Hybrid Cars: How

have they improved

since introduction?
Aron Geelan
Adam Kirkpatrick

Introduction

Definitions
Electric vs. Internal Combustion
Timeline for Hybrid technology
development
The Batteries
Study: Insight vs. Prius
The Future

Definitions

Combustion vs. Electric

Parallel vs. Series Hybrid

(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car1.htm)

Honda Insight
Toyota Prius

Full Hybrid
Mild Hybrid

(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car2.htm)

Stop/Start Hybrid
Integrated Starter Alternator with Damping
(ISAD)
Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)

Plug-in Hybrid

Electric Motor

Lots of torque
Zero emissions
Tax breaks
No transmission needed
Starts more efficiently

Can turn off motor when you stop

Gasoline

Higher energy density than batteries

Cheaper initial cost for car

1,000 pounds of batteries = 1 gallon (7

pounds) of gas
Hybrids are $3500-5000 more

Reliable, more history

Cost Per Mile

Electric vs. Gas

Timeline

1839: First electric vehicle

1886: Electric powered taxicab in
England
1890-1910: Significant
improvements in battery technology
(lead-acid, nickel-iron)
1898: Ferdinand Porsche built a
hybrid

Timeline

1900: Pieper introduced hybrid

1905: Gas-Electric car
1970s: Arab oil embargo; hybrid VW Taxi
1979: hybrid car built with lawnmower
engine
1991: US Advanced Battery Consortium
launched major program to produce
super battery

Timeline

1997: Toyota Prius available in Japan

1999: Honda Insight released in US
(70 mpg)
2000: Toyota Prius available in US
2002: Honda Civic Hybrid
introduced
2004: Toyota Prius II introduced;
Ford Escape Hybrid introduced

The Batteries Behind It

All

Early Prius and

Insight NiMH D
Cells

Stick Arrangement

(http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/catalog/e_maru.html)

Prismatic Ni-MH

15% pack volume reduction

25% pack weight reduction
Less battery module per pack
number

http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/catalog/e_kaku.h
tml

Metal Case Prismatic NiMH

Improvement

14% less volume

40% higher cooling

(http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/catalog/e_kinnzoku.html )

ECU

Electronic Control
Unit
Regulates
temperature and
state of charge
Ensures safe and
reliable driving

http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/catalog/e_
bms.html

Study: Battery Usage and

Thermal Performance of
Prius and Insight

Honda Insight vs. Toyota Prius

Charge, Discharge and SOC

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/31306.pdf

Battery Energy and

Battery Temperatures

Hybrid Cars Today

Table 1. Light-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicles

OEM Model
Body Style
Power Type
Currently in Production
DaimlerChrysler Ram Pickup Contractor Special
Ford Escape
SUV
Hybrid
General Motors Silverado/Sierra Truck
Honda
Accord
Sedan
Honda
Insight
Coupe
Honda
Civic
Sedan
Lexus
RX400h
SUV
Toyota
Prius
Sedan
Toyota
Highlander
SUV
Suzuki
Twin
Mini
Toyota
Estima
Minivan
Toyota
Crown
Sedan
Toyota
Alphard
Minivan
Planned for Production
Ford Fusion
Sedan
Full Hybrid
General Motors Silverado/Sierra & Tahoe/Yukon
General Motors Equinox
SUV
General Motors Malibu
Sedan
General Motors Graphyte
SUV
Hyundai
Click
Sedan
Mercury
Mariner
SUV
2006 (full)
Nissan
Altima
Sedan
Saturn
Vue
SUV
Toyota
Camry
Sedan
Toyota
Sienna
Minivan
Recent Concepts - Production Plans Unknown
Honda
ASM
Minivan
Ford Focus
C-MAX
Sedan
Daewoo
S3X
SUV
Opal Astra
Sedan
Unknown
Mercury
Meta One
Unknown
Mercury
Milan
Unknown

Fuel

Date Introduced/Announced

Production Date

Truck
Gasoline
Mild Hybrid
IMA1 Hybrid
IMA1 Hybrid
IMA1 Hybrid
Hybrid
Parallel Hybrid
Hybrid
Hybrid
Parallel Hybrid
Mild Hybrid
Hybrid

Mild Hybrid
Jan-01
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline

Diesel
2004
Jan-01
Jan-04
Dec-99
Jan-00
Jan-03
Jun-00
Jan-04
Nov-02
Jun-01
Aug-01
Jul-03

Nov-00

Gasoline
Truck & SUV
Hybrid
BAS2 Hybrid
Full Hybrid
Hybrid
Full Hybrid

Apr-03
Strong Hybrid
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline

2006
Gasoline
Jan-03
Jan-03
Jan-05
Nov-03
Apr-04

Nov-03
2007
2006
2007
2006
2005/06 (Korea)
2005 (limited)

Hybrid
BAS2 Hybrid
Unknown
Hybrid

Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline

Jun-04
Jan-03
Unknown
2003

2006
2006
Unknown
2007

IMA1 hybrid
Hydrogen ICE
Unknown
Diesel
Hybrid
Unknown

Gasoline
Hydrogen
Unknown
Jan-04
Diesel
Unknown

Oct-03
Jul-04
Oct-04
Unknown
Jan-04
Jan-04

Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

2004 (Limited)

2004 (Limited)
2005
2000
2002
2005
2000
2005
2003 (Japan)
In Japan Only
In Japan Only
In Japan Only

Unknown
Unknown

1 Integrated motor assist.

2 Belt alternator starter.
(Source: Collected by Robb Barnitt and Leslie Eudy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, from various sources)
Table from http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37777.pdf

Future of Hybrid

Hybrid buses
~1,000 in use
Seattle
California

Tax Break Increase

Future of Hybrid Cars

Toyota Volta
3.3 liter V6 gas
engine
408 horsepower

30 miles per gallo

Toyota Hybrid Sports Car

Summary

Definitions
Electric vs. Internal Combustion
Timeline for Hybrid technology
development
The Batteries
Study: Insight vs. Prius
The Future