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Hybrid Vehicle: The Game Changer in Malaysia Transportation system.

Hybrid vehicles are continuously gaining popularity in the general public. Basically, a hybrid car

is one that uses two or more engines i.e. an electric motor and a conventional engine (either

petrol or diesel). “With the advancement in 21st Century, there has been increase in usage of Oil

and Gas leading to problems like Global Warming, climate change, shortage of crude oil, etc”,

(Prajapati , Patel & Sagar , 2014). The electric engine powers the car at lower speeds and gas

engine powers it at higher speeds .With the increased knowledge, people have become more

aware of the footprint humans leave on the environment. In an effort to better our environment,

with this knowledge people have become a more environmentally conscious world. One major

advancement in environmentally friendly technology includes the electric vehicle. The question

is, is it possible for Hybrid Electric Vehicle(HEV) to be the future technology?Based on the

results of research and data collected, Hybrid Electric Vehicles have brought about many

advantages and impacts including: decreased emissions, minimal gas usage, fuel economy and

increased safety. There are many methods used by hybrid car in order to decrease emissions,

minimal gas usage, fuel economy and increased safety .The methods are controlling conversion

of energy on the powertrain, the configuration of the HEV, using the same chasis as conventional

gasoline cars, adding adaptive hybrid features and vehicle-to grid(V2G) services plus PHEV

spinning/charging loads.

Firstly, the method used is by controlling the conversion of energy on the powertrain. Hybrid

electric vehicle (HEV) can store part of the vehicle’s kinetic energy in battery while braking or

down-slope. According to Caiying, Peng and Tao (2011), “the internal combustion engine (ICE)
in an HEV can be designed with a smaller displacement without comprising the performance of

vehicle”. HEV can make ICE operate at maximum effiency point or optimal operating line by

regulating the output power of battery to satisfy the required power of vehicle and the model is a

multiple energy system. While, the purpose of the control strategies is to satisfy a number of

goals for HEV which are minimization of fuel consumption or maximum of fuel economy,

minimization of emissions and good drivability. Global optimal control methods target to

minimize the energy loss or fuel consumption over a given period of time and deterministic

instantaneous methods are designed via look up tables to split the requested power between two

energy sources.

Then, the configuration of hybrid electric vehicle,also known as HEV. “According to technical

Committee 69 (electric road vehicles) of the International Electro technical Commission, an

HEV is a vehicle in which propulsion energy is available from two or more kinds or types of

energy sources or converters, and at least one of them can deliver electrical energy”(Caiying,

Peng & Tao , 2011). From above definition it can be divided into four types which are series,

parallel, series-parallel, and complex.The first part is series hybrid. The traction power is

delivered by electric motor, while the internal combustion engine, via generator, produces

electric power to drive the electric motor and excess power is then stored in the battery pack. It

allows ICE operate at maximum efficient point by regulating the output power of battery to

satisfy the required power of vehicle. Next, “parallel hybrid provides direct mechanical

connection between the hybrid power unit and the wheels. It has electric traction motor that

drives the wheels and can recuperate a share of the braking energy, in order to charge the wheels

and can recuperate a share of the braking energy, in order to change the batteries (regenerative

braking) or help internal combustion engine during acceleration conditions”,(Caiying, Peng &

Tao , 2011;Prajapati, Patel & Sagar , 2014). In series-parallel hybrid, ICE is able to supply the

battery to a generator.For complex hybrid , according Prajapati, Patel and Sagar (2014), “ there

are two separate mechanical links obtaining a light transmission system and a flexible

mounting”. An experiment was carried out and show that configuration of HEVs have high

performance of engine for charging the battery and it reduces the noise pollution and emission of

carbon dioxide(CO2).

Besides, HEV is suggested to be developed by using the same chasis as conventional cars.

According to Muntean, Racz & Stan (2015) “electric automobiles are created by using the same

chasis as gasoline cars”.The power transmitted to the motor comes from an array rechargeable

batteries and is regulated by DC controller. The operating principle of an electric car is based on

DC controllers that take power from the battery and modulate it. The throttle signal is supplied to

the DC controller to indicate the power level to be sent to the motor. Racz, Muntean and Stan

(2015) said ,“Hybrid car with two sources of power from gasoline engine and electric motor

when a hybrid car runs at certain speeds below 5km/h which reduces the fuel consumption”. In

hybrid cars, CO2 and other harmful emissions are reduced, quieter, the battery does not need to

be recharged.Noise pollution will reduced while lessening the air pollution.

Adaptive hybrid features may improve the overall efficiency of the car. The main strength of

this adaptive hybrid feature is the economical factor mechanism known as “regenerative

braking”, “electric motor drive or assist ”, and “automatic start or shutoff”. When a hybrid car

brakes; the motion of the wheels against the braking mechanism creates heat in the form of

kinetic and thermal energy. This kinetic and thermal energy is turned into electricity. This

electricity then travels back to the battery source where it is stored until it is needed, or used. In

contrast, conventional vehicles use a different braking mechanism. When a standard gasoline car
brakes the wheels are merely dragged to stop turning freely. This friction effect causes the same

form of heat found in hybrid cars; however this heat is dispelled into the atmosphere instead of

being turned into useable energy. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the

engine in accelerating,passing,or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be

used.While, automatic start or shutoff technique automatically will shutoff the engine when the

vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed.Thus, this prevents wasted

energy from idling. According to Pavan (2014), “ Hybrid vehicle are eco-friendly, as hybrid use

NiMH batteries which can be recycled and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards and also does

not release any harmful gases that help to give green earth”.The more an individual uses a hybrid

car, the more useable energy is produced for the car to use.

The alternative methods that can be considered includes vehicle-to grid (V2G) services and

PHEV spinning and charging loads. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) portrays a framework in which

module electric vehicles, for example, electric cars,plug-in hybrids (PHEV) or hydrogen Fuel

Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), speak with the power grid to offer request reaction benefits by

either returning electric to the grid or by throttling their charging rate. Vehicle-to-grid can be

utilized with gridable vehicles, that is plug-in electric vehicles (BEV and PHEV), with grid limit.

Since at any given time 95 percent of cars are stopped, the batteries in electric vehicles could be

utilized to give electricity a chance to spill out of the car to the electric distribution network and

back. According to Sioshansi and Denholm (2008), “PHEV charging loads result in increases in

generator emissions of CO2 and S02, with marginal CO2 emissions rates . NOx emissions from

generators decrease during ozone season”. But, by using V2G services it can reduce generator

emissions and make PHEVs more environmentally attractive in terms of total vehicle emissions.

Again Sioshansi and Denholm (2008) concluded that , “PHEVs batteries can be charged when
the cost of generating electricity is low and discharged when it is higher.The decreasing the use

of of low efficiency, the higher emissions peaking generator”. PHEVs can play a role in

decreasing transportation-related emissions by using electricity as a source of energy, while the

provision of V2G services can result in even more substantive emissions reductions. This shows

that the emissions impacts of PHEVs will be highly sensitive to the generation mix, and it may

be prudent for future vehicle charging loads to be taken into account when generation investment

is undertaken.

Although the environmentally beneficial factors that come into play with electric and hybrid

electric vehicles, drivers always enjoy the advantage of minimal gas usage. Electric vehicles rely

only on electric power to operate. Any outlet with the proper voltage can be used to charge up

your electric car, and get you from point A to point B while completely eliminating your gas

expenses. Similar to the electric vehicle, the electric hybrid runs different than your traditional

car. The electric hybrid vehicle uses both electric and gas, with not external power source

needed. The electric hybrid car will use you automobiles moment while running on gas to charge

up its electric power sources. In addition to the environmental and monetary benefits of electric

and electric hybrid vehicles, these are also safer automobiles. Crash tests of traditional cars

compared to electric/hybrid vehicles show the difference in safety. The fluid batteries featured in

low emission transportation handle impact better than that of the battery found in a gas-powered

car. But according to Muntean, I. , Racz, A. A ., and Stan,.S.D. (2015) , “ Electric cars have been

criticized for their cost and poor performance even though, it would introduce lead releases to

reduce urban ozone. Electric vehicles will not be public interest until they pose no greater threat

to public health. In conclusion , there must be a further studies on the HEV. With the knowledge
of modern society, there is no reason why people should not all be doing everything they can to

better the environment. Electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles have immense advantages

and impacts that make for a savvy choice in car. With decreased emissions, minimal gas usage,

and increased safety, the electric/hybrid car is surely a smart consideration or purchase.Plug-in

electric vehicles can help keep the town and the world clean. Thus, Hybrid Electric Vehicle is the

suitable choice for the future .