A Brief History of Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hybrid electric vehicles are cars that use a combination of conventional powertrains and rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS). The purpose of combining these two different power sources is to achieve better fuel economy in hybrid electric vehicles compared to conventional cars and trucks. The batteries are then used only for support and limited propulsion needs, without any recharging due to the energy storage and renewal system.
Today, hybrid electric vehicles are produced on mass-use lines, especially as more and more manufacturers have joined the green line. The reasons many automakers jump on the green bandwagon are varied. Some producers are genuinely interested in preserving natural resources, while others show a form of interest in caring for the environment as a way to attract more customers. There are three main ways that today’s hybrid electric vehicles can reduce fuel consumption. First, they reduce the amount of power wasted during idle or low input (by turning off ICE); secondly, they collect residual energy (regenerative braking), and thirdly, they reduce the size and power of the ICE and the inefficiencies generated by underuse.
Modern mass-produced hybrid electric vehicles can extend their battery charges simply by harvesting kinetic energy through regenerative braking. Some hybrid electric vehicle designs rely on the use of an electric generator that is powered by the engine and allows the battery to be recharged. Much of the ability of existing hybrid electric vehicles is to reduce idle emissions by shutting down the internal combustion engine at idle and restarting it when necessary (this is a start-stop system). Despite the weight of hybrid electric vehicles, we must mention that their engines are actually smaller than those of regular gasoline cars. These motors can run at various speeds, which brings greater efficiency.
The manufacture of hybrid electric vehicles began in the late 1990s with the first ones coming from Honda (Honda Insight) and Toyota (Toyota Prius). Even since the early days of hybrid electric vehicles, they have become widely available to buyers. the future of hybrid electric vehicles is definitely positive, and this is the forecast of some automakers who see hybrid electric vehicles as a core segment of the automotive market of the future.