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How Do Hybrid Engines Work?

HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors. They can be designed to fulfill a variety of goals, such as enhanced power or greater fuel economy.

Hybrids work by combining the power of a gasoline engine and an electric motor to drive the wheels. They're all reliant on the same fundamental concepts, which are listed below:

  • When you press on the gas pedal at low speeds or when softly advancing from a stop, the electric motor kicks in and drives the drive wheels. The gasoline engine will kick in and power the wheels after you reach a specific speed, usually about 35 to 40 miles per hour.
  • When traveling at high speeds on the highway, the gasoline engine takes care of the labor. The gasoline engine in a standard hybrid or mild hybrid car usually recharges the battery that powers the electric motor.
  • When you coast or brake and remove your foot off the pedal: In a hybrid car, you are often using the battery when coasting downhill or coming to a stop and applying brake pressure. Your hybrid automobile may also charge the battery at this time, depending on the situation.
  • When you slam on the gas or accelerate quickly: In principle, a hybrid car will combine a gasoline engine and an electric motor to transmit power to the wheels and accelerate the vehicle.

Depending on the model, hybrids can be front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. A continuously-variable transmission, or CVT, is standard on most hybrid vehicles. This technology is a shiftless transmission that adjusts power levels continually.

In today's market, there are four major types of hybrid vehicles. The following are the details:

  1. Parallel hybrid vehicles, usually known as just hybrid vehicles: Have an electric motor that drives the car in tandem with a gasoline engine.
  2. Mildly hybrid, micro-hybrid, or lightly hybrid: The battery is typically utilized in these cars to provide additional power to the gasoline engine.
  3. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are vehicles that combine the benefits of a hybrid and an electric vehicle. Some are equipped with gasoline engines as well as a PHEV system.
  4. Series hybrid cars, also known as range-extended hybrids, are automobiles that use a gasoline engine to charge the battery pack for the electric motor, allowing the vehicle to operate.

Take your vehicle to West Coast Tire & Service today if you require hybrid repair!