Comparing four hybrid systems, which one is the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient?

In the general environment where the whole society advocates energy conservation, there are many hybrid vehicles on the market nowadays. There are many differences between different hybrid systems, and there are also many ways to classify hybrid systems. So today I will give you some relevant knowledge about hybrid system vehicles. Which hybrid system saves the most money and fuel?

1. Plug-in hybrid

Representative models: BYD Tang, Roewe eRX5, Borui GE, etc.

Important features: large battery capacity, rechargeable, long pure electric range, fuel consumption below 2L/100km (good charging environment).

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a type of hybrid electric vehicle that can achieve relatively long-distance pure electric driving and can achieve hybrid driving with extremely low fuel consumption without being restricted by battery power and charging piles. In the context of the lack of popularization of charging infrastructure and the imperfect technology of electric vehicle batteries, plug-in hybrid technology is the most practical choice for emission reduction. In the final analysis, it is a means of transportation that can "use electricity for short distances and oil for long distances."

The difference between plug-in hybrid vehicles and ordinary hybrid vehicles: the battery capacity of ordinary hybrid vehicles is very small, and they only supply/recover energy when starting/stopping, accelerating/decelerating. They cannot be charged externally and cannot travel long distances in pure electric mode. The battery of plug-in hybrid vehicles is relatively large, and can be charged externally. They can be driven in pure electric mode. After the battery is exhausted, they can be driven in hybrid mode (mainly based on the internal combustion engine) and the battery can be charged in a timely manner.

Speaking of the advantages of plug-in hybrid vehicles, I believe everyone knows that they are new energy subsidies and license plates, and there is no need to pay vehicle purchase tax. As for new energy vehicle license plates, especially in some large cities in China, new energy vehicle license plates are not restricted and do not require bidding. This is a great advantage in large cities with restrictions on driving and purchase, which can directly save tens of thousands of yuan and allow most consumers to realize their dream of buying a car as soon as possible.

However, the range of most plug-in hybrid vehicles in China when driving on pure electricity is still not long enough. The pure electric range of most vehicles on the market is about 50 or 60 kilometers. In addition, when it comes to charging the vehicle battery, plug-in hybrid vehicles cannot use fast charging, so it takes a long time to fully charge.

2. Hybrid

Representative models: Camry Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, Corolla and Levin Hybrid, etc.

Important features: small battery capacity, cannot be charged, short pure electric range, and fuel consumption of around 4L/100km.

The earliest domestic hybrid car should be Toyota Prius, but this car is no longer sold. The fourth generation is now mainly sold in the US market. The main purpose of hybrid is to reduce the consumption of gasoline resources, and it does not need to be charged, so it is more convenient to use. Especially in congested big cities, this advantage is more obvious. The motor drives the vehicle forward, which not only protects the environment, reduces automobile exhaust emissions, saves energy and reduces emissions, but also saves worry and effort.

The oil-electric hybrid system cannot be charged by an external power source, and it completely relies on the Atkinson cycle engine to provide energy for the entire system. This is the case for Toyota and Honda. This engine has better fuel economy than the Alto cycle engine of pure fuel vehicles. This is because the engine part of the hybrid vehicle can maintain a stable speed and load, and the extra energy required for acceleration is provided by the electric motor with higher energy conversion efficiency, so it is just suitable for hybrid vehicles.

If there is one aspect where hybrid models are not good enough, it may be the national new energy subsidies. In simple terms, only models that need to be charged externally can enjoy the national new energy subsidies, so hybrid models do not receive subsidies. In addition, hybrid models will be about tens of thousands of yuan more expensive than ordinary models of the same model, so the price is also a point that consumers should consider.

3. Extended-range plug-in hybrid

Representative models: Buick VELITE 5, BMW i3 extended-range version

Important features: medium battery capacity, can be recharged, basically all-electric driving, fuel consumption is around 4L/100km.

Extended-range electric vehicles are electric vehicles developed on the basis of pure electric vehicles. They are called extended-range electric vehicles because they have a range extender added to them. The purpose of adding a range extender to a vehicle is to further increase the range of pure electric vehicles, so that they can avoid frequent parking and charging as much as possible.

This type of plug-in hybrid vehicle, although nominally classified as a plug-in hybrid, is strictly speaking still an electric vehicle. This is because there is only one electric drive system in the car, including the motor, control circuit, and battery. When the battery is fully charged, the power battery drives the motor to provide the driving power requirements of the entire vehicle, and the engine does not participate in the work. When the battery power is consumed to a certain extent, the engine starts, and the engine provides energy to the battery to charge the power battery. When the battery power is sufficient, the engine stops working again, and the battery drives the motor to provide drive for the entire vehicle. In other words, this is equivalent to installing a generator on an ordinary electric vehicle.

The extended-range electric vehicle is purer than the plug-in hybrid vehicle because it is a pure electric vehicle before the range extender is added. The deployment of the range extender will basically not affect the power system structure of the original vehicle. The predecessor of the plug-in hybrid vehicle, because it is a hybrid vehicle, retains more traditional mechanical components, and is more complex in structure than the extended-range electric vehicle, and the cost is slightly higher.

4. 48V mild hybrid system

Representative models: Mercedes-Benz S 500 L, Audi A8 55TFSI

Important features: small battery capacity, small motor power, cannot be charged, and fuel consumption is slightly lower than that of fuel vehicles with the same displacement.

The 48V mild hybrid system is the latest popular trend. Strictly speaking, it is not a hybrid car. It is a more thorough electrification transformation of the traditional pure fuel vehicle. After all, even pure fuel vehicles have a 12V power supply to power the on-board system. The core components of the current 48V mild hybrid system are mainly a 48V starter motor, a lithium-ion battery pack for storing recovered energy, and a voltage controller (DC/DC) for converting between 48V and 12V voltages.

The core technology of 48V is that compared with the traditional 12V, the line loss is reduced due to the increase in battery voltage output. At the same time, the increase in voltage can also effectively improve the working time of systems such as the start-stop motor, air-conditioning compressor, and cooling water pump, so that the engine does not participate in work to the greatest extent when the engine is parked; secondly, the 48V voltage can better meet the requirements of lithium batteries to quickly realize energy recovery, and the recovered energy can be used for auxiliary driving, etc., reducing the engine load, thereby achieving the effect of reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

After upgrading from 12V to 48V, in addition to the automatic start-stop function, it also has engine shutdown coasting, coasting and braking energy recovery, acceleration assistance and electric cruise functions. The upgrade direction is to optimize the driving experience and improve energy-saving efficiency. In addition, the increased voltage can also provide more power for the electronic equipment inside the vehicle.