The Problem With Hybrid Cars

The Problem With Hybrid Cars – The popularity of hybrid cars in Europe is growing, as evidenced by the fact that in the first half of 2021 alone, up to half a million hybrid cars were sold. When driving in the city, they mainly work in electric mode, which is economical and environmentally friendly. But is their operation just as profitable in the winter?

Hybrids have become the second most popular engine type in the EU, after diesel engines. According to ACEA data, in the third quarter of 2021, 20.7% of registered passenger cars had an electric combustion engine. The most popular are the so-called “classic hybrids”, in which the electric motor plays an auxiliary role for the combustion engine. Its main advantages are high efficiency, low emissions and complete absence of maintenance – unlike plug-in hybrids, the energy required for the electric motor is stored in combustion mode during driving and regenerative braking. A recent study conducted by Polish scientific teams in Poznań and Kraków showed that vehicles with a classic HEV hybrid propulsion system use the electric motor 77% of the operating time in urban mode. With a skillful driving style, they can also be characterized by very low fuel consumption, even 3-4 liters per 100 km. However, some people fear that the advantages of hybrid cars can only be seen in the warmer months, because the electric motors used in them are sensitive to sub-zero temperatures. Is this justified?

The Problem With Hybrid Cars

Hybrid battery life in cold weather – how does a hybrid perform in winter conditions?

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Winter is a demanding time for all cars, regardless of driving style. Gasoline-powered cars have higher fuel consumption, while electric cars have significantly shorter ranges. There are different types of electric cars. A hybrid HEV is a type of vehicle that has two drives: an economical naturally aspirated engine and one or more engines powered by Ni-MH batteries. The advantages of using this combination in winter conditions are already visible at launch. In mild winters, the electric motor usually starts the hybrid vehicle first. Due to its simple design, it works even at low temperatures and can immediately reach full power. This distinguishes it from a conventional combustion engine, which must first reach the correct operating temperature while driving.

In addition, turning on the car heater before leaving in winter provides comfort and makes it much easier to remove ice, for example, from windows.

Despite appearances, hybrid batteries perform well even in extremely cold climates. Hybrid car batteries are resistant to very low temperatures. Manufacturers of this type of machine guarantee that they can be started without problems and work down to -30°C. In extreme conditions, the intelligent systems first start the gasoline engine, which transfers heat to the air conditioning system.

Increased fuel consumption in winter is a reality for all drivers. Several elements can contribute to this phenomenon, such as increased rolling resistance, vehicle heating or generally difficult driving conditions and slower traffic in large cities. Fuel consumption in vehicles with internal combustion engines is a direct result of their operation. The lubricants and oils needed to keep them running thicken, making the engine more resistant, so it needs more power to start and reach its ideal temperature of 80 to 90°C.

Will Electric Vehicles Really Create A Cleaner Planet?

Modern hybrid cars have an internal combustion engine, so they inevitably consume more fuel and produce more emissions than they do in summer. Also, the internal combustion engine in alternative mode will warm up a little slower than in conventional cars, where it works continuously. As a result, it is estimated that during winter the fuel consumption of a hybrid car increases by an average of 15%, and 10% of a combustion car.

However, despite this, hybrids are still more environmentally friendly. We remind you that in the city driving cycle, the electric motor works up to 77%, and this ratio does not change in winter. In the hybrid, the battery is continuously charged during constant low-speed braking and driving, regardless of the outside temperature. If we assume that a conventional combustion car consumes 8 liters of fuel and a hybrid 5 liters, this still means significant savings and a noticeable reduction in emissions.

The popularity of hybrid cars on the European continent is primarily due to their independence and reliability, even in difficult conditions. They are characterized by low consumption of gasoline and reduced emissions and, unlike typical “electric cars”, do not need to be charged at charging points for electric vehicles, which are sometimes difficult to access. This can be especially inconvenient in winter when the range of electric vehicles is reduced to 30%. Hybrid cars are often referred to as a bridging technology between combustion and all-electric cars, but work is still ongoing to make this type of propulsion more efficient. One of the areas of innovation is the “slimming” of the construction of hybrid cars, which are slightly heavier than combustion cars due to the presence of two power units.

The weight reduction will further reduce emissions and increase uptime in electric mode. One technology that can help solve this problem is ultralight EPP plastic foam. Due to its ease of casting and rich performance characteristics, it is already used in many areas of electric vehicle construction, from car seats and passive safety components to cabin insulation and protection of batteries and sensitive electronics. Seats, doors and roof inserts are made of EPP foam, 95% of which consists of air, it not only reduces the weight of these components, but also effectively retains heat in the cabin. This directly means less energy for heating in electric mode. Meanwhile, batteries made of polypropylene foam effectively protect batteries from external conditions, thus extending their service life. Therefore, it is worth taking care of good insulation of batteries.

Innovative Solutions To Driveline Oscillations In Hybrid Cars

This website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to the use of cookies. What is a hybrid car? It’s a car that runs on gas but improves fuel economy (whether or not I understand how).

When you explain that this is a car that runs like a hybrid (better fuel economy!) and is also plug-in, but only offers a nominal range of 14 to 53 miles, the confusion mounts.

Alternatively, why would you want a hybrid that also has a plug-in? They get good fuel economy as-is; What’s good about turning it on? Especially for only 14 miles?

Fans and advocates of green cars and advanced powertrain technologies understand the nuances. The rest of the world is not like that.

Toyota Hybrid Owners Speak Out On Battery Length And Cost

This was most evident in the marketing of the first generation Chevrolet Volt (35 miles range, later increased to 38) and Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (11 miles range, only 6 continuous).

The Volt had a compelling case: four out of five US cars travel less than 40 miles a day, so you can run the Volt with electric-only drivers for most of your trips—no worries about range.

But Chevy failed to distill that message into a phrase or image that would resonate with most of its buyers.

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In fact, the Volt brought new buyers to the brand, who the company has often admitted know a lot more about the car than the salespeople at its franchised dealerships.

“Yes, you can turn it on if you like, if you can, which isn’t often,” one ad seems to suggest, “but whether you do or not, it’s still the same high-mileage Prius you know and love. .”

In our eight-plus years covering this pace, we haven’t figured out how to explain plug-in hybrids.

And the theme is likely to be repeated as US, German and Asian automakers prepare to release many more plug-in hybrid versions of their current models.

Doing The Math: Is A Hybrid Car Worth It?

This topic is rarely covered in the general automotive press, but it will become more relevant as the launch of these cars gets bigger.

Notes key challenges and suggests that the best way to market them might be as passenger vehicles that also perform well over long distances.

One indicator might be the kinds of marketing themes used for the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, a 22-mile plug-in hybrid that will hit US dealerships later this year.

Electric car: 2019 Nissan Leaf costs $30,885, long battery life… Plug Prius: 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid gets a facelift – in… Tesla Model: Tesla Model X gets new base version 75D, replacing 70D .. .Green Car: Chevrolet Volt: Names Green Cars as Best Buy Cars of 2016 BMW 330e: BMW Expands ChargeNow Through EVgo Electric Car Program… BMW 330e: BMW Ditches Diesel Engines in Favor of Plug-Hybrids in

Best Used Hybrid Cars In 2023

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