Electric Vehicle with Range Extender (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

A hybrid electric vehicle has two different power sources. In the majority hybrid

vehicles, the power source consists of a small gasoline or diesel engine and an electric motor.

With the addition of the internal combustion engine meant the vehicle could not be categorized

as a Zero emission vehicle. However, it does reduce emission levels significantly and increases

fuel economy. A hybrid electric vehicle relies on power from the electric motor, the engine, or

both. When the vehicle moves from a stop and has a light load, the electric motor moves the

vehicle. Power for the electric motor comes from stored electricity in the battery pack. For

normal driving conditions, the internal combustion engine is the main power source. The power

from the engine is also used to turn a generator that recharges the storage batteries. The

generator can also be used to power the electric motor, which is run to provide extra power to the

power train. A computer is used to controls the operation of the electric motor depending on the

power needs of the vehicle. When the drive demands full throttle or the vehicle is under a heavy

load operation, extra electricity from the battery is sent to the motor to increase the output of the

power train. (Hollembeak, 2011).

Main Components of Electric vehicle with Range Extender (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

 Battery (auxiliary): the auxiliary battery provides electricity to start the car before the

traction battery is engaged and also powers vehicle accessories.

 DC/DC converter: Converts higher-voltage DC power from the traction battery pack to

the lower-voltage DC power needed to run vehicle accessories and recharge the auxiliary

battery.
  Electric generator: Generates electricity from the rotating wheels while braking,

transferring that energy back to the traction battery pack.

 Electric traction motor: Using the power provided from the traction battery pack to

drives the vehicle's wheels. Some vehicles use motor generators that perform both the

drive and regeneration functions.

 Internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel): For normal driving conditions, the

internal combustion engine is the main power source. The power from the engine is also

used to turn a generator that recharges the storage batteries.

 Traction battery pack: Stores electricity for use by the electric traction motor.

 Transmission: Transfers mechanical power from the engine and/or electric traction

motor to drive the wheels.

 Power electronics controller: Manages the flow of electrical energy supplied from the

traction battery thus, controlling the speed of the electric traction motor and the torque it

delivers.

Configurations of Hybrids

There are two main types of hybrid motor vehicles configurations

In the series hybrid configuration motor vehicles the engine and the wheels has no mechanical

connection. The engine turns a generator, and the generator will either charge the batteries or

power the electric motor, which in turn drives the transmission.

In a parallel hybrid configuration, the engine and the wheels connected mechanical directly.

The engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission at the same time. In most parallel
configuration the engine is use for long high intensity driving while the electric motor is used for

short low intensity driving conditions.