Hybrid cars are a much greener option than cars that use gasoline. A hybrid combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that is powered by extra batteries. These types of cars have been around for a long time but due to the crisis they are increasingly on the rise as fuels are more expensive, technology is cheaper and there is a greater rise in environmental awareness.
Mild hybrid
The first type of hybrid car is the mild hybrid or gasoline engine, it is an internal combustion engine that has no mechanical connection with the wheels. It is only used to create and generate electricity and the traction is always electric. It is a motor that works optimally, and the battery is recharged until it is full, at which point it is temporarily disconnected. These types of cars can turn off while they are running, braking or even stopped, and then turn on right away. An example of a mild hybrid is the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado.
Full hybrid
The full hybrid is a combination of two motors. It is like a series hybrid but with a mechanical connection to the wheels. It is a much more complex type of hybrid at an electronic and mechanical level. When a full hybrid is going at low speeds, they can use only the electric motor. When driving at speeds above 20 mph, this type of hybrid can use the gasoline engine as a power source, using the electric one to provide more power if necessary. An example of this type of car is the Lexus NX200.
Hybrid connection
These hybrid cars are also known as plug-in or PHEV, they work with electric rechargeable batteries for ranges between 48 and 322 kilometers although this will depend on the car model. The first plug-in hybrid was launched on the market in 2008 in China. The batteries are rechargeable with conventional electrical energy, that is, you have to plug it in and it can travel at least 30 kilometers without another propulsion system. An example is the Chinese car model of the Qorvo’s brand.
Parallel hybrid
This type of car, also called a semi- hybrid, uses both engines, both the thermal and the electric, to power the transmission at the same time. It is not considered a very efficient system but it is very simple and, for this reason, the Honda brand opted for this technology at the time, although it ended up giving up. An example of this type of car is the Honda Insight.
Extended Range Electric
This type of extended range car, or EREV, is a series hybrid. They are considered electric cars since they do not need a heat engine to work, they can be 100% efficient. When the batteries run out, the thermal engine is used to generate electricity in a sustainable way and at a constant rate so that the cost per kilometer is very low. An example model is the Opel Ampera.
