HYBRID CARS: THE LATEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY

Total explains some of the basic concepts behind these increasingly popular cars

Did you know that hybrid cars can achieve fuel economy of up to 35% compared to conventional cars? Another figure that will no doubt change how you look at these ever more popular vehicles is this: between 2011 and 2015, a total of 82,234 units were sold in Spain, while in 2016 alone, more than 11,000 hybrid cars were registered between January and May. This gives you an idea of their soaring appeal.

Now that we have no doubt sparked your interest in these alternative engine cars, we'll explain some of the basic concepts you need to know about these cars.

What does hybrid mean?

In vehicles, a hybrid engine combines two engines using different fuel sources. In the case of hybrid cars, an internal combustion engine (heat engine) is combined with an electric engine. In many cases, the latter acts as a kind of backup. It is mainly used to help the heat engine when the work load is very high, for example when starting the car or accelerating.

The main advantage of using these two engines is that, combined with the other components that make up the hybrid system, fuel is only partially used. They are also able to recover energy that would otherwise be wasted, for example when braking. Fuel consumption can therefore be easily reduced compared to conventional cars, especially if the car is being used in the city.

Are there different types of hybrid cars?

There are three main types of conventional hybrid systems for cars: series, combined or parallel.

In series hybrids, the heat engine is only used to generate electricity which powers the other engine. This means that the fuel is not directly used to move the vehicle and that the wheels are powered by electricity alone. This type of car is quite similar to electric cars, which is why they are also referred to as “extended-range electric vehicles”.

Combined hybrids, on the other hand, make it possible to combine both engines in any configuration, so as to supply the vehicle with traction using the heat and/or electric engine, which link up to a planetary type differential that transmits engine torque to the wheels.

In the case of parallel hybrids, both engines provide propulsive power to the vehicle simultaneously. In this system, instead of transferring the power via a planetary gear train, the drive torque between the electric engine and the heat engine is distributed via a control and regulation system.

As for the fuel used in these hybrid vehicles, the first cars we started to see in the streets had a gasoline engine and an electric engine. However, since the end of 2011, cars combining a diesel engine with an electrical drive system have appeared on the market and have proved to be even more economic.

How do you charge the battery?

One of the main features that distinguishes conventional hybrid vehicles from other plug-in cars is that the electric batteries can only be charged while the car is in motion as they store the excess energy produced by the heat engine and recover the energy produced when braking thanks to a regenerative braking mechanism.

The mechanism allowing energy to be recovered during braking is particularly useful for driving in the city as drivers often need to speed up and slow down.

Bear in mind that, as with a regular car, it is very important to use a high-quality engine oil to maintain your hybrid car and to ensure it is suited to the features of your model. By following this advice, you can extend the useful life of your car and avoid faults due to the use of poor-quality products or ones that do not comply with the manufacturer’s instructions.