|
General Disclaimer: (HV) (DC) injury or death hazard, use at your own risk, may void warranty. |
Plug-In Hybrids
See also WikiPedia:Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) or gas-electric hybrid fueled vehicle is a hybrid which has additional battery capacity and the ability to be recharged from an external electrical outlet. In addition, modifications to the vehicle's control software may be required. The vehicle can be used for short trips of moderate speed without needing the internal combustion engine (ICE) component of the vehicle, thereby saving fuel costs. In this mode of operation the vehicle operates as a pure electric vehicle with a weight penalty (the ICE). The long range and additional power of the ICE power train is available when needed.
PHEVs are commonly called "grid-connected hybrids," "gas-optional hybrids" (GO-HEVs), "full hybrids," and are sometimes called HEV-30 (for instance, to denote a hybrid with a 30-mile (50 km) electric range, compared to a HEV-0 (a non-plug-in hybrid), or HEV-300 (In the case of the 300 mile Tzero EV with its gas fueled range extending trailer). However, Ford, GM, and Toyota have all used the term "Full Hybrid Technology" to describe configurations that allow electric-only operation at low speeds (yet not PHEVs). Two other PHEV names used by a major U.S. automotive supplier and in a 1999 SAE paper are "energy hybrids" and "true hybrids". PHEVs can also operate in a mixed-mode where both gas and external electricity are used simultaneously to increase gas mileage for a particular range, usually double that of its electric-only range.
