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| PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (A dissertation) |
An HEV is any vehicle with a gasoline engine (or internal combustion engine) with a
large electric generator, coupled with an electric motor that is capable of running on
either electric power or carbon fuel engine power together at the same time or
independently. Current mainstream configurations use engine power to supplement an
electric motor at elevated speeds or while accelerating or passing.
The primary source of energy to charge the electric battery's of the Hybrid Electric
Vehicle is the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). A few models also use dynamic
regenerative braking to charge batteries while stopping or slowing and dynamic braking
is rumoured as becoming more popular by most auto makers in the next few years as
auto makers become less resistant to hybrid production, and they gear up to meet the
challenge laid down by the worlds leading hybrid auto maker which has shown that
significant high mileage efficiency is king for HEV auto buyers.
The top of the line most popular Hybrid Electric Vehicle is the Toyota Prius Hybrid.
It's mileage is rated by test track testing at 61 mpg and by independent testing at 49
miles per gallon under real-world driving conditions. Since 1998 Toyota has officially
sold one million Prius Hybrids worldwide as of May 2007 making it the most popular HEV
by a large factor. The Honda Civic Hybrid is rated at 55 mpg and trails significantly in
world wide sales of its hybrid vehicles with real world benchmarks in the 34 mpg range.
Conventional Toyota Camry's with 38 mpg ratings are outselling the Honda Civic as a
result. Most auto makers are still playing catch up on HEV development. Several
concept cars are in the wings to challenge the Prius in 2010.
A PHEV goes one step further than an HEV: A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle is usually
an HEV that has been retrofitted or equipped with an inverter in the vehicle which can
allow one to plug an extension cord into 115 volt or 230 volt alternating current (AC)
electrical sources and use that energy to charge the direct current (DC) battery of the
vehicle. Currently some Plug-in Hybrid Electric city buses can be quick charged using
three-phase 480 volt industrial power to fast charge their battery packs from inverters
specially made for that purpose. 15 minute turn-around times are achievable, such as
during driver breaks or lunch. Slow charging at night is an option that extends
deep-cycle battery life, also. Most privately owned PHEV's are using the slow-charge
method at night system of charging; using their house power from the standard electrical
utility grid. A very few early adopters are charging their PHEV's from free solar photo
voltaic energy they collect at home, too.
Most PHEV's can also reverse the process of electrical conversion and use the carbon
fuel powered engine to create electrical energy to run 115 volt electrical appliances
either in the vehicle itself or externally, through an extension cord while their vehicle's
engine is running. The better designed Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have set up their
Engine/Motor configuration to gain energy back into the battery system via dynamic
braking; which is the ability to slow the vehicle by inducing the motor to generate power
when braking, thus while slowing down they are recovering some of the dynamic energy
that was used to accelerate the vehicle up to speed, earlier. By this means mileage is
greatly increased for the Hybrid Vehicle.
To date no major manufacturer makes a stock PHEV. An inverter that converts
alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) 12 or 24 volt automotive power has to be
installed as an after market product to make it plug-in capable. Some auto
manufacturers will void their power train warranties if this modification is found during
warranty repairs at a dealership. However, there are a number of extended warranty
vendors that offer extended coverage in this event, especially for the most popular
brands with their excellent reliability statistics.
A PHEV+ goes yet another step further to increase mileage efficiencies. Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Vehicle Pluses are PHEV's that are also retrofitted with much larger battery
storage capacity in order to extend their after plug-in charging distance to 20 or more
miles before the engine kicks in and assists the batteries to power the vehicle. The
advent of Lithium Ion (Li-io) battery systems to replace standard Ni-Cad batteries or
lead-acid batteries, are alleged to boost some very-light-weight-to-power-ratio vehicles
into the mid 50 mile range before needing an assist from the carbon powered
reciprocating engine to take up the task of adding power to the power train and
generate electrical energy to refresh the batteries. These efficiencies, coupled with
dynamic braking can push the mileage for a plug-in hybrid up into the 80 to 90 mile
range for its first gallon of carbon fuel.
Since most suburban drivers rarely drive more than 20 to 40 miles in an average day,
and they would likely do a plug-in recharge from the electrical grid every night after use;
it is conceivable that a PHEV would reduce its fuel stops to once per month or less,
instead of the nationwide average of every 6 days. By this means auto pollution in cities
would be enormously reduced and dependence on foreign auto fuel would likewise be
greatly reduced.
If you are interested in seeing major manufacturers build plug-in and plug-in plus
hybrids, click on this link to see an animation about better PHEV's and click through to
add your name to a petition, too. Bettah . See also: Toyota Prius PHEV update.
large electric generator, coupled with an electric motor that is capable of running on
either electric power or carbon fuel engine power together at the same time or
independently. Current mainstream configurations use engine power to supplement an
electric motor at elevated speeds or while accelerating or passing.
The primary source of energy to charge the electric battery's of the Hybrid Electric
Vehicle is the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). A few models also use dynamic
regenerative braking to charge batteries while stopping or slowing and dynamic braking
is rumoured as becoming more popular by most auto makers in the next few years as
auto makers become less resistant to hybrid production, and they gear up to meet the
challenge laid down by the worlds leading hybrid auto maker which has shown that
significant high mileage efficiency is king for HEV auto buyers.
The top of the line most popular Hybrid Electric Vehicle is the Toyota Prius Hybrid.
It's mileage is rated by test track testing at 61 mpg and by independent testing at 49
miles per gallon under real-world driving conditions. Since 1998 Toyota has officially
sold one million Prius Hybrids worldwide as of May 2007 making it the most popular HEV
by a large factor. The Honda Civic Hybrid is rated at 55 mpg and trails significantly in
world wide sales of its hybrid vehicles with real world benchmarks in the 34 mpg range.
Conventional Toyota Camry's with 38 mpg ratings are outselling the Honda Civic as a
result. Most auto makers are still playing catch up on HEV development. Several
concept cars are in the wings to challenge the Prius in 2010.
A PHEV goes one step further than an HEV: A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle is usually
an HEV that has been retrofitted or equipped with an inverter in the vehicle which can
allow one to plug an extension cord into 115 volt or 230 volt alternating current (AC)
electrical sources and use that energy to charge the direct current (DC) battery of the
vehicle. Currently some Plug-in Hybrid Electric city buses can be quick charged using
three-phase 480 volt industrial power to fast charge their battery packs from inverters
specially made for that purpose. 15 minute turn-around times are achievable, such as
during driver breaks or lunch. Slow charging at night is an option that extends
deep-cycle battery life, also. Most privately owned PHEV's are using the slow-charge
method at night system of charging; using their house power from the standard electrical
utility grid. A very few early adopters are charging their PHEV's from free solar photo
voltaic energy they collect at home, too.
Most PHEV's can also reverse the process of electrical conversion and use the carbon
fuel powered engine to create electrical energy to run 115 volt electrical appliances
either in the vehicle itself or externally, through an extension cord while their vehicle's
engine is running. The better designed Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have set up their
Engine/Motor configuration to gain energy back into the battery system via dynamic
braking; which is the ability to slow the vehicle by inducing the motor to generate power
when braking, thus while slowing down they are recovering some of the dynamic energy
that was used to accelerate the vehicle up to speed, earlier. By this means mileage is
greatly increased for the Hybrid Vehicle.
To date no major manufacturer makes a stock PHEV. An inverter that converts
alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) 12 or 24 volt automotive power has to be
installed as an after market product to make it plug-in capable. Some auto
manufacturers will void their power train warranties if this modification is found during
warranty repairs at a dealership. However, there are a number of extended warranty
vendors that offer extended coverage in this event, especially for the most popular
brands with their excellent reliability statistics.
A PHEV+ goes yet another step further to increase mileage efficiencies. Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Vehicle Pluses are PHEV's that are also retrofitted with much larger battery
storage capacity in order to extend their after plug-in charging distance to 20 or more
miles before the engine kicks in and assists the batteries to power the vehicle. The
advent of Lithium Ion (Li-io) battery systems to replace standard Ni-Cad batteries or
lead-acid batteries, are alleged to boost some very-light-weight-to-power-ratio vehicles
into the mid 50 mile range before needing an assist from the carbon powered
reciprocating engine to take up the task of adding power to the power train and
generate electrical energy to refresh the batteries. These efficiencies, coupled with
dynamic braking can push the mileage for a plug-in hybrid up into the 80 to 90 mile
range for its first gallon of carbon fuel.
Since most suburban drivers rarely drive more than 20 to 40 miles in an average day,
and they would likely do a plug-in recharge from the electrical grid every night after use;
it is conceivable that a PHEV would reduce its fuel stops to once per month or less,
instead of the nationwide average of every 6 days. By this means auto pollution in cities
would be enormously reduced and dependence on foreign auto fuel would likewise be
greatly reduced.
If you are interested in seeing major manufacturers build plug-in and plug-in plus
hybrids, click on this link to see an animation about better PHEV's and click through to
add your name to a petition, too. Bettah . See also: Toyota Prius PHEV update.
| PHEV |
The Environmental and Homeland Security benefits of PHEV's should be noted: Charging
battery's from the grid at night makes no significant negative impact on the environment. That
is because most coal fired generators are idling but not shut down at night when electrical
loads are very small. Using domestic electrical energy to power one's vehicle reduces
dependence on foreign fuel, 61% of which is needed to keep thirsty U.S. Automobiles filled
up with fuel from countries that have scant love for America, some of which may be funding
terrorist activities with the enormous profits from American dollars for sweet crude oil.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) in California and the City of Austin
consider EV's to be such a potential daytime energy surge resource that they are providing
fee parking so that they can share EV's and PHEV battery capacity during their air
conditioning electric seasons.
battery's from the grid at night makes no significant negative impact on the environment. That
is because most coal fired generators are idling but not shut down at night when electrical
loads are very small. Using domestic electrical energy to power one's vehicle reduces
dependence on foreign fuel, 61% of which is needed to keep thirsty U.S. Automobiles filled
up with fuel from countries that have scant love for America, some of which may be funding
terrorist activities with the enormous profits from American dollars for sweet crude oil.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) in California and the City of Austin
consider EV's to be such a potential daytime energy surge resource that they are providing
fee parking so that they can share EV's and PHEV battery capacity during their air
conditioning electric seasons.
| PHEV+ |
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