Hybrid cars
Nowadays we constantly hear about electric or hydrogen powered cars that are the future of automotive industry. At the same time, there are hundreds of thousands of hybrid cars on the Polish streets. We live surrounded by the technology, that was the 90s future. Whether the hybrid cars are the future, the present or maybe already the past of the automotive world?The first hybrid car was built in 1900 by Ferdinand Porsche in cooperation with Ludwig Lohner & Co – the first Austrian car manufacturer. The modern hybrid era began with the Toyota Prius in 1997 and less than 20 years later, by July 2015, Toyota sold more than 8 million hybrid vehicles. In the first quarter of 2019, hybrids generated 50% of Toyota’s sales in Europe.
A standard hybrid vehicle has two power sources – these are a petrol engine (usually, but there are some models that use diesel engines) and an electric motor. That kind of combination allows to use the benefits of both – hybrids consume less fuel in comparison to standard petrol car and they also have lower CO2 emission than any standard petrol or diesel car. There is also another type of hybrid cars – the plug-in hybrids, that differs the fact the they can be charged from the power socket (standard hybrids charge the battery mainly during breaking) and have longer range (about 50km in comparison to 5km) on the electric motor.
From the user’s perspective hybrids are a bit more fun to drive in the cities, because of their electric motor and its infinite torque, which makes the car eager to accelerate in most conditions. On the other side, outside the city hybrids consume more fuel than diesel engines and similar amounts comparing to petrol engines.
As you can see on the chart above hybrid cars possess an important percentage of electric vehicles market share and they don’t look like giving up. Even though electric cars are considered the future of the automotive industry, hybrid cars here and now are an important part of the market. Moreover, they don't seem to lose their popularity in favour of electric cars.
There is much that I would still like to write, but the number of aspects to consider when thinking about the future of motoring is difficult to grasp. I’d love to read your opinion on this topic:
- Have you ever driven a hybrid or fully electric car? What are your experiences?
- Whether hybrid cars are only a short stop on the road to fully electric cars?
- Or maybe the limitations of modern electric cars will not be overcome in the nearest future?
Sources:
1. I have never driven a hybrid or fully electric car, but once I have driven electric bike. I don’t real know in which way electric bikes are connected with electric cars :)
ReplyDeleteIf I would have chance to try electric car for sure I'd do it!
2. I think hybrid cars are a closer future than electric cars. All countries need to slowly adapt their infrastructure to the current trend of increasing demand for electric cars. Time will show us when we will be fully able to operate electric cars.
3. In my feeling, solution connected with eletric cars may give better future for us to produce less polution into atmospere.
As for now the lack of proper infrastructure seems to be one of the biggest problems of electric cars, especially in some countries that are not as developed as the USA and Germany. Hopefully when we will be able to overcome this obstacle, using electric car will get more sense than it has now.
DeleteJakub you're definitely right! We will see what future will bring us :)
DeletePersonally, I have never driven an electric car or even a hybrid, unless LPG counts :). Once I have driven an electic vespa. It was really nice (although I think the feelings were due to the wind in my hair not the electric motor). Nevertheless I really enjoyed that moment of electricity under my feet and yes this is where future goes, Tesla was right. When it comes to the third question I think that this area of industry has a real potential and technological and scientific support to improve and overcome problems we face these days.
ReplyDeleteJoanna Apon
DeleteAs for Tesla, I've heard that some japanese engineers took apart new Tesla Model 3 and admitted that technology used to build Tesla car is about 6 years ahead Toyota and Volkswagen. Electric cars have massive potential and support and it looks like the industry has the power to overcome most of its problems.
DeleteI drove a hybrid car. In my opinion there's no difference between driving
ReplyDelete'a regular car' and a hybrid one from the passenger point of view. I think hybrid cars are just a step to fully eletric cars, because of how technology has been developing through recent times and how this cars rely on that technology. I hope that limitatons won't stop modern electric cars' development. I think they would cause less air pollution.
One car rental company once provided an electric car rental for one zloty for up to half an hour and I used it to drive home from work - it was an interesting experience, such a car sounds completely different, it speeds up quite differently (but this may be due to the fact that I drive rather older cars than new cars).
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that hybrid cars can lead to infrastructure preparation for fully electric cars, e.g. charging stations.
It seems to me that our entire civilization was built on overcoming barriers and restrictions on electric cars will certainly be resolved. What's more, I think it will be sooner than later.
I also think that it will be sooner than later. I hope that the current situation won't dramatically affect the development of electric cars and infrastructure.
DeleteHave you ever driven a hybrid or fully electric car? What are your experiences?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not but linear acceleration makes me really curious! I have to rent BMW i3 in Warsaw someday because I've heard that's quite a fun car to ride.
Whether hybrid cars are only a short stop on the road to fully electric cars?
They might be but not necessary. The idea of a hybrid car is like all-in-one. You can decrease fuel consumption while driving in the city (or even stay fully electric) and when you have do drive a long range occasional you're not dependent on a charging station that are not so common in Poland. I think that hybrid cars will stick with us for a long period of time but they'll aim at different sort of clients.
Or maybe the limitations of modern electric cars will not be overcome in the nearest future?
I think that even right now the only limitations are the number of charging stations. It took only 20 minutes to charge Tesla up to 50% in a supercharger (range ~250-300km) so it's only about 2 times more than regular refueling (yes, regular combustion engine have a way longer range, but it also depends on a car :) ). At the end we need to remember that's not necessary to get rid of all standard cars because if someone is driving long distances - diesel would be better choice than electric or hybrid, but for most of the people range of ~300km is more than enough to do a daily drive.
I totally agree, diferrent cars suit different needs. It would be great if the electric revolution could give as a choice, not a compulsion to buy certain type of cars. Unfortunately the eco lobby thinks that diesel engines are the cause of all smog in the cities, but current situation show that this is not 100% truth.
DeleteI’ve never driven an electric car as a driver I was only traveling as a passenger.
ReplyDeleteI can't predict how the electric vehicle market will grow because I’ve heard about the pros and cons of this technological solution. Personally, I dream that drones will replace cars in the near future! Wouldn't it be amazing? =)
No matter how things go for electric and hybrid cars, I hope that the vehicles of the future will be 100% environmentally friendly.
As a car lover, I hope that drones and cars will be able to coexist :)
DeleteI totally forgot that for many people cars are smth more than 'just a vehicle'! You are right - the coexistence of drones and eco-cars would be the best solution;)
DeleteAnd this is something that I totally agree with :)
DeleteUnfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to drive an electric car. I heard that this is a completely different experience due to the very quiet engine operation and strong acceleration. I think that in the long run electric cars will dominate the market. From this perspective, hybrid cars can be considered as a stop on the road to fully electric cars. It is hard to say how much time it will take to create the infrastructure that will make the use of electric cars so convenient that most consumers will reach for them, but I think it will happen sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteI had many opportunities to drive an hybrid car, because I often travel using Panek CarSharing app which offer renting car for a short period of time. It was an interesting experience which was slightly different from driving an petrol car. I think that hybrid cars will exist for a long period of time together with electric and petrol ones. Only limitation I see is the fact that nowadays electric cars use batteries which are not different from batteries in our electronic gadgets or smartphones. I think it is essential to improve this technology to make electric cars a good alternative for petrol one.
ReplyDeleteA revolution in the battery segment would be something that would push not only the automotive industry but the entire modern world far ahead. It would be great to watch this.
DeleteI’ve had the opportunity to drive both, the hybrid and fully electric car. I’m a kind of petrolhead and like big engines but I have to admit that driving a hybrid or electric car in the city is very comfortable and economic and also even eco friendly. If we are talking about far distances and higher speeds on highways, for me electric or hybrid cars are too weak for such trips or their batteries aren’t large enough at least in our country. In my opinion, hybrids are better than electric cars because of extended rage due to fuel engine and that’s why I think that hybrids are rather a “long” stop on the road to fully electric cars. They are economic in cities but also able to go far distances without stops.
ReplyDeleteI've had opportunity to use hybrid car. At first I wasn't convinced but only after one ride I've realised how satisfying it is and how quiet and economic can be driving in city.
ReplyDeleteI think that for now hybrid cars are setting path for fully electric cars which may overtake car market in some years. In my opinion it's matter of 10-20 years when electric cars will get more popular and economical. For now they're very expensive and it's not common to drive those. So there are less workshops and services but as soon as this market grows, they will be available to everyone and then market will change.
There is certainly a difference in the price of a new hybrid car in comparison to a new petrol engine car, but it seems to me that it is not so big. Unfortunately, so far the average age of a car in Poland is probably about 14 years I guess.
DeleteI have drove a hybrid car once and the thing that I like the most was that it was really quiet while woking comparing to lets say diesel engines which sound like a tractor.
ReplyDeleteI think that electric cars will definitely take over the car industry, just look at the US where since the Tesla was realesed there are so many of them there. Of course it is a very long way for them to spread around the world so quickly. For example in Poland we don't have many stops where you can charge your car so driving that type of car might be a bit problematic. If I could afford that kind of car I would definately buy it and I am talking here about the Tesla since I think right now is the most known electric car there is, I've watched a lot of interviews with Elon Musk, and the way that cars works is amazing.
Looking at the information on Tesla cars, they seem to be really great. But, having mentioned Elon, he is an extraordinary person and if you would like to learn more about him, I truly recommend his biography.
DeleteYes, I've driven both hybrid and fully electric car thanks to car sharing companies. It was nice experience, I like how silent and responsive electric cars are. Too bad it comes with a price.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expert on this matter but I believe hybrid cars are quite more expensive to maintain than combustion or fully electric cars. If that's the case, I believe hybrid cars are going to die out rather quickly but we will see.
I don't think the electric car limitations are that big and short range problem could be more or less solved if the batteries were easily replaceable and standardized among companies.
I have been driven in one eco-taxi. The ride was pretty comfortable and the car moved very smoothly and quitely, as the engine was almost silent. I understand that a crucial factor for these cars to function is the avalibility of docking stations, so it's network can expand.
ReplyDeleteI have also ridden an electrical bike, however these have fewer charging stations than regular bikes, run by human feet. This was actually the direct reason why I stopped using them, however it was much better e-scooters, as these can be parked anywhere and users
will just track the available vehicle by their apps.
Typically, hybrids have lower battery ranges than all-electric vehicles, and the electrical capacity is designed more to supplement gasoline driving and to help maximize fuel efficiency.
Some hybrids offer an electric-only driving mode, which may only be available for low speeds and/or short ranges.
I acknowledge, that hybrid cars are beared with many disadvantages, such as that they are actually twin powered engine. It's gasoline engine is actually much smaller, compared to a single engine car. Even the combined power of both engines is often weaker than that of gas powered car. Hybrid cars are currently mostly limited to city driving, as it lacks the reachability to cover larger distances.
It is also worth mentioning, that hybrid cars can be significantly more expensice that conventional cars and also they can be subject to higher maintance costs. As soon as the car has completed its usability, the battery will have to be decommissioned, which may not be eco-friendly.
I see numerous advantages in introducing fully electric cars, such as the facts that will not be so reliant on producing oil and its high prices. Also these cars are not detrimental to the enviroment, as they do not emitate fumes, not to mention, that the reduced volume of noise. They can also handle accidents in a safer way. I assume that this will be the direction of the development of the auto industry.
The capacity of petrol engines in hybrids is usually close to their capacity when they are the only source of energy. In Toyota hybrids, petrol engines work in the Atkinson cycle, so their power is not very impressive, but the efficiency of the hybrid system is already so.
DeleteDue to the current situation, it seems that a long time will pass until people will travel as before, which will certainly affect fuel prices. Perhaps this will also affect the future of the automotive industry in the following years.
I have driven both a hybrid and fully electric car, thanks to the fact that many car-sharing companies in Warsaw have them in their offer. While driving the fully electric car a noticed that it accelerates faster than any normal car that I had ever driven.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, especially in Western Europe, fully-electric cars will rise in popularity rapidly and hybrid cars are only a shortstop. The pro-environmental movements are becoming more and more popular and many people are changing their current lifestyles. The best indicator of this trend is the latest success of Tesla's new fully-electric model.
Jakub Magnowski
DeleteUnfortunately no, but after quarantine I will try it, because I heard that driving fully electric car is amazing. You have whole car power on demand in one second. You don’t have to wait until tachometer will show above 2k r.p.m. So I’m going to try Innogy Go for sure. I don’t know if fully electric cars will replace hybrid cars so fast. My plan is to buy hybrid in few years, so I will support it.
ReplyDeleteI was driving Toyota C-HR (which is a hybrid car) and the driving comfort was really high. What surprised me the most was that the car was very quiet.
ReplyDeleteI believe that electric cars are still attempts to change systems for better and "greener", but they require not only the production of a vehicle, but also changes in the economy and infrastructure. It seems to me that having an electric car comes with costs and is most cost-effective when you have solar panels on the roof of the house.
No, I never drove, I mentioned it why in the article "Learn anything in 20 hours" I did not. So unfortunately I'll not share such experience with you..
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to electric or hybrid cars.. I watch the 36 minutes video to explore topic about recommend electric cars. For example "How far can we drive a given car brand and what is their quality".
Here in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM_3_RMfx8I