What Are HEVs?

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle, resulting in twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles. This combination offers the extended range and rapid refueling that consumers expect from a conventional vehicle, with a significant portion of the energy and environmental benefits of an electric vehicle. The practical benefits of HEVs include improved fuel economy and lower emissions compared to conventional vehicles. The inherent flexibility of HEVs will allow them to be used in a wide range of applications, from personal transportation to commercial hauling.

HEV Advantages

HEVs have several advantages over conventional vehicles: Regenerative braking capability helps minimize energy loss and recover the energy used to slow down or stop a vehicle. Engines can be sized to accommodate average load, not peak load, which reduces the engine's weight. Fuel efficiency is greatly increased (hybrids consume significantly less fuel than vehicles powered by gasoline alone). Emissions are greatly decreased. HEVs can reduce dependency on fossil fuels because they can run on alternative fuels. Special lightweight materials are used to reduce the overall vehicle weight of HEVs.

Welcome to IPRO 326:

Hybrid Electric VehiclesSimulation Design and Implementation. The purpose of this IPRO is to prepare for the future construction of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) by simulating it'soperating parameters via the program ADVISOR.

Why HEVs

More efficient cars can make a big difference to society in terms of environmental benefits, and the serious deterioration of urban air has motivated regulators to require cleaner cars. Use of production HEVs will reduce smog-forming pollutants over the current national average. Hybrids will never be true zero-emission vehicles, however, because of their internal combustion engine. But the first hybrids on the market will cut emissions of global-warming pollutants by a third to a half, and later models may cut emissions by even more.