Classification of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
Although they are all called plug-in hybrid vehicles, in fact, plug-in hybrid vehicles can be divided into several categories according to different structures, and each manufacturer also manufactures different types of plug-in hybrid vehicles according to their own understanding of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Simply put, they can be divided into the following categories:
Extended-range plug-in hybrid vehicles
This type of plug-in hybrid vehicle is strictly speaking still an electric vehicle. There is only one electric drive system in the car, including motor, control circuit, and battery. The motor of the extended-range plug-in hybrid vehicle directly drives the wheels, and the engine is used to drive the generator to charge the battery. Because the engine does not directly drive the wheels, there is no need for a gearbox. This is equivalent to loading a gasoline/diesel generator on an ordinary electric vehicle.
Parallel plug-in hybrid vehicle
This type of plug-in hybrid vehicle has two drive systems, most of which are based on traditional fuel vehicles with motors, batteries, and electronic controls. The motor and engine drive the wheels together. There is only one motor in the car, which acts as a motor when driving the wheels and acts as a generator when not driving the wheels to charge the battery.
Hybrid plug-in hybrid
Like parallel plug-in hybrid, this mode also has two drive systems, but the difference is that the hybrid has two motors. One motor is only used to directly drive the wheels, and the other motor has a dual role: when extreme performance is required, it acts as a motor to directly drive the wheels, and the vehicle power is the sum of the power of the engine and the two motors; when the power is insufficient, it acts as a generator to charge the battery.
Therefore, the hybrid has the advantages of both extended-range and parallel types: in pure electric mode, it has the advantages of electric vehicles being quiet and low in cost; in extended-range mode, there is no "mileage anxiety", and the engine can always be controlled at the optimal speed, with low fuel consumption, low noise and low vibration; in parallel mode, two motors and one engine can work together, and the power of the three combined has very good starting and acceleration performance, which is a relatively perfect combination.
As for the disadvantages, the two motors, the engine, and the gearbox are all indispensable, and the supporting control circuits, batteries, transmission systems, and oil circuits are also indispensable. The overall cost is higher than other types of plug-in hybrids, and the total weight of the vehicle will also be larger. Because it needs to control two motors and one engine, as well as different operating modes, the control system must be relatively complex, which will also increase the cost.
