Mar 27 2020

Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Hybrids, Electric and Hydrogen: What are the Differences?

 

Often compared, hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids, electrics and hydrogen cars stand out on many points, however. To better understand these differences, let's look at their engine, their autonomy, their level of pollution, their comfort of use, the extent of their range and their price.

 

Hybrid, rechargeable hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars: the technical differences:

To understand the differences between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars, one element is more important than the others: the on-board engine.

• Hybrid car: this is a vehicle with a petrol - or more rarely diesel - engine, to which the manufacturer has added a small electric motor and a battery. The latter is supplied with the kinetic energy recovered during the braking and deceleration phases. The electricity thus accumulated is then used when starting the vehicle and, sometimes, even makes it possible to make short distances in 100% electric.
• Rechargeable hybrid car: this is a hybrid vehicle with a larger battery and, sometimes, an electric motor. The battery is powered by kinetic energy (recovered during the deceleration phase), but also by recharging on an electric terminal. The rechargeable hybrid car makes it possible to travel several tens of kilometers in 100% electric mode, especially for urban journeys. For longer journeys or if the battery is discharged, the internal combustion engine takes over.
• Electric car: this is a vehicle that does not have a fuel tank or a combustion engine. Instead, there is an electric motor associated with a battery. This battery is powered by home charging stations (conventional socket, reinforced socket or Wallbox) or by public terminals.
• Hydrogen car: several types of vehicle can claim this designation. First of all, there are cars with a fuel cell that uses kinetic energy to power an electric motor. There are also models with a hydrogen engine which is powered by pressurized tanks that store hydrogen and operate on the same principle as an internal combustion engine.

 

Hybrid, rechargeable hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars: the differences in range:

The differences in engine power between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars have a direct consequence: operating autonomy.

For the hybrid car:

With such a vehicle, the battery is only in operation for short periods (starting, traffic jams, etc.). Electric autonomy is therefore almost non-existent and is limited, depending on the model, to one or two kilometers maximum. It is the internal combustion engine that defines the limits of autonomy of the car, in particular according to the capacity of the tank and the fuel consumption.

For the plug-in hybrid car:

Equipped with a battery with a larger capacity and, sometimes, an electric motor, this type of vehicle offers several tens of kilometers of autonomy in 100% electric. Everything will in fact depend on the capacity of the battery, some models even announcing up to 100 kilometers of theoretical autonomy, like the Chevrolet Volt. Once the battery is exhausted, the internal combustion engine will take over, pushing total autonomy to several hundred kilometers.

For the electric car:

Its autonomy depends mainly on the capacity of the battery. The most efficient models today have a 100 kWh battery, like the Tesla Model S. However, the average capacity is more around 40 to 50 kWh, as on the Renault Zoé II and the Peugeot e-208 . In the first case, the theoretical autonomy is more than 600 kilometers (WLTP), while it turns around 300 to 400 kilometers for the second. However, note that the driving mode plays an important role in the range of an electric car, since the range decreases much more quickly if the vehicle is driven at full power.

For the hydrogen car:

The autonomy of such a vehicle depends mainly on the capacity of the hydrogen tank and the efficiency of the fuel cell. The most efficient models have an efficiency of around 80%, allowing a theoretical autonomy greater than 500 kilometers (WLTP). The record is currently held by the Hyundai Nexo, which has covered 778 kilometers on a single tank.

 

Differences in pollution:

The choice between a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen car is often a matter of conviction, especially with regard to the rate of polluting emissions.

The hybrid car:

In practice, it would be more honest to speak of a thermal vehicle with electric assistance. Indeed, the battery is only used on rare occasions. Consequences ? The level of CO2 released is approximately the same as for a comparable diesel or petrol car.

 The plug-in hybrid car:

Although it offers greater autonomy in 100% electric, this vehicle remains thermal. However, depending on the model, the rate of CO2 emissions can be halved compared to a “standard” car.

The electric car:

With the exception of tire wear, the electric car does not pollute at all during use. Indeed, it does not release CO2. However, the manufacture and recycling of batteries are subject to controversy, since these two stations have a significant environmental cost.

The hydrogen car:

Here too, the hydrogen car does not pollute during use because it only releases water vapor. On the other hand, the production of hydrogen can pose a problem because it requires electricity. This is very often produced from coal power plants or nuclear plants, impacting the ecological interest of such a technology.