Tomorrow’s Mobility

Sustainable Technologies for the automotive sector

Week 3 – Session 3 – Hybridization Levels

Maria Thirouard – El Hadj Miliani

Introduction

I- Definition of hybridization levels

II- Characteristics of the single hybridization levels

Conclusion

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Introduction
This lesson shows, in the first part, what hybridization levels are and which functionalities are
included in each level.
The second part explains how these different hybridization levels impact fuel consumption,
pollutant emission and the complexity of the system.

I- Definition of hybridization levels

As explained in the last lesson, a hybrid vehicle can be considered as a bridge between the benefits
and limitations of both conventional vehicle and full electric vehicle. So, it’s kind of somewhere in
the middle between an electric and a thermal vehicle. The hybridization level is actually the extent
of hybridization. In other words, how much extra functionalities does the vehicle have in
comparison to conventional thermal engine vehicles.

Electric vehicle

HYBRIDIZATION
Hybrid vehicle
LEVELS

Conventional vehicle

The general idea about a hybrid vehicle is actually what we call a full hybrid vehicle, like the Toyota
Prius for example. But, for those who work in the powertrain development, a wider range to
classify hybrids is used. Taking the thermal engine as the baseline, some features can be added that
increase the degree of electrification. These functions, like “stop start”, “regenerative braking”,
“torque boost”, “ZEV mode” and “capability of recharge from the grid”, help us classify hybrids.
Functions of hybrid vehicles

Start & Stop

Regenerative braking

Torque boost

ZEV mode

Recharge from the grid

Week 3 – Session 3 – Hybridization Levels, p. 1

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II- Characteristics of the single hybridization levels
Overview of hybridization levels
• Stop & Start capability
• Regenerative braking
PLUG-IN • Electric propulsion capability
HYBRID • High voltage battery voltage (>200V)
• Embedded battery charger

• Stop & Start capability

FULL • Regenerative braking
HYBRID • Electric propulsion capability
• High voltage battery voltage (>200V)

• Stop & Start capability

MILD • Regenerative braking
HYBRID • No electric propulsion on its own
• Low battery voltage (≤60V)

MICRO • Stop & Start capability

• No electric propulsion on its own
HYBRID • Low battery voltage (≤48V)

The smallest hybrid by this classification is called the Micro-Hybrid. A Micro-Hybrid is the simplest
hybrid technology. It has just a big enough battery and motor that can start the engine rapidly if
stopped during idling. This hybrid technology is usually used in Stop&Start mode. Micro hybrid
vehicles are not capable of all-electric propulsion. Stop&Start technology helps to stop the
combustion engine when the vehicle pulls to a stop and to restart it when the driver accelerates. In
this way, all the energy usually wasted by the thermal engine when the car is not moving is saved,
which reduces fuel consumption.

The next level is Mild-Hybrid. In Mild-Hybrids, the onboard battery and electric motor are big
enough so that, in addition to Stop&Start function, they can also give the thermal engine a boost
during acceleration, as well as recover small amounts of braking energy. In this way, the vehicle can
accelerate faster and start smoothly. As for Micro-Hybrids, Mild-hybrid vehicles are not capable of
all-electric propulsion. Mild Hybrids mostly work at low electrical voltage, typically 48V, which limits
it to up to 25kW electric motor power.

Next is the Full-Hybrid or Hybrid Electric Vehicle, HEV. Full-Hybrid Vehicles are more complex than
Micro-Hybrids and Mild-Hybrids. They use a high voltage battery and a big enough electric motor so
that the electric motor can propel the vehicle on its own. They have, in general, around 5km of ZEV
range, though it varies a lot from case to case, and all the previous functionalities. As you can
imagine, the electric motor is used at low speed where it is much more efficient than thermal
engines.

The highest level is called Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle, or PHEV. The Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle is a full hybrid
vehicle with a high-capacity battery that can be charged by plugging the vehicle into an electrical
grid or charging station. As in Full-Hybrid Vehicles, the battery can be charged also by the thermal
engine and by regenerative braking. The larger battery allows the Plug-in Hybrid to operate for a
longer distance and at higher speed on electric mode, so the autonomy on ZEV mode is usually
above 10km.

Week 3 – Session 3 – Hybridization Levels, p. 2

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The different hybrid cars have to deal with different trade offs in terms of efficiency improvement
and extra cost of hybridization; the base of comparison is a conventional thermal powertrain.

Micro-Hybrids are the cheapest option, but they can improve only up to 10% in total efficiency;
Mild-Hybrids cause additional costs compared to Micro-Hybrids, but they can achieve an efficiency
gain of up to 20%. When increasing electrification level further, the next level, HEVs, can have up to
40% efficiency gain, but complexity and costs are higher. Finally, Plug-in Hybrids, benefitting from
recharge from the grid, can bring up to 60% efficiency gain with respect to the conventional
thermal powertrain. And of course, they require a significant investment in terms of cost.

Characteristics of hybridization levels

Thermal Micro Mild Full Plug-in
Efficiency
Improvement
+ 10 % + 20 % + 40 % + 60 %

Extra Cost

Start & Stop

Regenerative
Brake

Torque Boost

ZEV

Electric
> 5km > 10km
Autonomy

Plug-in

Regarding pollutant emissions, the amount of pollutants emitted as well depends on the degree of
hybridization. In fact, as the degree of hybridization increases, the emission of pollutants decreases.
It’s easy to understand that the more we use the electric motor, the less we use the thermal
engine, the less we produce carbon based pollutant emissions.

Concerning the complexity of the different solutions, a hybrid car is always more complex than a
conventional car or even an electric car, which is obvious as two powertrains are combined. And as
the hybridization level increases, so does the complexity.

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 Pollutant emission Complexity

COMPLEXITY

HYBRIDIZATION LEVEL HYBRIDIZATION LEVEL

Conclusion
To sum up, the important things to remember are:

Vehicle electrification is carried out in a progressive way that defines different levels of
hybridization from the micro-hybrid, which is the lowest, to the plug-in hybrid, the highest.

As you gain in hybridization, or in other words, in electric functionalities, the efficiency of the
vehicle improves, reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions. However, the complexity of the system
also increases and, most of all, the cost.

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