SixLinks Wiki

Full-Gas

• Definition:Gasoline-powered vehicles have a gas motor, a typical transmission, and a gasoline power source
• High-efficiency engines have become a standard in the US Market Talk about CAFE standards . This helps, but does not fully solve the problem.

Hybrids

• 'Definition:' A hybrid vehicle is anything with more than one power source, such as moped, submarines, locomotives, etc.
• Hybrids are categorized by:
  • Parallel vs. Series -- how gasoline and electrical systems are integrated
  • Source of electricity -- whether electricity is generated in-car or requires plugged-in charge cycles.
• Hybrid vehicles: Combination gas and electric with electric charged by gas. They can use smaller gas engine because don't have to design for peak load, which accounts for <1% of usage. The electric motor works as generator when braking to recharge batteries (regenerative braking). These vehicles shut off the gas engine when stopped because new cars don't use much energy to restart engines and often don't even need a starter
  • Parallel Hybrid: Gas engine and electric motor both connect to transmission, work in unison.
  • Series Hybrid: Gas engine turns generator, which either charges batteries or powers the vehicle. This is a preferred system because the gas engine doesn't have to run all the time, but when it does, it can be at the rpm that gives it peak efficiency because it is not directly connected to the drive train.
• Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): Gas and electric engines charged by plug
  • Allows for the potential for optimizing utility grid by running the grid to charge at off-peak hours and using vehicles as storage for peak hour supply and supply during outages.
  • Although most people assume a car charged by a plug cannot perform well, one source reports that \"a mid size plug-in can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour at less than 9 seconds, sustain a top speed of 97 mph and maintain 120 mph for about two minutes even with a low battery. \"
  • The advantage of this system is that even if the electrical grid doesn't change, it is cleaner than gasoline and can cost under $1/gallon energy equivalent with proper batteries. This was confirmed in a government report published in July 2007, called the EPRI-NRDC Definitive Study: PHEVs Will Reduce Emissions If Broadly Adopted.
  • Another advantage of using electricity is that it will get cleaner as the vehicles get older, as the grid becomes cleaner, whereas current vehicles lose efficiency with age.
  • The electrical grid, while carbon-intensive, relies mostly on coal and only 3% petroleum. This would cut petroleum imports by over 50%. Double Citation
  • While often costing more than conventional vehicles at purchase, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has shown that the total lifetime cost of an Electric Hybrid is lower than that of a non-hybrid and not merely lower than that of a conventional hybrid, even at current prices.
  • The next generation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are \"plugless\" plug-ins, with removable battery packs. This addresses the issue of range, which is commonly perceived as the greatest limitation of an electricity based-car. While current PHEVs address the range extension with an on-board fuel-based mechanism in each car, the next generation will extend range by removing the battery from the vehicle and making it a part of the infrastructure, much in the way gasoline refueling works.

Full-Electric

• Definition: Plug-in Electric is fully electric, electric motor, batteries, one gear (up to 15,000rpm)
  • Similar upsides as plug-in hybrid listed above
  • In addition, there are \"No oil changes, no tune ups. EVs have fewer than 1/10th as many parts as a gas car. There's no engine, transmission, spark plugs, valves, fuel tank, tailpipe, distributor, starter, clutch, muffler or catalytic converter\" to fail and need to be repaired. While there are the addition of an electric engine and batteries, there are still many fewer parts to breakdown with use.