Plug-In Hybrid Cars: Technology and Future Potential

Plug-In Hybrid Cars: Technology and Future Potential
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Plug-In Hybrid Cars: Technology and Future Potential
Plug-in hybrid cars are battery-powered and can use gasoline as well. In particular, it is the best vehicle for someone who wants an electric-powered car and is not ready to sacrifice the gas pump. The majority of people fearfully electric vehicles due to their driving range. If the car depletes its charge in the middle of a highway, it can be challenging to locate a charging station. Electric car charging stations are not common compared to gasoline refilling stations. A plug-in hybrid vehicle uses batteries that power an electric motor, and when the charge is depleted, it switches to gasoline, which powers the internal combustion engine (U.S. Department of Energy, 2022). The batteries of these cars are charged using special charging equipment and can as well be recharged through regenerative braking. The best thing about plug-in hybrid vehicles is that they use electric power first and switch to gasoline when the charge is almost depleted. The paper focuses on plug-in hybrid car technology and its future potential.
Figure 1
A Plug-in Hybrid Car.


Source: https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-plug-in-hybrid-electric-cars-work
Figure 1 above shows the primary components or parts of a plug-in hybrid car. The battery (auxiliary) is a low-voltage battery that provides electricity required in the car ignition. When the vehicle starts, the traction battery becomes fully engaged and powers all the accessories. The traction battery pack usually stores the electric power that the car uses to move from one place to another. Besides, a plug-in hybrid car has a charge port that a person can use to connect the vehicle to an external power supply to recharge the pack of the traction battery. The direct current (D.C.) converter is a crucial part that converts high-voltage D.C. into a low-voltage D.C., which the car needs to power its accessories and recharge its auxiliary battery (U.S. Department of Energy, 2022). The electric generator generates electric power from the vehicle's rotating wheels during braking, and that power is stored in the traction battery. An electric traction motor uses the traction battery power to drive the car's wheels. The internal combustion engine uses fuel injectors, and sparks plug to facilitate the burning of the gasoline, which generates power and sets the vehicle in motion. The exhaust system is where the gases from the engine generated during the combustion process exit. Another significant part is the power electronic controller, which manages the electrical energy from the traction battery and controls the electric traction motor speed to produce the torque. The thermal system is vital since it maintains the proper operating temperature of the engine, power electronics, electric motor, and other vehicle components (U.S. Department of Energy, 2022). The transmission converts the electric traction motor or engine's mechanical power to drive the vehicle's wheel. Consequently, these parts are essential and ensure that a plug-in hybrid car is fully functional.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle...