Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of vehicle that uses both an electric engine and a conventional internal combustion engine. This type of vehicle is considered to have better performance and fuel economy compared to a conventional one.

There are different types of HEVs, namely, series hybrids, parallel hybrids and series-parallel hybrids.

HEVs usually have the following properties:

• Auto-start/auto-shutdown - To avoid wasting energy during idle time, the engine of a hybrid electric vehicle automatically shuts down and starts as soon as the accelerator is touched.
• Regenerative braking - Considered one of the salient features of HEVs, the energy wasted during braking and coasting is converted and stored in the battery, which is then used by the electric motor.
• Electric motor assist - By helping the engine during passing, accelerating or moving up a hill, the electric motor allows the engine to be made smaller and more efficient in nature.

The advantages of HEVs include:

• Oil consumption is less than that of conventional vehicles.
• Carbon-based emission is lower, which makes HEVs more eco-friendly. This also helps conserve non-renewable resources like petroleum products.
• Maintenance costs are lower than those of conventional vehicles.
• With the electric motor taking charge of the engine during long travels, more mileage can be achieved with HEVs compared to other types of vehicles.