Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Rechargeable
BATTERY
TRASMISSION
TRASMISSION
DC-AC
CONVERTER
ELECTRIC
MOTOR
Electric Drive
TANK
Fig. 5.19
Parallel hybrid configuration with IC engine and electric drive connected to separate
axles
connects the electric with the mechanical system. For this configuration, the bat-
tery is charged by regenerative braking operations, but the IC engine could power
harder to maintain speed and charge the battery by means of the road connection,
which transfers energy from the IC engine to electric drive operating as electric
generator.
Other variations of the above configurations are possible considering that the
energy recharging the battery could comes from the electric network or other
power supply units, while the car is parked or, however, not in use [
3
].
Hybrid thermal vehicles are more expensive than traditional vehicles, because
they include more than one energy source on board. However, there are some
components of traditional vehicles which are not required for hybrid vehicles and
can be made some savings. For instance, in the series configuration there is no
need for the gear box because the electric drive regulates the motor speed elec-
tronically, transmission is simplified and differential is useless if the motors are
directly connected to the wheels. The starter can be eliminated in both series and
parallel configuration since electric machines do not need any specific devices to
start. Many hybrid vehicles are currently on the market and this sector is growing
rapidly worldwide.
5.5.2 Solar Vehicles
Vehicles powered by solar panels located on board are quite expensive because of
the high cost of photovoltaic cells, which require high sunshine to work efficiently.
Nowadays photovoltaic cells are raising high efficiencies with decreasing cost but
it is unlike that cars for everyday use could be exclusively powered by solar panels
essentially because of large surfaces for the photovoltaic cells required to power a
