Battery electric cars like the Model Y are only one option.
Tesla
The day of electrification, which was limited to a few cars, is over. Hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles will remain and are quickly becoming real candidates for your next car. Still, despite having similar goals, these many shapes can be confusing to buyers. In other words, to increase efficiency and achieve low-emission driving.
Continue reading: The best electric cars in 2021
Read below as we break down each type of electrified vehicle and their advantages and disadvantages so you can make the best decision to buy your electrified vehicle. There are many good things but some negatives to keep in mind when making your decision.
Yes, even trucks are involved in the mild hybrid game.
Jon Wong / Roadshow
Mild hybrid
A mild hybrid system is the simplest and cheapest way of expanding a vehicle with a combustion engine (ICE) to include electric drive components. In a mild hybrid system, the combustion engine often switches off completely when idling, for example when rolling down a hill or when stopping. The hybrid system enables the combustion engine to be restarted almost immediately and can supply auxiliary systems in the vehicle such as the stereo system or the air conditioning system with electricity. Some mild hybrid systems have regenerative braking or offer the ICE power assistance or torque filling, but not all of them have the option of driving exclusively with electrical energy.
advantages
- Can power many electrical systems in a car.
- Stop-start system saves fuel when idling.
- Can reduce the turbo lag by torque replenishment until the engine comes to boost.
- Lower weight compared to other electrified vehicles.
- Less complexity.
- Lower cost.
disadvantage
- Increased costs and complexity compared to pure internal combustion engines.
- No full EV mode.
The OG hybrid.
Craig Cole / Roadshow
Series hybrid
The series hybrid – also known as a power split or parallel hybrid – is what most people think of when they think of a hybrid vehicle. These use a scaled-down internal combustion engine to provide power at higher speeds and under higher load conditions and a battery electric system to move the vehicle at low speeds and low load conditions. This allows the ICE to work in its ideal efficiency range and thus ensures excellent fuel consumption, especially in city traffic.
advantages
- Excellent efficiency at speeds in city traffic.
- Petrol-powered ICE for greater ranges (and longer journeys).
- Offers a good compromise between efficiency, ease of use and total cost.
disadvantage
- Typically higher costs than a purely ICE-powered vehicle of the same size.
- Maximizing efficiency means reducing the power output.
The RAV4 Prime has a fair amount of electric range.
Emme Halle / Roadshow
Plug-in hybrid
The plug-in hybrid is the logical further development of the series hybrid system. These cars are approaching the fully electric vehicle side of the continuum and can cover longer distances with electric drive alone. The plug-in part of their name comes from their ability to plug into an electric car charging station instead of just relying on the ICE and regenerative braking for battery power, effectively eliminating range anxiety. Another area where plug-in hybrids differ from mild or series hybrids is the size of their battery pack. This gives them their extended range for electric vehicles only.
advantages
- Increased range compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) due to the range-extending gasoline engine.
- Lower acquisition costs compared to BEVs.
- Lower operating costs compared to series hybrids.
disadvantage
- More expensive to buy than series hybrids or mild hybrids.
- Larger battery packs mean more weight.
- More complex than mild hybrids.
Everyone knows the Model 3.
Nick Miotke / Roadshow
Battery electric
Battery electric vehicles are usually what they sound like: A large battery with at least one electric drive motor wired to it. Oh, and loads of complex software to manage the thousands of individual cells that make up this big battery. Mechanically speaking, BEVs are the least complex of all the vehicles we cover, considering that even the simplest multi-cylinder internal combustion engine has many hundreds of moving parts, while an electric motor only has its rotor. All-electric vehicles are becoming more common thanks to the innovation of relatively new companies like Tesla and industry stars like General Motors and Nissan.
advantages
- Mechanical simplicity means less maintenance than ICE.
- Tons of instant torque.
- Almost noiseless operation.
- Electricity is cheap for the time being.
- No tailpipe, therefore no emissions and no emissions test.
- The low center of gravity is ideal for vehicle handling.
disadvantage
- More expensive than hybrid or ICE vehicles of a similar size.
- Limited choice.
- Long loading times.
- Charging station infrastructure is still on the rise.
- Impractical for most people unless you have a 240 volt level 2 charge at home or in the parking lot.
- Higher weight than vehicles of a similar size.
- Unsafe environmental impact when disposing of used batteries.
The Hyundai Nexo is only available in selected areas.
Daniel Golson / Roadshow
Hydrogen fuel cell
A fuel cell takes hydrogen and oxidizes it to create an electrical charge that is then fed into a battery and used by electric motors. This technology has been around in automobiles for several decades, but due to the cost, size of the components, and the relatively lack of infrastructure, not many companies are using it anymore. The miniaturization of technology in recent years has made hydrogen FCVs more commercially viable, and we are seeing increasing interest from manufacturers such as Honda and Hyundai.
advantages
- No need to charge; Simply fill up with hydrogen and drive off.
- Quiet operation, similar to a BEV.
- The only emission is water.
disadvantage
- Hydrogen prices fluctuate widely and are often more expensive than fossil fuels.
- Limited fuel network outside of selected cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco.
- Hydrogen tanks can eat their way into the passenger compartment or the cargo area if the vehicle was not designed from the ground up for fuel cells.
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