How Hybrid Electric Cars are Better Than Conventional Cars?

Come let’s explore hybrid electric cars, such cars are driven by an internal combustion engine joint with one or two electric motors that uses power via batteries. Mild hybrids—also known as micro hybrids—use a battery as well as an electric motor to provide power to the car and enable the motor to switch off when the car stops, which indeed is extremely helpful in improving fuel efficiency.

Difference Between Mild Hybrids and Full hybrids EVs

Mild hybrids—also known as micro hybrids, the systems in these cars cannot power the whole car only by electricity. Generally, these cars are less expensive than the full hybrid but have relatively fewer fuel economy benefits in comparison to full hybrids.

Full hybrids have more powerful electric motors and bigger batteries, which are able to provide power to the car if you want to travel for short distances and at low speeds. Such cars are costlier than mild hybrids but are more fuel economical.

Series Hybrid Cars

These kinds of electric cars run on motor, linked with a petrol engine in series. In this mechanism, the combustion engine is not connected with the wheels of the car, but through the electric motor. 

The working of the car depends upon the petrol/diesel engine burning the fuel and generating energy, but instead of generating heat and kinetic energy, a generator alters the energy from the petrol/diesel engine directly to electricity, which powers the electric motor, giving power to the car.

Invigorate Braking

These hybrid electric cars don’t require any plug-in charging, the car uses internal combustion and the engine regenerative braking to charge themselves. The car gets power during braking via the electric motor as a generator and storing the power in the battery.

Can all hybrid cars can be charged by regenerative braking? No, not all-electric and hybrid cars have this feature. Plug-in hybrid models need added energy from an electricity source to recharge larger batteries. 

Environmental Impact of Hybrid Cars

As we all know that hybrid cars run on also diesel and petrol and have combustion engines, then how these cars are better than conventional ones. Since these cars also contain electric motors that support the engine, such cars are way more fuel efficient and emit lot less emissions into the environment. 

Nickel–Metal Hydride Batteries Best Suited for HEVs

If we talk about the batteries, nickel–metal hydride batteries are most suited for hybrid electric cars, as it offers higher durability, low cost, and better safety features than Li-ion batteries. The extensive use of these batteries by Toyota Motor Corporation is also supported by the sales of NiMH battery-fitted HEVs.

Therefore, as the hybrid electric cars offer better fuel efficiency and it is an eco-friendly way to commute, such reasons will contribute to the growth of the industry in the future. 

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Hybrid Electric Car Puts Tech On Track

The strict government regulations on the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from vehicles and the fall in battery prices are some of the reasons behind the growth of the hybrid electric car market. In 2017, the market generated a revenue of $57,164.8 million, and it is expected to attain a size of $1,38,023.3 million by 2023, progressing at a 16.7% CAGR during the forecast period (2018–2023). Hybrid electric cars use an internal combustion engine (ICE) with a battery, which is charged by converting the kinetic energy produced during braking into electric energy.

On the basis of hybridization, the hybrid electric car market is bifurcated into full and mild. Of these, in 2017 the full bifurcation held a larger revenue share of more than 85.0% in the market, and it is predicted to dominate it during the 2018–2023 period as well. However, mild hybrid cars are predicted to grow faster in the market during the forecast period, especially in developing nations, such as India and China. This growth can be due to the low cost of mild hybrid cars compared to full hybrid variants.

Further the mechanical integration of components and powertrains and properties, such as electric turbocharger, power steering, and air conditioning, at a low cost is easier in mild hybrid cars. A full hybrid car is nearly $2,500–$3,500 costlier than a similar conventional car. Even though a full hybrid car is more fuel-efficient than the mild one, the latter provides a better cost-to-benefit ratio due to its comparatively low upfront cost. Furthermore, the cost-efficient aspect for customers and the time-saving aspect for producers are boosting the growth of the hybrid electric car market.

Furthermore, several initiatives are being taken by the European Commission to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. For instance, it targets to lower CO₂ emissions by 20.0% by 2020 from the levels registered in 2008. Similarly, various nations have proposed motor vehicle carbon emission or fuel efficiency policies. The increasing concern in the light of CO₂ emissions around the globe is wiping out conventional vehicles. These strict emission policies would ultimately raise the price of traditional cars and impel customers and automobile organizations to adopt low-emission hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region led the hybrid electric car market in the historical period (2013–2017), wherein it made a revenue contribution of more than 57.0%, and it is expected to maintain its lead in the market till 2021. This is attributed to the rising government incentives, increasing environmental awareness among customers, and strict emission policies in various countries, including Japan, which is a hub for giant hybrid electric vehicle makers, such as Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.

Various nations are offering support, such as high-occupancy vehicle lane and emission inspection exemption, to owners of hybrid cars. Further, the electric car battery cost reduced from $1000/kWh to $227/kWh during 2010–2016. During the forecast period, the prices of lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries are predicted to witness a greater fall compared to nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. As per industry experts, the cost of Li-ion batteries is expected to drop below $120/kWh by 2020, which, in turn, would boost the hybrid electric car market as the price of battery often decides the electric car cost.

Thus, stringent government regulations and a drop in the battery prices are predicted to augment the market growth during 2018–2023.

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