Hybrid+Vehicle+Drive-train

The Full Hybrid
The Full Hybrid is the most common type of Hybrid vehicle. “[A Full Hybrid] is a vehicle that can run on just the engine, just the battery, or a combination of both” (Wikipedia). A large, high-capacity battery pack is needed for battery-only operation. These vehicles have a split power path that allows more flexibility in the drivetrain by inter-converting mechanical and electrical power. Some car companies trade mark their hybrid technology in their cars. Some include: [|Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive and Lexus Hybrid Drive]. The Full Hybrid drive train is very complex. Hybrid cars run in five different modes. The first is electric vehicle mode which is when the engine is off, and the battery provides electrical energy to power the motor (or the reverse when regenerative braking is engaged). Used for idling as well when the battery [|State Of Charge] (SOC) is high. The next one is cruising mode where the vehicle is cruising, not accelerating, and the engine can meet the road load demand. The power from the engine is split between the mechanical path and the generator. Battery charging mode is used for idling, except if the battery state-of-charge is low and requires charging, which is provided by the engine and generator. Power boost mode is employed in situations where the engine cannot meet the road load demand. The battery is then used to power the motor to provide a boost to the engine power. Negative split mode is when the vehicle is cruising and the battery state-of-charge is high. The battery provides power to both the motor (to provide mechanical power) and to the generator (Wikipedia).

Mild-Hybrid

Mild Hybrids are generally internal combustion engines equipped with an electric machine (one motor/generator in a parallel configuration) allowing the engine to be turned off whenever the car is coasting, braking, or stopped, yet restart quickly. Mild hybrids may employ [|regenerative brake] and some level of power assist to the[| internal combustion engine], but mild hybrids do not have an exclusive electric-only mode of propulsion. Mild hybrids are sometimes called Power assist hybrids' as they use the engine for primary power, with a torque-boosting electric motor also connected to a largely conventional power train. (Wikipedia) The electric motor, mounted between the engine and transmission, is essentially a very large starter motor, which operates not only when the engine needs to be turned over, but also when the driver "steps on the gas" and requires extra power.

Plug-in Electric Hybrid

A [|plug-in hybrid electric vehicle] (PHEV) has two defining characteristics: 1) it can be plugged into an electrical outlet to be charged and it has some range that can be traveled on the energy it stored while plugged in.(Wikipedia) They are full hybrid, able to run in electric-only mode, with larger batteries and the ability to recharge from the [|electric power grid]. Their main benefit is that they can be gasoline-independent for daily commuting, but also have the extended range of a hybrid for long trips. They can also be multi-fuel, with the electric power supplemented by [|diesel], [|biodiesel], or [|hydrogen].  These cars are perfect for anyone living in large cities for the day-to-day commute.

Works Cited "Hybrid Synergy Drive." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Hybrid Vehicle Drivetrain." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Hybrid Vehicle." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Hybrid Electric Vehicle." Global Greenhouse Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. Vaughn, Michael. "Is GM's 'mild Hybrid' EAssist System worth the Money?" CTVNews. Chevrolet Motors, 9 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.