Types Of Hybrid Cars
Author: James Gunaseelan

In the market today, there are four main types of hybrid car:
the micro, the mild, the full (also known as parallels) and the
series (also known as serial or range extender).

Micro Hybrid Car have electric motors which have no driving
power. In micro hybrids, the electric motors supply functions
like managing the engine to stop and start, auxiliary power and
regenerative braking to charge the battery. This hybrid saves
five to fifteen percent on fuel.

Mild Hybrid Cars move from stationary only if the internal
combustion engine is engaged. They also make use of the electric
motor to assist the gas engine when additional power is
required. The systems also support features like start and stop,
and regenerative breaking.

The Series Hybrids are electric cars with assistance from a
small ICE (internal combustion engine). In these cars only the
electric motor propels the vehicle. The engine drives an
alternator. This alternator creates electricity which either
flows to a battery for storage or it flows to the electric
motor. If the car is running on batteries alone, the engine will
turn on when they empty to a particular level and starts to
recharge them. Advanced series hybrids are known as Fuel Cell
Vehicles, when a separate power source produces the electricity
that drives the motor, or alternatively it is deposited for
later use.

The full hybrid car can be driven by the electric motor or the
engine separately or together. This is different to the micro
and mild hybrids. This capability allows the driver to start
driving the car using just the electric motor. The diesel engine
and the electric motor provide different power levels. Full
hybrids are also called parallel hybrids for the reason that the
electric motor and the engine are joined in parallel to the same
transmission. Full hybrids are likely to be more expensive
because they require a more powerful motor and battery system

In the next few years, a lot of the work done with hybrids in
the vehicle market will be performed with mostly with mild and
full types of hybrid cars. The definitive capabilities of the
vehicle depends on many factors, including the strength and
quality of the eclectic motor, the battery capabilities, the
quality of the engine and the efficiency and the type of the
fuel engine.

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About The Author: James Gunaseelan writes for India's leading
automobile portal http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/index.php