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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.
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Techopedia Explains Hybrid Electric Vehicle
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.
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