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Full Hybrid systems edging-forward; ease of maintenance the added value
Paolo Ferrini
There are several hybrid systems around, and unlike popular opinions in the past, plug-in hybrid cars are losing ground to full hybrid vehicles which are gaining consistent shares of the market, despite some initial mistrust. However, these new power units are also proving to be more economical and efficient in terms of maintenance and repair.
It's easy to talk about hybrid vehicles. There are in fact a number of different types of hybrid power units. Leaving alternative fuels out of the pictures, since petrol is by far the most prevalent on the market, Full-Hybrid options (these cars can run using just battery power without using the traditional engine) are clearly gaining great chunks of the market being able, as they are, to move with either one of the two engines (heat or electrical) or both. Full electric units clearly require the availability of a high capacity battery pack, while a dual power unit betrays the presence of an expensive and complex system able to ensure a smooth distribution of power to the wheels.
The first generation of Toyota Prius was the forerunner of this type of vehicles which, besides favoring a gradual “hybridization” of the full Laxus range, prompted several other premium brands, such as Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Peugeot, Porsche, Range Rover and Volkswagen, to start down the same path.
At present the future seems to belong to Full-Hybrid systems, all the more so as plug-in vehicles (chargeable from an external source of electricity, i.e. charging points or wall sockets), which appeared to be the future of hybrid mobility up to a few years ago, have been placed in “stand-by”. “We are still in an unprofitable preliminary phase. At the moment the demand for plug-in hybrid vehicles is minimal, though the premium segment could boast more positive figures” as Toyota experts, who happen to have a rather clear idea of the current situation, point out, particularly in consideration of the fact that hybrid vehicles represent a third of their European sales. Quite in line with the company’s 2020 target: selling 50% of all Toyota and Lexus models in hybrid versions.
Meanwhile, all automobile manufacturers have to deal with the public’s initial diffidence towards a product that is not only more expensive when compared to more traditional vehicles, but whose innovative nature leaves the door open to more or less legitimate doubts on running costs and reliability. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Industry experts contend that running a hybrid car – considering the absence of components such as clutches, starter motors, alternators and serpentine belts – may be even cheaper than a corresponding “conventional” vehicle. In addition, regenerative braking should even extend the lifespan of tires, brake discs and pads. And as far as maintenance is concerned, we must consider the fact that both the electric motor and the on-board control unit do not require any particular intervention by the owner.
Unlike full electric vehicles, hybrid cars need no recharging as they receive the necessary power while travelling. Battery packs, in fact, are recharged by the energy produced by the heat engine as well as transforming in electricity the thermal energy developed by the friction generated when braking or slowing down, thus recovering a large portion of energy that would otherwise be dissipated.
Starting from the assumption that electric motors do not suffer the same wear and tear of a heat engine, given the absence of mechanical parts with a high deterioration rate, routine maintenance on a hybrid vehicle is performed almost exclusively on its traditional internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the latter, working in synergy with its electric counterpart, is subjected to a less intensive use compared to an engine forced to work on its own, which could significantly lengthen its useful life and guarantee top performances for a longer period of time.
Looking at the economic side of the issue, we can safely say that the routine maintenance costs of a hybrid vehicle are almost identical to that of a petrol counterpart in a similar segment. However, some manufacturers, such as Toyota (10 million hybrid vehicles produced as of January 2017), take advantage of their specific expertise, and go a step further offering clients programs such as Toyota Hybrid Care, through which users can request a test of their hybrid system at an authorized service center and, if the control is passed, obtain an extended one year or 15,000 km warranty on the battery pack. This warranty extension is available for ten years after the vehicle’s registration date and guarantees free battery pack repair or replacement in the event of failure or malfunction.
The first generation of Toyota Prius was the forerunner of this type of vehicles which, besides favoring a gradual “hybridization” of the full Laxus range, prompted several other premium brands, such as Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Peugeot, Porsche, Range Rover and Volkswagen, to start down the same path.
At present the future seems to belong to Full-Hybrid systems, all the more so as plug-in vehicles (chargeable from an external source of electricity, i.e. charging points or wall sockets), which appeared to be the future of hybrid mobility up to a few years ago, have been placed in “stand-by”. “We are still in an unprofitable preliminary phase. At the moment the demand for plug-in hybrid vehicles is minimal, though the premium segment could boast more positive figures” as Toyota experts, who happen to have a rather clear idea of the current situation, point out, particularly in consideration of the fact that hybrid vehicles represent a third of their European sales. Quite in line with the company’s 2020 target: selling 50% of all Toyota and Lexus models in hybrid versions.
Meanwhile, all automobile manufacturers have to deal with the public’s initial diffidence towards a product that is not only more expensive when compared to more traditional vehicles, but whose innovative nature leaves the door open to more or less legitimate doubts on running costs and reliability. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Industry experts contend that running a hybrid car – considering the absence of components such as clutches, starter motors, alternators and serpentine belts – may be even cheaper than a corresponding “conventional” vehicle. In addition, regenerative braking should even extend the lifespan of tires, brake discs and pads. And as far as maintenance is concerned, we must consider the fact that both the electric motor and the on-board control unit do not require any particular intervention by the owner.
Unlike full electric vehicles, hybrid cars need no recharging as they receive the necessary power while travelling. Battery packs, in fact, are recharged by the energy produced by the heat engine as well as transforming in electricity the thermal energy developed by the friction generated when braking or slowing down, thus recovering a large portion of energy that would otherwise be dissipated.
Starting from the assumption that electric motors do not suffer the same wear and tear of a heat engine, given the absence of mechanical parts with a high deterioration rate, routine maintenance on a hybrid vehicle is performed almost exclusively on its traditional internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the latter, working in synergy with its electric counterpart, is subjected to a less intensive use compared to an engine forced to work on its own, which could significantly lengthen its useful life and guarantee top performances for a longer period of time.
Looking at the economic side of the issue, we can safely say that the routine maintenance costs of a hybrid vehicle are almost identical to that of a petrol counterpart in a similar segment. However, some manufacturers, such as Toyota (10 million hybrid vehicles produced as of January 2017), take advantage of their specific expertise, and go a step further offering clients programs such as Toyota Hybrid Care, through which users can request a test of their hybrid system at an authorized service center and, if the control is passed, obtain an extended one year or 15,000 km warranty on the battery pack. This warranty extension is available for ten years after the vehicle’s registration date and guarantees free battery pack repair or replacement in the event of failure or malfunction.
