The concept of hybrid power has been around for a long time. The second car Dr. Ferdinand Porsche built in 1900 was a hybrid that combined an electric motor and gasoline engine. Hybrid systems have been in use for years in transportation, from diesel electric trains to mopeds (powered both by leg power and gasoline engine). The modern wave of hybrid power is built on older concepts, and there are several types of hybrid engines gaining prominence.
Two Main Architectural Concepts
Perhaps the most profound differences in hybrid engines comes with two different architectures. These architectures are parallel and series. It is all about how the gasoline engine and electric motor relate to one another. In a parallel hybrid, both power sources work simultaneously to jointly turn the wheels. In the series hybrid, the gasoline engine provides power to the electric motor (which is solely responsible for moving the vehicle) when the battery is depleted and charges the battery.
Plug-in Hybrid
A plug-in hybrid is a type of series hybrid. It is important to note that vehicles with a plug-in system don't require plugging in to an outlet. However, they allow that option. In other words, when you are not driving your car and it's parked you can connect it to an electrical outlet and use that power to recharge the hybrid battery. That takes some of the work off of the gasoline engine and saves you fuel.
Regenerative Braking Systems
You might not think about it, but when you apply pressure to the brake in your vehicle, you are transferring energy. Regenerative braking systems on some newer hybrid vehicles use that energy. They run the electric motor backward during braking so that it will work to recharge the battery from your kinetic energy. That makes the vehicle more efficient.
Diesel Electric Hybrids
Diesel has been combined with electricity as the hybrid power combination in trains for years. That combination has yet to surface in cars and trucks. The central reason has been the high cost. Still, this combination will be used to a power a new Mercedes Benz vehicle that is planned for the 2012 model year, and others are sure to follow their lead.
A Different Type of Hybrid
As of 2010, some companies are experimenting with different mixes of power systems for hybrids. For instance, Zap Electric Cars produces a couple of vehicles that allow you to use plug-in electricity and solar power as the joint power sources. These vehicles can be equipped with solar panels for charging the battery as the vehicle is being driven or is parked, but it can also be plugged in to an outlet.
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