What Components Are Used to Make a Hybrid Car?
Hybrid cars are a combination of legacy and next-generation components that create a new category of road transportation. These vehicles are broken down into two main autos--the "pure" hybrid and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). In the case of the "pure" iteration, the gas or diesel engine is still the car's primary driving force, whereas the PHEV inverts the engineering focus to lean on the car's electric power. Regardless of the concept the primary components will be common for both.
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Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)
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The ICE is the major legacy component in the "pure" hybrid. In this technology fossil-based fuels (gasoline or diesel) mix with metered air to produce recurrent combustion. The subsequent ignition opens a series of valves that in turn rotate a crankshaft to move pistons up and down.
Electric Motor
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The "pure hybrid" configuration uses an electric motor as a mechanism to extend fuel mileage. In this case the motor is engaged to take the place of the ICE for short runs or adds additional acceleration on demand. Electric motors are comprised of a copper- wrapped device called an armature that rotates around a shaft. A set of brushes contacts the armature to pass electrical current to a power converter. This process subsequently turns either a set of direct drive wheel hubs or a drive shaft that rotates the driving wheels.
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Constant Velocity Transmission (CVT)
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Unlike a typical ICE transmission, hybrid cars require something more than a single mechanical configuration to transmit power to the driving wheels. This is because electric motors do not derive efficient power from gear ratios, but instead alter motor current to create either increases or decreases in power. So in a hybrid the transmission has to engage or disengage either system at the convenience of the driver. The CVT allows for this capability.
Energy Management System
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The EMS is the brain of the hybrid vehicle. This component is essentially a computer that "senses" the power needs of the driver automatically or allows a driver to manually change his power source as he chooses.
Fuel Tank
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This component carries the fossil-fuel used to power the ICE. This container can carry gasoline, diesel, ethanol or, if the ICE is converted appropriately, biofuels.
Battery Pack
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This is the secondary fuel component and powers the electric motor. Batteries of this type are typically long-life, high-rate charging units, utilizing Lithium-ion elements. This means that these systems are fast, safe and highly reliable.
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