We all have seen hybrid vehicles and their advertisements everywhere on the internet. Not what this hybrid vehicle thing is? Is it something revolutionary or something that changes the world and bla bla bla? Let’s get into the details and find it out!

First of all, what is a hybrid vehicle?

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that runs on more than one power or energy source. Like a car running on a gasoline or diesel internal combustion (IC) engine and an electric motor. Or like an old-school moped that can run on a gasoline engine and even by your feet just like a cycle.

That’s the easiest definition to understand what this hybrid vehicle thing is. But we have seen those micro-hybrid, mild-hybrid, eco Start/Stop, plug-in hybrid, SHVS things, etc. brandings on various vehicles and companies.

So to get this thing, there are two types of hybrid vehicles:

1. Those that fall in the hybrid category
2. Those that are named hybrid but have no features

Starting with theory

The most hated car in the car community is the Toyota Prius to the BMW i8, from Porsche’s 918 Spyders to McLaren’s P1 hypercar, all running on Gasoline + Electric powered powertrains. These hybrid cars are different than those simple electric cars, in which you plug in an electric power source and just go for a drive. For example, the Mahindra Reva e20 is the first Indian manufactured Full Electric plug-in car, in which you have to charge the battery with the AC home power source and you can cruise in it with comfort in the town for around 100km. Or nowadays one of the most lime-lighted cars Tesla! Of course, those are electric cars, but what if we mix them with an IC engine and make them more usable?

In the case of hybrid cars, there are various types-

• Range Extender hybrid vehicles

Unlike electric vehicles; they don’t need to get charged by plugging in. You just start the car on an internal combustion engine and start your journey, the batteries that run the electric motor will get charged with the help of regenerative braking or while engine braking. So when you have charged the batteries, you can shift to electric mode and cruise on the electric power silently without starting the engine and wasting fuel. So, for example, if you are going to the supermarket to buy some grocery stuff in a heavy break and pick up situations on IC engine power, you are juicing those batteries; while with the same battery back up you’ll be able to return home on full electric power!

These kinds of vehicles are convenient, when you apply brakes, it’ll charge the battery and so your electric range will get extended. You will get the feeling of playing a video game, where your boost bar will get full while braking and cruising.

These kinds of cars are made for those people who regularly travel in city traffic conditions or on roads where you need to use brakes regularly. i.e. Range Rover Hybrid

• Plug-in hybrids

Now, these cars are a kind of compromise. You charge them with the wall charger then you go out with it on a ride. The battery gets over and your internal combustion engine starts automatically to drive your car. So, if you are going to commute to the city or nearby places, you can go and come without any hustle. But on a long trip, the charging will get exhausted and you’ll end up using your gasoline/diesel engines. But, these cars give a very good performance if it is tuned in a way. You can start on electric power and then shift on IC engine power and cruise to have greater fuel economy.

All rage extender vehicles can’t be a plug-in hybrid but all plug-in hybrids can become range extenders, as you turn on the IC engine on the go to charge the batteries and run the vehicle on them. i.e. Porsche Panamera E-hybrid, BMW i3

• Smart Start/Stop technology

Technically, some companies advertise their cars as micro-hybrid cars and all, which are not actual hybrid vehicles. The main power source is just the gasoline or diesel engine.

What happens there is, that the smart system turns off the engine when the neutral gear is engaged and the clutch, brake & accelerator paddles are left without pressure. As we know a vehicle burns more fuel when it is standing still and idling, this system cuts the engine off and saves fuel. Like in a stop-and-go traffic condition, red lights, etc., the engine will be cut off by this system. When you depress the clutch again, the engine will come to life with that integrated starter motor generator. This integrated starter motor-generator is the main part of this system, as it takes the place of the conventional alternator. While engine braking and vehicle braking, this generator will charge the separate battery and while the engine has to get started again, the battery will give power to this ISG to start the engine smoothly!

So ultimately, this system is just saving fuel to some level and reducing pollution. Note that this thing will not shut off the vehicle if the AC is on and the cabin has not reached to optimum temperature. So in hot countries, this is not that useful. i.e. Ciaz diesel SHVS, Mahindra micro-hybrid cars.