I and A Mag Jan20

Everything You Need to Know
Looking to move into the world of
electrification? Here’s all you need to know
about hybrids.
With all the talk of electrification of cars and everyone looking to
reduce their carbon footprint, hybrid models have become more
and more popular with buyers.
If you’re interested but are not sure what they are and what
different types are available, we’ve got you covered.
What is a hybrid?
As the name suggests, it’s a hybrid of an electric vehicle and an
internal combustion engine (usually powered by petrol or diesel).
It will have a battery-powered electric motor that will work in
conjunction with the combustion engine to power the wheels.
Generally, the idea is that the electric motor takes care of the
driving at low speeds or while accelerating, because that’s when
a combustion engine is at its most inefficient. Then, once up
to speed, when the engine can run at low effort to keep things
ticking along, it takes over.
The result is better fuel economy – always a good thing!
Types of hybrid
Mild hybrid (MHEV)
The mild hybrid takes the hybrid principles but utilises them in
the mildest of ways. They typically have a small battery and an
electric motor that can take over running the car’s ancillaries,
such as the headlights and air conditioning.
This means the engine can be turned off to save fuel at times
when it is not needed, such as when decelerating or when
stopped. The important distinction is that the wheels cannot be
powered by the electric motor.
While it tends to mean the engine isn’t being used at times when
it’s not being particularly inefficient anyway, the economy gains
are fairly small. However, as it’s the batteries that tend to add cost
to hybrids, mild hybrids tend to be less expensive to buy than
other models.
Hybrid
When you hear a car referred to as simply a ‘hybrid’ alone, it tends
to mean that it has the capability to run on pure electric but the
batteries can only be recharged through regenerative braking.
This is when motors in the wheels ‘harvest’ energy that would
normally be lost when decelerating and braking and uses it to
replenish the battery charge. This is where the term ‘self-charging
hybrid’ comes from – you never charge the vehicle from an
external source, it recharges itself through regeneration.
On the positive side, hybrids are much more economical than
a mild hybrid, because you can drive on electric only, providing
there’s enough charge, and they tend to be less expensive than
plug-in models.
However, because they rely on deceleration to charge, if you do
a lot of motorway miles at a consistent speed you could find the
battery is dead once you get to a town where you could use EV
mode.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Plug-in hybrids are the ultimate form of hybrid models, because
they can plug into an external source of electricity to charge the
batteries.
This means you can top the batteries up to full charge overnight
and thus maximise the electric-only range. If your daily commute
is quite short you might rarely need petrol power, saving you lots
of money in the long run.
The downside is that the charging technology tends to make
PHEVs pricier than other hybrids, and if you have no means to
charge the battery yourself, you might as well save that initial
cash and go for a normal hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a self-charging hybrid?
In truth, there’s very little to separate a ‘self-charging’ hybrid from
a regular hybrid. They still use a single or pair of electric motors
to assist the petrol (or, in small numbers, diesel) engine, and they
can’t be plugged in to top up the batteries, either.
So how do you charge them? Most hybrids come with the option
to use some of the engine’s power output to charge the batteries,
therefore reserving some electric power for later use. In addition,
nearly all hybrids harness the energy generated when braking
and coasting, pushing this kinetic energy into the batteries. So
really, a ‘self-charging’ hybrid is just a hybrid car that can’t be
plugged into the mains.
Would a hybrid benefit me?
This really depends on your daily journeys. Those who do shorter
trips day-to-day are definitely candidates for the swap to a hybrid,
as the vehicle can run on all-electric power alone, meaning that
emissions are practically zero and overall consumption of fuel will
be as low as possible.
In contrast, if you’re travelling further afield more regularly while
at higher speeds, then a conventionally powered car may still be
better. Hybrids struggle to run on electric power at motorway
speeds and for long distances, after which the smaller combustion
engine is left to deal with propulsion all by itself, resulting in
higher emissions and poor fuel economy.
Are hybrid cars reliable?
Despite a complex powertrain and the multitude of new
technologies incorporated into a hybrid’s setup, they are as
reliable as a conventional car. In fact, many older hybrids have
achieved high mileages with little to no fuss, and because of the
stronger regeneration you get from a hybrid there’s less stress on
the brakes too.
Do you get a plug-in grant?
ABOUT
HYBRIDS
Sadly, no – in March 2019 the government announced that it was
axing the plug-in grant for hybrid vehicles following a surge in
their popularity. Only all-electric vehicles now qualify for the
grant.
Are they eligible for exclusion from low emissions zones?
Some hybrids are eligible for an exclusion from London’s lowemissions
zone charge, but the rules are far more stringent than
previously. Now, only hybrid cars which emit less than 75g/km
CO2 and have a minimum zero-emissions (or all-electric) range of
20 miles will be completely exempt from the charge. As a result,
older vehicles may not get the discount.
Plus, in 2021, London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone is set to extend
to the north and south circular, and no hybrids will get an
exemption from the charge.
by James Baggot
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