Hybrid car: what you need to know!

Back in 1997, Toyota introduced the Prius hybrid passenger car to the world, and a bit later (2 years later) Honda launched the Insight, a front-wheel drive hybrid hatchback. Nowadays, hybrid cars are becoming more popular and more common.

Many people believe that hybrids are the future of the automotive world, while others simply do not recognize a car that can use something other than diesel or gasoline as fuel. We decided to prepare for you material in which we will try to indicate all the pros and cons of owning a hybrid car. So let's get started.

How many types of hybrid cars are there?

To begin with, the word "hybrid" comes from Latin and means something that has a mixed origin or combines dissimilar elements. Speaking of cars, here it means a car with two types of powertrain (internal combustion engine and electric motor).

Types of hybrid cars:

• soft;
• consistent;
• parallel;
• full;
• rechargeable.

Soft hybrid car

Soft. Here the starter and alternator are completely replaced by an electric motor, which is used to start and support the engine. This increases the dynamics of the vehicle, while reducing fuel consumption by about 15%. Typical examples of mild hybrid vehicles are the Suzuki Swift SHVS and Honda CRZ.

Mild hybrids use a small electric motor that replaces the starter and alternator (called a dynamo). In this way, it helps the gasoline engine and performs the electrical functions of the vehicle when there is no load on the engine.

Along with the included start-stop system, the mild hybrid system significantly reduces consumption, but by no means does it come close to full hybrid levels.

Fully hybrid cars

In fully hybrid systems, the vehicle can be propelled by an electric motor at any stage of the journey. And when accelerating, and in motion at a stable low speed. For example, in a town cycle a car can use only one electric motor. For understanding, a complete hybrid is the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid.

A full hybrid system is massive and much more difficult to install than a mild hybrid. However, they can significantly improve vehicle dynamics. In addition, using only electricity when driving in the city can reduce fuel consumption by 20%.

Rechargeable hybrid

A rechargeable hybrid is a car that has an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a hybrid module, a rechargeable battery with the possibility of recharging it from an outlet. Its main feature is that the battery is medium in size: smaller than in an electric car, and larger than a conventional hybrid.

Hybrid Car Benefits

Consider the positive aspects of hybrid cars:

• Ecological compatibility. Models of such cars work on environmentally friendly sources. The electric and gasoline engines work together to reduce fuel consumption, saving your budget.
• Economical. The obvious advantage is low fuel consumption. Here, even if the batteries are exhausted, there is an old, good internal combustion engine, and if it runs out of fuel, you will refuel at the first gas station found, without worrying about the charging point. Conveniently.
• Less dependent on fossil fuels. Using an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle needs less fossil fuels, resulting in lower emissions and less dependence on fossil fuels. Because of this, a decrease in gas prices can also be expected.
• The best performance. Performance is also a good reason to buy a hybrid car. The electric motor can be viewed as a kind of supercharger without the additional fuel needed for the turbine or compressor.

The disadvantages of hybrid cars

Less power. Hybrid cars use two independent engines, with the gasoline engine acting as the main source of energy. Two engines in a car mean that neither a gasoline engine nor an electric motor will be as powerful as in conventional gasoline or electric vehicles. and it is quite logical.

Dear purchase. A high price, the cost of which is on average five to ten thousand dollars more than conventional cars. Although, this is a one-time investment that will pay off.

High operating costs. Repair and maintenance of these vehicles can be cumbersome due to dual engines, continuous technological development and high maintenance costs.

High voltage batteries. In the event of an accident, the high voltage contained in the batteries can be fatal.

Inspection and maintenance of hybrid vehicles

Batteries usually require replacement through 15-20 years, for the electric motor, a lifetime warranty is not excluded. Hybrid car service is recommended to be carried out only in official service centers that are equipped with special equipment and where specialists trained in the principles of service of cars of this type work. Hybrid car verification includes:

• diagnostic error codes;
• hybrid battery;
• battery isolation;
• system performance;
• cooling system. 

Hybrid City Myths

1. May electric shock. Until now, some people believe that the driver and passengers of a hybrid car can be electrocuted. This is absolutely not true. Hybrids have excellent protection, including against the risk of such damage. And if you think that the car battery also explodes like on smartphones, you are wrong.
2. Poor work in cold weather. For some reason, some motorists believe that hybrid cars do not work well in winter. This is another myth that it is time to get rid of for a long time. The thing is that the internal combustion engine is launched by a high-voltage electric motor and a traction battery, which are several times more powerful than a traditional starter and battery. Until the battery warms up to room temperature, its return will be limited, which will only indirectly affect the output power of the system, since the internal combustion engine remains the primary source of energy for the hybrid. Therefore, frosts are not terrible for such a car.
3. Expensive to maintain.Many people believe that servicing hybrid cars is more expensive than conventional gasoline cars. This is not true. Maintenance cost is the same. Sometimes even maintenance of a hybrid car can be cheaper due to the features of the power plant. In addition, hybrid cars consume less fuel than cars with internal combustion engines.

Questions and answers:

What is the difference between a hybrid and a conventional car? The hybrid car combines the parameters of an electric car and a classic car with an internal combustion engine. The principle of operation of two different drives may differ.

What does the inscription on the hybrid vehicle mean? A hybrid is literally a cross between something. In the case of a car, it is a mixture of an electric vehicle and a conventional internal combustion engine. Such an inscription on the car indicates that the car uses two different types of power units.

Which hybrid vehicle should you buy? The most popular model is the Toyota Prius (many hybrids work on the same principle), also a good option is the Chevrolet Volt, Honda CR-V Hybrid.