Powertrain

Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids such as the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Ford Escape include:

Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

While the Hybrid powertrain has many benefits in the areas of fuel economy, this technology can adversely impact the environment through the manufacturing and disposal of a larger battery.  In addition in the case of the hybrid SUV, it can give the driver the false satisfaction that they are helping the environment, when actually they are still consuming gasoline at a rate of around 35 mpg.