2. WHAT IS A HYBRID VEHICLE?
Any vehicle which combines two or more
sources of power.
Examples:
Diesel– electric
Nuclear – electric
Gasoline - electric
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3. HYBRID STRUCTURE
The two power sources found in hybrid
vehicles may be combined in different
ways, either in parallel or series
Either one will allow the gasoline engine to
shut down when it is not needed.
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4. PARALLEL HYBRID
Gasoline motor
Batteries which
powers an electric
motor
Both can power the
transmission at the
same time
Electric motor
supplements the
gasoline engine
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5. SERIES HYBRID
Gasoline motor turns
a generator
Generator may either
charge the batteries
or power an electric
motor that drives the
transmission
At low speeds is
powered only by the
electric motor
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6. HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL
SYSTEMS
Power for the electric motor is supplied by
high-voltage nickel-metal hydride battery
Batteries for all hybrids are produced by
Panasonic EV Energy in Japan
Voltage ranges from 144 volts to 650 volts
of DC current
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7. HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL
SYSTEMS
High voltage wiring may color coded
orange, bright blue or even yellow
Batteries vary in design, however, all
incorporate individual cells connected to
one another
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8. BATTERIES
Individual cells originally contained liquid
potassium hydroxide
The liquid is almost totally absorbed by the
paper membranes inside each cell of the
battery
Because the liquid is absorbed these
batteries are considered “dry cell”
batteries
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10. BATTERY RECHARGING
The Ni-MH batteries are recharged
through a process call regenerative
braking
Regenerative braking takes energy from
the forward momentum of the vehicle and
captures it while coasting or braking.
Occasionally batteries are recharged by
the electric motor
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11. WHO’S MAKING HYBRIDS
NOW?
Honda Lexus
• Accord • RX 400h SUV
• Civic • GS 450h
• Insight • LS 600h L
Toyota Mercury
• Prius • Mariner SUV
• Camry Dodge
• Highlander • Ram – contractor’s edition
Ford General Motors
• Escape • Silverado and Sierra
Mazda • Malibu
• Tribute • Tahoe/Yukon
Saturn Nissan
• Vue • Altima
• Versa
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12. SUMMARY
Due to the proliferation of hybrid vehicles on
the road today, responders must be
familiar with how these vehicles operate,
and how to handle an emergency which
involves one of these vehicles.
Additionally, responders must stay up-to-
date with current vehicle technology, as it
is continuously changing.
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