Hybrid cars work with a combination of a gasoline engine and electrical components to allow for the greatest fuel efficiency. The presence of battery packs in the vehicle requires a recharging mechanism. True electric hybrids can travel between 20 and 60 miles on a single charge. Combining a gas engine and electricity offers alternatives for the computers in the vehicle to choose the most efficient method of fuel consumption. Batteries fuel the vehicle during its slowest speeds and in stop-and-go traffic.
Hybrid vehicles have a generator system that works in conjunction with the transmission to determine whether battery or gasoline power will be used to fuel the car. The generator grabs energy created by the engine and transmission and sends it to the batteries for storage. Movement of the vehicle through the gears is dictated by the transmission. If you need speed, the transmission will generate a boost of speed with a combination of gasoline and electrical energy. If you're slowing down, the car will switch to electrical mode since this is more efficient, saves fuel and reduces emissions. The generator evaluates the driving conditions and makes decisions about the required amounts of fuel. This process is seamless and many drivers are never aware of the switch, although some drivers notice the extreme quiet when a car is running on battery power only.
The most common method of regenerating power involves converting energy from the transmission to recharge the batteries. Energy from the transmission is captured in the generator and converted to electrical current that supplies the batteries. This restoration mechanism keeps the batteries at optimal performance with about a half-charge capacity. This process is continual and allows the batteries to maintain peak performance over a lifetime. Some hybrids have a regenerative braking system that helps restore battery power while driving. As the driver presses the brakes, the energy generated is converted into electrical energy in the generator. The generator then transmits this power to the batteries for a recharge. Braking is a powerful action by a vehicle that generates a tremendous amount of energy. Using this energy makes sense based on simple physics. As a car accelerates, it has more kinetic energy. Braking removes the kinetic energy as the vehicle slows. Hybrid vehicles capture the kinetic energy in a conversion process to store the electrical energy for future use. Of course, batteries must be sized appropriately to accept regenerated energy and the vehicle's electrical motor must adequately and quickly convert the energy for reuse.
Unlike typical car batteries, hybrid batteries last a very long time. Hybrid batteries are made of nickel metal hydride for long life and reliability. Most hybrid batteries are designed to last the life of the car since the batteries are charged continually while the car is moving. In addition, hybrid batteries are never completely charged like regular car batteries. The hybrid battery undergoes a constant change of charge as they receive varying rates of energy from regeneration through braking or from the transmission.
