What is a Hybrid and What is Auto Pilot? We Explain Simply

These terms get bandied about, so we’re offering a nice simple explanation for our LGBTI readers. SHHHHH,  don’t tell the str8s or they’ll all be wanting to read us.

First, the hybrid drivetrain

A Mild Hybrid is used by a lot of carmakers now as a cheap-skate way of including “hybrid” in the name. The 48v mild hybrid uses a tiny electric motor, usually between the petrol/diesel engine, and the gearbox. Rather handily, the electric motor also acts as a starter motor.

It is handy in its own way, but in our tests at least, didn’t help that much with fuel economy, and went unnoticed during the drive. It seems like an expensive way of doing nothing.

A parallel hybrid is similar to that used in many vehicles, such as Toyota’s awful Prius and common-as-dishwater Camry, and can power the wheels depending on load requirement at the time. In other words, either the electric motor or ICE can drive the wheels, or both. The wheels can return power back to the battery via regeneration, and the ICE (internal combustion engine) act as a generator, supplying power to the battery.

Recently, Toyota went a step further by having the parallel hybrid at the front axle, and a Lilliputian  electric motor on the rear axle. It negates the need for a large centre tunnel in the floor for a driveshaft, only needing a pipe for exhaust instead.

There are plug-in versions that add extra complexity to the equation. It uses a separate section of battery reserved exclusively for EV driving and usually has a short range. If max power is required, the ICE will still kick in to add its two cents worth.

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1 Minute Video Review: What is a Hybrid and What is Auto Pilot? We Explain Simply

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ABOVE: Examples of EV, Hybrid, Mild Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid and Parallel Hybrid

Series Hybrid

We’ve seen this for years on diesel/electric locomotives. There is that magnificent, deep, visceral rumble as the loco pulls away, but the engine never powers the wheels. Instead, the engine supplies power to the electric motors. All it requires is a big cable leading to the motor or motors, and can be on several axles. Theoretically, every axle could be a drive axle.

Think of the series hybrid as an engine/inverter/battery/motor, in the order, driving the wheels. Only the last two are always engaged.

Recently, Nissan has employed this rather nifty system in the e-Force e-Power SUVs. The ICE charges a small battery under the driver’s seat which in turn powers the wheels. The front and rear axles are only connected by a cable. Using the ICE as a generator is extremely efficient. Claims of fuel figures made on EOM websites don’t give buyers an idea of what real world consumption is. Indeed, anyone using an EV will find the WLTP numbers have little resemblance to daily life, but I digress:

The added advantage of this system is it does not need a pesky ol’ transmission. Other brands insist on gluing the dreaded CVT into the drivetrains, ruining the experience for all. The e-Power version works like a pure-electric vehicle, using a reduction gear instead. Like pure EVs, the torque is available immediately.

Theoretically, a larger battery could provide a longer range, augment by the ability to pug-in.

Auto-Pilot

This rather misleading term makes punters think they can operate their car like a ship or a plane. You can. Not only is it illegal, but the car will shriek at you, demanding the hands be put back on the wheel.

We’ve all seen the videos of the sexy young couple having sex in the back seat of a Tesla at 60mph, or at least I have, purely in the interests of research of course. You can do anything with clever editing, but rest assured, nowhere in the world are autonomous vehicles legal on regular public roads.

Anyone in a Tesla knows that if you don’t put your hands on the wheel when it tells you to, it shuts “Auto Pilot” off until the car is restarted.

Names like Auto Pilot, Pro Pilot, Travel Assist et al, all refer to the same group of technologies gathered together, under what is simply a marketing term. A computer uses the sensors already available such as the front AEB cameras, sonar, radar, and in some cases, LIDAR, to view road markings and objects.

The system tries to keep your car centered in the lane while ensuring distance is kept from cars in front. The system is only as good as the sensors and programming. The technologies include: blind spot monitor, lane departure warning/assist, lane centering, smart radar assisted cruise control. The very smartest of systems also incorporate the navigation information and information from connected services.

Smart? Yes of course it is. Autonomous? No, definitely not.

Auto pilot, hybrid cars, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles

#Autopilot, #hybridcars, #electricvehicles, #autonomousvehicles