I’d like to know more about hybrid cars. What is myth and what is fact?
By Cars & Motorcycles on Nov 22, 2008 with Comments 5
Meeya2 asked: I’ve heard that a hybrid vehicle generally goes on battery only under 45 miles per hour, around town, but runs on fuel if the speed is above 45. Is it correct?
Filed Under: Hybrid Cars
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howstuffworks.com
yes thats true. well i’ve heard the exact same thing.
That is kinda correct it does run on battery but not usually up to 45mph as you speed up it converts from battery to gas so for a bit it runs on both and when you brake you recharge the battery. Be careful though Toyota has the only true hybrid. Some car makers cars when running off battery the air cant run etc
It depends on the computer strategy. Mostly, the engine cuts in for acceleration assist, or to charge the battery. Or for a/c, depending on the hybrid. So at a no load cruise, as in, level ground and constant speed, it should try to run on battery as much as possible. Any tip-in throttle, or low battery will still cause the engine to kick in. Again, this varies widely by maker. Ford is new to hybrid technology, thus any a/c max setting makes the engine run. Most have gone to electric a/c compressors, thus saving fuel, as is the whole point.
Hi,
this will be very wordy, so grab a double mocha and get comfy.
The short answer is up to 25 miles of distance or 25 miles per hour, not both. The full answer…
When a full hybrid will run on only electricity really depends on driving conditions and the driver. Let’s run through some basics…
There are three classes of hybrids- full, partial, and mild. You may see other names, but those are the basics.
A hybrid vehicle is one that moves using two power sources. Starting with a full hybrid, the system uses a gas engine and at least two electric motors that are linked to a battery bank that stores electric power for later use. One of the electric motors helps to move the vehicle, the other changes braking energy into electricity to store in the battery.
Full hybrids include all Toyotas and Lexus (the Prius, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, RX400h, GX450h), Honda Civics starting with the current body style (last generation Civics were a partial hybrid), Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners, and the Nissan Altima (which uses Camry Hybrid technology through a licensing arrangement with Toyota).
Partial hybrids include the Honda Insight and the Accord Hybrid (and the earlier Civics).
Mild hybrids include the GM Sierra Hybrid, Saturn Vue Green Line, and the Dodge Durango Hybrid.
Full hybrids can move using only electric power, the internal combustion engine (ICE) does not have to start.
Partial hybrids must have the ICE turn on to move the vehicle, but they use a small battery to boost the power and/or reduce the need for the ICE to run as fast, which uses less gas.
Mild hybrids do not have battery boost that assist the ICE’s, the ICE turns off when the vehicle is stopped. When a mild hybrid needs to move again, the electric generator turns the ICE back on instantly. The generator can also run the air conditioning and radio, but it does not move the vehicle in any way.
As I said in the beginning, how far or how fast you get under all-electric power depends on:
- how hard you press the pedal to merge or keep up with traffic (the harder you press, the sooner the ICE kicks in)
- how much charge is in the battery (less charge means the ICE will turn on to recharge, even if you’re just sitting there)
- how many times you have to accelerate in one trip and how far you go
With a fully electric vehicle, there is a battery system that will have a certain amount of charge it can hold and use. We’ll call that the potential for use.
When you press gently on the accelerator pedal of an electric vehicle, or a full hybrid, you will be using a small amount of the potential of that battery. However, if you stomp it to accelerate hard, you will be using more of that stored potential to move the same distance.
Think of a marathon runner who’s forced to run wind sprints. That person may be able to maintain a steady pace of 25 miles, but force them to run faster and to run hard multiple times, and their total distance drops to much less, say 5-10 miles.
So, a full hybrid like a Prius will be able to run up to 25 mph or 25 miles of distance under electric-only power, but that will be for a conservative driver using that highly efficient vehicle. A Highlander Hybrid or Escape Hybrid will not be able to do that, being larger, heavier vehicles designed to produce more power and not be as efficient as a Prius or Civic Hybrid.
To improve mileage or to drive a full hybrid properly, learn to drive like there is an egg under the accelerator and you are trying to not crush that egg as you accelerate.
Then, double your stopping distance, say 100 doubled to 200 feet. At 200 feet, you see the stop sign and you take your foot off the accelerator, coasting in until you reach the 100 foot mark. Then apply your brakes gently and firmly. You will have shut down your ICE 2X faster than usual and you will have generated a great deal of electricity.
There is more to the systems than this, but we’ve covered enough for now. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me at