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-car2.htm)
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
Full Hybrid
Mild Hybrid




(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car1.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
1970’s: 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.html
Metal Case Prismatic Ni-MH

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
IMA1 Hybrid
Honda Insight
Coupe
IMA1 Hybrid
Honda Civic
Sedan
IMA1 Hybrid
Lexus RX400h
SUV
Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Sedan
Parallel Hybrid
Toyota Highlander SUV
Hybrid
Suzuki Twin
Mini
Hybrid
Toyota Estima
Minivan
Parallel Hybrid
Toyota Crown
Sedan
Mild Hybrid
Toyota Alphard
Minivan
Hybrid
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
Hybrid
Saturn Vue
SUV
BAS2 Hybrid
Toyota Camry
Sedan
Unknown
Toyota Sienna
Minivan
Hybrid
Recent Concepts - Production Plans Unknown
Honda ASM
Minivan
IMA1 hybrid
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
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Mild Hybrid
Jan-01
Gasoline
Jan-04
Dec-99
Jan-00
Jan-03
Jun-00
Jan-04
Nov-02
Jun-01
Aug-01
Jul-03
Diesel
2004
Jan-01
2005
2000
2002
2005
2000
2005
2003 (Japan)
In Japan Only
In Japan Only
In Japan Only
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
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline
Jun-04
Jan-03
Unknown
2003
2006
2006
Unknown
2007
Gasoline
Hydrogen ICE
Unknown
Diesel
Hybrid
Unknown
Oct-03
Hydrogen
Unknown
Jan-04
Diesel
Unknown
Unknown
Jul-04
Oct-04
Unknown
Jan-04
Jan-04
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
2004 (Limited)
2004 (Limited)
Nov-03
2006
2007
2006
2005/06 (Korea)
2005 (limited)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
2007
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 gallon
Toyota Hybrid Sports Car
Summary






Definitions
Electric vs. Internal Combustion
Timeline for Hybrid technology development
The Batteries
Study: Insight vs. Prius
The Future