A hybrid electrical vehicle, also known as an HEV, is a vehicle that uses a battery in addition to regular gasoline. It combines this internal combustion engine (ICE) with an RESS or rechargeable energy storage system. The end result is better fuel economy in comparison with a regular vehicle. The battery normally charges while on the road, it’s different in the fact that i doesn’t require visits to a charging unit such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) does.
Many of the hybrid electrical vehicles on the market today recharge the battery by using an internal combustion engine hooked up to an electric generator (more often than not, a motor-generator). This process either recharges the battery contained in the vehicle or to the electric motor that powers the electric motor that utilizes the ICE. Many of the hybrid electrical vehicles will stop the combustion engine at a stop and then solely depend on the electric motor during an idle time such as at a stop light or stop sign. In most cases the HEV engine is smaller than an ICE engine and can be run at various speeds. This provides greater efficiency for the automobile.
There were several examples of hybrid electrical vehicles before they became quite popular in the 1990’s. Using the same styling of today, Victor Wouk’s work with HEVs in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the title as the “Godfather of the Hybrid”. Wouk installed a prototype hybrid drivetrain that had a 16 kW electric motor into a 1972 Buick Skylark provided by GM. This was an idea driven by the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program but the program was stopped by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Honda and Toyota were the early leaders in hybrid electrical vehicles in the late 90’s working on the technology. The Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius have been leaders in this type of vehicle with the Prius become one of the most popular cars since its release in 2004. Honda’s Civic Hybrid delivers around 50 miles per gallon and became as popular as the Prius. In 2008, Hybrids seem to be one the most popular types of cars in California. Roughly four-percent of most California counties have purchased HEV vehicles, and this is slightly higher in larger metropolitan areas where it is closer to five-percent. The US metropolitan area average is somewhat lower with a purchase rate that is close to 1.8-percent.
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There were exciting announcements for the 2009 model year. New HEV vehicles include the Cadillac Escalade, the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2-mode hybrid models. Also in 2009 GM’s Saturn division is releasing the first front wheel drive version of the 2-mode technology with the appearance of the 2009 Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid model. General Motors has announced plans to release this same Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for the 2010 model year.