muscle cars" with incredibly powerful engines and huge consumption of flammable liquids. European car enthusiasts generally reacted neutrally to cars with hybrid engines. A fairly environmentally friendly and more economical, trustworthy veteran, a diesel, runs there.

Most of the cars in Europe are refueled with diesel, which cannot be said about the USA. Moreover, cars with diesel engines are much cheaper than hybrid ones, moreover, they are simpler and more reliable in their design. After all, everyone knows such a postulate: "the more complex the system is designed, the less its reliability." It is this factor that determines the number of hybrid cars in our country. Officially, such cars are not delivered to us, and the problem of service stations is simply inevitable in the event of a breakdown. There are simply no specialized service stations for the repair of hybrid engines in our country. And on our own, we think that hardly anyone will undertake to repair such a device.

Hybrid engine device - circuit description

So, we briefly reviewed what a hybrid engine is and why its use is not as widespread in the world as we would like. Now I would like to "dig" deeper and consider the scheme of its structure. But there are three of them. We propose to start with the simplest scheme, which causes us the least interest - this is a sequential hybrid engine.

Series diagram of a hybrid engine

In this scheme, the start of the car comes from an electric motor. The internal combustion engine is in conjunction with a generator that feeds the battery. Hybrid vehicles with a sequential powertrain scheme (Plug-inHybrid) are often produced with the ability to connect to the electrical network at the end of the trip. The presence of this function implies the use of batteries with high energy intensity, which significantly reduces fuel costs for the use of an internal combustion engine, which in turn reduces the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. These cars include Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. They are also called electric vehicles with a wide range. These cars can only run on battery power at a speed of 60 km / h and using the energy of a generator that drives a gasoline engine for as much as 500 kilometers.

Hybrid car parallel circuit

With this scheme, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor connected in parallel are installed in such a way that they can work either separately from each other or together. This effect is achieved due to the design of the unit, in which the gasoline engine, electric motor and transmission are connected by automatically controlled clutches. A car with such a hybrid engine scheme uses a small electric motor, about 20 kW. Its main task is to add power to the internal combustion engine during vehicle acceleration.

Most of these structures the electric motor is installed between the internal combustion engine and It also performs the functions of a generator and a starter. The most famous representatives among cars with a sequential hybrid engine are the BMW Active Hybrid 7, Honda Insight, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid. This scheme appeared due to the initiative of Honda with its Integrated Motor Assist - IMA system. The operation of this system can be divided into several characteristic modes:

- work from the electric motor;

Joint operation of the electric motor and internal combustion engine;

Operation from an internal combustion engine with parallel charging of the battery using an electric motor that acts as a generator;

Charging the battery during regenerative braking.

Series-parallel hybrid circuit

In this scheme, the electric motor and the internal combustion engine are connected using a planetary gearbox. This allows you to simultaneously transfer power from each of the motors to the drive wheels in a ratio of 0 to 100% of the rated power. The series-parallel circuit differs from the previous one in that a generator is installed on the first one, which creates energy for the operation of the electric motor.

Well-known representatives of cars with such a hybrid engine scheme are Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h. In this segment of the "hybrid" market, Toyota is leading with its Hybrid Synergy Drive - HSD system. The power unit of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system is presented as follows:

- ICE communicates with the planetary gearbox;

An electric motor that is attached to the ring gear of the planetary gearbox;

The sun gear of the planetary gear is connected to the generator.

The internal combustion engine operates on the Atkinson cycle, which means it produces little power at low revs, resulting in better fuel economy and less exhaust emissions.

Hybrid car - pros and cons

Advantages of hybrid engines

1. The most important advantage of hybrid vehicles is their efficiency. The fuel consumption of such cars is 25% less than that of classic cars with an internal combustion engine. And in our situation with constantly rising gasoline prices, this is a very important factor.

2. The next no less important point The next most important point among the positive aspects of hybrid engines is environmental friendliness. Hybrid cars cause much less damage to our environment than classic ones. This is achieved through more rational fuel consumption. And when the car comes to a complete stop, the internal combustion engine stops working, transferring the reins of power to the electric motor. Therefore, during the stops of the hybrid car, the atmosphere is not polluted by CO2 emissions.

3. The batteries of hybrid engines are recharged by a gasoline engine, which is not the case with electric vehicles, which makes the range of a fuel-powered engine much longer. And it can go longer without refueling.

4. Modern hybrid cars are in no way inferior to a similar class of traditional ones in all the main characteristics. So let's dispel this myth, which many people most likely believe.

5. In urban, stop-and-go environments, hybrid vehicles perform like electric vehicles.

6. When standing still, a hybrid vehicle is completely silent as it runs on the electric motor only.

7. Refueling of a hybrid is carried out with gasoline and in the same way as a traditional car.

Cons of hybrid cars

There is nothing perfect in the world, which means that hybrid engines also have their disadvantages.

1. And the main disadvantage is expensive repairs. Since the design of such engines is very complex, it is very difficult to find a specialist who will deal with the elimination of problems. This explains the high cost of maintaining hybrids.

2. Batteries installed in hybrids are subject to self-discharge. They also do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. And their service life is very limited. But so far, we have not yet figured out what kind of impact batteries have on the environment, which is why recycling them is a problematic task.

It is obvious, of course, that hybrid engines have more pluses than minuses, but in our country they have not taken root yet. The first reason for this is the price. The cost in Ukraine of the popular Toyota Prius is from 850,000 hryvnia. But he is not only the most-most in his popularity, but also the cheapest. Also in Russia, it was planned to launch the production of a hybrid called Yo-mobile, but the project was curtailed. To date, the most powerful hybrid vehicle is the BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

The fight for the environment in our time is in full swing and very zealously, in connection with which motorists are encouraged to purchase cars with hybrid engines. So in America, the owners of such cars are provided with certain benefits and free parking spaces. Similar laws are also planned to be introduced in our country, in particular, duties on the import of cars with hybrid engines will be reduced. Gasoline engines are already gradually receding into the background, losing their positions. And hybrid engines are one of the main steps being taken for this. But as long as the price category of these cars remains at the same level, the demand for them will be small.

About prices for cars with hybrid engines

Like everything new, unusual and interesting, cars with hybrid engines are more expensive than their classic counterparts. Today, hybrid cars are much more expensive than cars with similar characteristics, but with gasoline engines. For example, a hybrid Toyota Camry outperforms its gasoline counterpart by nearly $7,000. The hybrid Honda Civic has increased by $4,000 over its traditional model. The Lexus GS 450h is a wonderfully dynamic (from 0 to 60 in just 5.9 seconds) car, which is also much more economical than similarly powerful sedans with eight-cylinder engines. The fuel consumption of this car is approximately 8 liters per 100 kilometers on a combined cycle. The average retail price for this car in Ukraine will average around $80,000.

On the topic of introducing hybrid cars, of course, you can argue for a long time and take certain positions and defend your points of view, but one thing is clear - the future is not far off and soon this leap will be made. Changes in the automotive industry are coming grandiose! And we hope this will be what we all need.

More and more, in recent years, people are thinking about the environment. The auto industry is no exception. Every year, environmental standards are rising, and with this, vehicle engines are being modernized and improved. A hybrid engine is one of the solutions to improve the environmental friendliness of a car.

What is a hybrid engine

What is a hybrid engine and its device? The very word "hybrid" is translated from Latin as "cross". In fact, this is a mixture of the classic version of the power unit and the electric motor. So, the drive of the driving wheels is carried out by rotation using a conventional internal combustion engine or an electric motor.

Each of the power units performs a specific function in motion. So, when the vehicle is in city traffic jams, the movement is carried out with the help of an electric motor, but on the highway, a gasoline power plant comes into operation.

Advantages of a hybrid

Perhaps the biggest plus in using a hybrid powertrain is its economy. As a rule, such an engine consumes 25-30% less fuel than standard gasoline engines.

The second positive point is the high environmental standard. As fuel consumption decreases, less exhaust emissions enter the ecosystem.

The third plus is that the batteries for the electric motor are charged from a gasoline engine and if they sit down, you can always switch to gasoline. This also includes the same specifications. In terms of power characteristics, the “hybrid” is in no way inferior to a conventional motor.

The "hybrid" engine feels best in the urban cycle of use, where there are frequent stops. In this case, basically, the electric motor itself works. In many countries, "hybrid" cars are driven by city police.

Cons of using a "hybrid"

The first disadvantage worth noting is the expensive repair of hybrid motors. The manufacturers of the "hybrid" explain this by the fact that the power unit is structurally complex, both in maintenance and in restoration.

The batteries of a hybrid engine are quite sensitive to changes and temperature drops, which is why when they fall below -15 degrees Celsius, they are quickly discharged, and operation is carried out mainly on gasoline.

The high cost of the vehicle itself with a hybrid engine. Not every car enthusiast can afford a car that costs $20,000. Despite this, a number of countries have introduced preferential taxes on customs clearance, registration and use of hybrid engines to encourage buyers to buy these cars. This has not yet been done on the territory of the CIS countries.

Modern indicators

Toyota is the leader in the number of hybrids and has been actively producing these cars since 1997, and in modifications of both regular cars of the Prius series, crossovers of the Lexus RX400h series, and luxury cars - Lexus LS 600h.

In 2006, over half a million Prius models alone were sold worldwide. Toyota HSD hybrid drive technology has been licensed by Ford (Escape Hybrid), Nissan (Altima Hybrid).

Mass production of hybrid vehicles is constrained by the shortage of nickel-metal hydride batteries.

In 2006, 90,410 hybrid vehicles were sold in Japan, up 47.6% from 2005.

In 2007, sales of hybrid vehicles in the US increased by 38% compared to 2006. Hybrid vehicles in the US account for 2.15% of the new passenger car market. In total, about 350,000 hybrid vehicles were sold in the United States in 2007 (excluding GM sales).

A total of 1,002,000 hybrid vehicles were sold in the US from 1999 to the end of 2007.

Conclusion

As the current trend shows, more and more motorists are beginning to prefer hybrid powertrains. They are more economical, silent and environmentally friendly. The disadvantage of using it is expensive repairs, and the sensitivity of batteries to temperature changes.

BMW 7 ActiveHybrid mild hybrid: Electric motor assists combustion engine

Full hybrid concept: The BMW X6 ActiveHybrid can rely entirely on its electric motor

The word "hybrid" comes from the Latin language and means something that has a mixed origin or combines heterogeneous elements. When applied to automotive technology, it refers to a car with two types of powertrain. Usually it is an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

In lightweight hybrid installations, the electric motor is used only as an auxiliary for the internal combustion engine (ICE). But in a full-fledged hybrid setup, the internal combustion engine is more effectively paired with an electric motor. Moreover, the electric motor is used quite powerful, capable of independently setting the car in motion at low speeds.

For today's automakers, "hybrid" means more than simply integrating an electric motor into a powertrain. This is the "intelligent" control of energy flows in the car. The effective combination of internal combustion engines with electric motors reduces fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, improves dynamics and driving comfort. A good example of this is the luxurious BMW 7 ActiveHybrid, which we talked about in the Active Hybrids post. Today, auto designers are developing five main varieties of hybrid cars.

Consistent. In such a hybrid system, the internal combustion engine operates in the most economical mode, solely in order to charge the battery of the electric motor. The car itself is driven by an electric motor.

Parallel. In such a hybrid, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor work independently of each other, and, depending on the type (mild or full hybrid), can drive the car simultaneously or in turn.

Soft. Here, the traditional starter and alternator are completely replaced by an electric motor, which is used to start and support the engine. This helps to increase vehicle dynamics and reduce fuel consumption by around 15%. The electric motor and batteries are not designed to propel the vehicle on their own. But this makes it possible to significantly lighten and reduce their cost, in comparison with the components of a full hybrid. The BMW 7 ActiveHybrid uses exactly the concept of a mild hybrid.

Full. In full hybrid systems, the car can be driven by an electric motor at any stage of the movement: both when accelerating and when driving at a constant speed. For example, in the "urban cycle" a car can use only one electric motor. The system components of this concept are noticeably larger, more massive, and much more difficult to install than in the case of a "mild" hybrid. However, they can significantly improve vehicle dynamics. In addition, using only electric power for city driving can reduce fuel consumption by 20%. The BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is a full hybrid.

Rechargeable. The capacity, size and weight of the battery depends on its purpose. In recent years, new developments in this area have significantly expanded the possibility of using batteries in automobiles. High capacity and durability make Li-Ion and Ni-MH power supplies fully suitable for use in hybrid vehicles.