.jpg "From lightweight to mains-powered hybrids: what’s less polluting and more economical")
In the debate on climate change, more and more car manufacturers are taking action to reduce carbon emissions. Although electric cars, whose sales both in Lithuania and throughout Europe are growing rapidly every year, seem to be the most obvious solution to the problem of emissions and pollution, many manufacturers offer the benefits of electrification when choosing hybrid vehicles, from light to mains-powered hybrids, the media said.
Light hybrid – lower pollution tax
As a result of car manufacturers’ efforts to increase the efficiency of their petrol or diesel engines and, at the same time, reduce their appetite for fuel, customers have been offering more and more models with mild hybrids instead of conventional internal combustion engines.
Such a new generation of internal combustion engines is equipped with an additional 48 V battery, a more efficient generator and a starter. The higher-capacity generator allows for faster charging of the larger-capacity battery, and can also operate in conjunction with the engine and contribute to the generated torque.
“The starter, like a small electric motor, slightly reduces the inertia resistance of the internal combustion engine by moving from the ground or part of the rolling resistance at constant speed,” explains Dr. Gediminas Technical University, Department of Automotive Engineering, Dr. Vidas Žuraulis.
When starting or accelerating, the 48 V engine-assisted electrical system also reduces fuel consumption. Depending on your driving style, the average cost can be as low as 1 liter per 100 km, with the innovative Mazda e-SkyActiv-X engine featuring light hybrid technology.
Mazda 3 compact hatchback with 186 hp e-SkyActiv-X engine emits 118 g / km of CO2 and provides only 5.2 liters of average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers in mixed mode. The Volkswagen Golf emits 133 g / km of CO2 and uses 5.8 liters of fuel.
In European countries where cars are taxed under CO2 issue, the 11 percent cost difference could translate into significant financial expression. In Germany, such a difference would lead to a 32% reduction in the pollution tax.
V. Žuraulis sees another advantage of this hybrid system, which can be valuable for drivers in the long-term perspective of the car – lower engine loads can extend the service life of the entire drive system.
“One of the important reasons for using more powerful starters was the Start / Stop systems. Frequent engine shutdown and start-up each time, as is normal in the city, puts a strain on the standard starting system and shortens its life. The larger capacity battery accumulates kinetic braking energy due to the more powerful generator, which converts it into electricity, and the more powerful starter is able to start the engine frequently and help it a bit when moving the car, ”explains the specialist.
Reduces maintenance costs not only for fuel but also for maintenance
Hybrid drive has been on the car market for more than two decades, but even today, full-fledged hybrid cars are one of the most optimal choices to help you reap the benefits of electrification without compromising.
The Toyota Prius was one of the first hybrid cars to appear at the turn of the millennium. The model, which has become synonymous with economical driving, has long dominated the hybrid market. Today, almost every car manufacturer offers different hybrid drive configurations, and the options are particularly wide: from compact and manoeuvrable hatchbacks to luxury high-end sedans.
Regardless of the size of the car, a hybrid drive usually allows a certain distance to be covered using electricity alone, depending on the capacity of the battery used in the system or the power of the electric motor. Even ultra-compact cars with a hybrid drive, such as the Mazda 2, can travel 80 percent of the time at low speeds on electric power alone.
“The hybrid drive, with a sufficiently charged battery, allows you to drive a few to several kilometers in electric mode alone. This is especially useful in traffic jams, as you don’t even have to start the internal combustion engine to move those few meters. It is true that in long congestion or in winter weather conditions, the battery of the hybrid drive can be discharged – it is charged by the on-board internal combustion engine, ”V. Žuraulis names the advantages.
When driving a fully hybrid car, you don’t have to worry about recharging the battery – the battery is charged automatically, just by driving or using the energy released during braking. According to V. Žaraulis, this technology not only allows to quickly replenish the energy reserves of the battery, but also reduces operating costs.
“The latter function, the so-called regenerative braking, significantly extends the service life of the brake pads and discs, as part of the braking torque is generated by the electric generator during braking, which results in a much lower load on the service brake system,” adds the specialist.
Combines the best features
In recent years, another electrified model has been added to the range of many manufacturers – plug-in hybrids. Hybrid rechargeable cars offer some of the power of an electric vehicle while retaining the benefits of internal combustion engines, one of which is complete peace of mind over the distance traveled, as the petrol engine can always be relied on when the battery is discharged.
While most rechargeable hybrids can run 20 to 100 km on electricity alone, for many drivers it is enough to cover a normal daily route.
“Most people run in electric mode in a city where the driving style is more favorable for hybrid or, in this case, electric drive – frequent stops allow the battery to be recharged a little. When you leave the city, the battery of such cars runs out quite quickly, but then the benefits of the internal combustion engine in the system are revealed.
Thus, the rechargeable hybrid system is really a very efficient way to use the car rationally, ie to save costs on both fuel and electricity, and to contribute to the reduction of air pollution, ”V. Žuraulis is convinced.
Manufacturers choose different strategies
Ambitious national environmental targets have become a unique point of reference for many car manufacturers. Here, the UK government is supporting the idea of allowing new cars with only electric drive to be available in the country from 2030, and other European countries are considering banning the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035 or 2040.
While some are embarking on radical change, Mazda is pursuing a strategy to upgrade existing technology and move to fully electrified models by 2030. Until then, it will be able to offer drivers almost the widest range of possible configurations on the market.
The new SUV model CX-60 will soon be added to Mazda’s range, with a mains-chargeable hybrid drive system, and by 2025. several new electric cars will also be introduced.
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