Advantages and disadvantages of hybrid drives: How does a hybrid car work?

Alternative drives are standard today, and every manufacturer should offer at least one model that causes less damage to the environment in some form. Purely electric driving is only the tip of the iceberg here, because the hybrid car is also in high season. However, "the hybrid car" is a very broad term in terms of functionality and advantages and disadvantages.

Anyone who speaks of a hybrid car will usually mean a plug-in hybrid, because this hybrid drive is currently being promoted by the innovation premium together with electric cars. For this reason, you can find the top 5 plug-in hybrid cars in the following table:

How do hybrid cars work and how do they work?

When you talk about a hybrid, it generally means that two things are combined. In the case of a car, the electric motor and combustion engine are combined to take advantage of the advantages of both drives. This is intended to make the overall system as efficient as possible. This is achieved because, unlike a combustion engine, an electric motor has a high degree of efficiency even at low speeds. This allows you to accelerate particularly well and at low speeds, an electric motor is also more economical than a combustion engine. Most hybrids use a gasoline engine. Diesel hybrids are a rarity, but not yet an extinct species.

However, if you use high speeds, the combustion engine does a better job. If you combine both drives, the hybrid car automatically switches back and forth between the engines, depending on which one can work more efficiently at the time. Simultaneous operation is of course also possible. This saves fuel and protects the environment.

How the electric motor is charged in hybrid cars depends on the type of hybrid. Normally, the electric motor in hybrid cars is not charged from the outside, this special form is called plug-in hybrid. The classic hybrid generates the electricity for the electric motor while driving and charges the battery by storing the braking energy. You can also read in our specific article whether a plug-in hybrid or an electric car is more worthwhile!

Mild, full or plug-in hybrid: The differences

There are currently three different types of hybrids:

• Mild hybrid
• Full Hybrid
• Plug-in hybrid

Mild hybrid

The mild hybrid is always a combustion engine, combined with a starter-generator with 48 volts. When you brake or simply roll along, energy is generated, which is then stored in the battery. If support is needed, for example when accelerating, the electric motor is switched on to help the combustion engine.

After accelerating, the rudder is handed back to the combustion engine, which now runs on its own when driving normally. The electric motor is recharged again and again while driving. This happens, among other things, when decelerating or when driving down a mountain. Then the electric motor becomes a generator and recharges the battery with the energy generated.

Full Hybrid

The full hybrid differs from the mild hybrid only in that the electric motor alone can be used up to a speed of about 50 km/h. Otherwise, the drive principle is the same. However, the power of the electric motor is usually higher in full hybrids than that of a mild hybrid model.

Plug-in Hybrid

The plug-in hybrid is a special form, but it is currently the most popular due to the high subsidies. A plug-in is particularly worthwhile in cities and for distances of approx. 60 kilometres, because the significantly more powerful electric motor and the larger battery ensure that, depending on the model, pure electric operation of up to 80 kilometres is possible. If you always stay within the model-specific electric range on your daily journeys and charge the electric motor daily, you will drive locally emission-free most of the time.

The advantages of hybrid cars: higher performance for less fuel

The hybrid can play out its advantages especially in cities. If you brake often, you have to drive slowly and roll along more or less constantly, a hybrid car is very efficient. Because then the electric motor can be used most of the time, because the battery is constantly charged by frequent braking. When using the electric drive, the car also drives very quietly, which is certainly pleasant for many.

A hybrid model can also be used efficiently on country roads, where braking and acceleration are often alternate. Another advantage is that you are not dependent on electricity charging stations. This is even the case with the plug-in hybrid, because in a pinch the combustion engine can take over if you run out of juice.

Anyone who drives a pure combustion engine is responsible for driving the engine gently, which is often not done due to a lack of knowledge. This increases wear. This is different with hybrid cars, because the control electronics always select the most favourable speed range, which prevents excessive stress and keeps wear low.

The disadvantages of hybrid cars: Expensive fun

Even before you delve deeper into a hybrid car, one thing immediately catches your eye when you look at the price list: the high price. Many models are now offered as classic combustion engines and hybrids, here the price difference is often a few thousand euros, which the hybrid model costs more. One reason for this is that both electrical and combustion technology have to be installed.

This leads us to the next disadvantage, weight. Precisely because both systems are installed, the hybrid weighs significantly more than a classic model. The additional weight becomes a problem, especially when driving on the motorway, because consumption increases sharply here and can even be higher than that of a combustion model. Two systems also means that more space is needed. The battery has to be stored somewhere, which is usually at the expense of the trunk volume. The tank is also smaller and therefore the fuel is no longer enough for long journeys.

From an ecological point of view, a hybrid car only pays off if you drive it for a long time and especially for short distances and in city traffic. The production of hybrid cars is more complex and associated with more energy consumption, which is why you should opt for a fairly economical model. Even with plug-in hybrids, the eco-balance is only better if you use green electricity when refueling.

Hybrid Cars FAQ

Are there any questions left unanswered or have you not yet fully understood something? Our FAQ on hybrid cars may be able to help you.

What is the difference between hybrid and plug-in hybrid?

In itself, the engine-side equipment sounds quite similar: A combustion engine and an electric motor are each located in a hybrid car and in a plug-in hybrid. So what's the difference? While the electric motor of the hybrid car really only acts as a support motor that kicks in when starting off, for example, the electric motor of a plug-in hybrid can handle entire sections of road without the support of the combustion engine in addition to such tasks.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars?

Hybrid cars are particularly ahead in terms of efficiency on country roads and in urban areas. Depending on the hybrid variant, you are not even dependent on the presence of an electric charging station, because the conventional combustion engine and the electric motor enter into a symbiosis. On the con side, however, there is the high price of a hybrid vehicle and the usually very high weight, which can be attributed to the design with two engines. This nibbles at efficiency, especially since the fuel tank is usually somewhat reduced due to the lack of space.

What does mild hybrid and full hybrid mean?

Mild hybrids use an electric motor that supports the combustion engine, but does not drive the vehicle alone. They occasionally switch off the combustion engine to save fuel. In contrast, full hybrids can be powered by both the electric and combustion engines alone. In most cases, however, this only works up to a speed of 50 km/h.

source : How does a hybrid car work? 1 car - 2 drives | carwow.de | carwow.de