Mild hybrids (MHEV) (also known as smart hybrids, power-assist hybrids, battery-assisted hybrid vehicles or BAHVs) are generally cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE) equipped with a negligibly bigger electric combined motor and generator in a parallel hybrid configuration allowing the engine to be turned off whenever the car is coasting, braking, or stopped, and then quickly restarted once power is again required. Mild hybrids may employ regenerative braking and some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine, but mild hybrids do not have an electric-only mode of propulsion.[1][2][3]
Overview
The mild hybrid's electric motor provides greater efficiency through the use of a single device that is essentially an integrated starter/alternator sometimes known as a generator-motor unit. A typical mild-hybrid setup uses a belt-powered generator-motor unit driven off the engine to supply power to a small battery. The generator is also powered through regenerative braking, enabling power that would otherwise be dissipated as heat to be recaptured and recovered for use in powering the vehicle. The small power assist generated by mild-hybrid systems can help supplement the internal combustion engine in low-speed situations or handle the demands of engine start/stop functionality. Vehicles equipped with a mild-hybrid system typically see anywhere from a 0.4 to 1.7 km/l improvement in fuel economy relative to comparable models without the technology.[4]
Examples
General Motors
General Motors mild hybrids including the Parallel Hybrid Truck (PHT) and numerous cars and SUVs equipped with the BAS Hybrid system, often use a 36- to 48-volt system to supply the power needed for the startup motor, as well as a source of power to compensate for the increasing number of electronic accessories on modern vehicles.[5] GM's belt alternator starter (BAS) mild hybrid system uses a belt drive to start the internal combustion engine (ICE) through its motor–generator unit (MGU), then once started the engine drives the 14.5 kW motor-generator to charge the batteries. The BAS hybrid system also utilizes regenerative braking to replenish the system's 36 V battery and can provide moderate levels of power assist. According to the EPA, a 2009 Saturn Vue Greenline equipped with the BAS Hybrid system delivers a 27% improvement in combined fuel economy over the non-hybrid version (FWD 4cyl).[6]
Others
During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in August, Chinese automobile manufacturer Chang'an Motors supplied a number of hybrid-drive cars as taxis for the athletes and spectators. The power electronics for the "mild hybrid" drive was supplied by Infineon.[7]
Toyota sold mild hybrid versions of the Toyota Crown executive sedan between 2001 and 2003 and the mid-size Crown Sedan between 2002 and 2008 in the Japanese domestic market.[8][9] These models combined a BAS hybrid system with the standard straight-6 petrol engines for increased fuel economy. Toyota now sells a full hybrid version of the Crown under their brand name Hybrid Synergy Drive.
MINI and BMW have start and stop, and some with regenerative braking, in all of their vehicles sold in Europe running 4-cylinder engines with manual transmissions.[10]
Citroën proposes a stop and start system on its C2 and C3 models.[11] The concept-car C5 Airscape has an improved version of that, adding regenerative braking and traction assistance functionalities, and ultracapacitors for energy buffering.[12]
In 2004 VW brought two mild hybrid concept cars to Shanghai for the Challenge Bibendum.[13]
Suzuki has announced the Suzuki Baleno with integrated SHVS-technology in 2016 on the new Suzuki HEARTECT platform. Suzuki has had experience with this mild-hybrid technology in their Suzuki Ciaz.
Most hybrids use gasoline engines, but some use Diesel engines, such as the Hyundai 1.6.[14] In 2021 Land Rover started selling the Range Rover Sport D350 which runs on the 3.0-litre D300 Ingenium Diesel engine.[15][16][17][18][19]
See also
- BAS hybrid (eAssist)
- Integrated Motor Assist
- Micro HEV
References
- ↑ "Pilot Project MOVELE: An initiative of the IDAE in favour of energy efficiency in transport" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ Sam Abuelsamid (2009-04-03). "What is a mild hybrid?". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
- ↑ "Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Hybrid / SHVS working - All you need to know". Indian Car News. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ "Types of Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV) – x-engineer.org".
- ↑ "MIT/Industry Consortium on Advanced Automotive Electrical/Electronic Components and Systems". 2004-09-17. Archived from the original on 2004-09-17.
- ↑ "Compare Cars Side-by-Side". Fueleconomy.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ "News | Electronics EETimes". Eetimes.eu. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ "History of Toyota - 75 years - Crown vehicle lineage". Toyota. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ↑ "The Widespread Introduction of the TOYOTA Mild Hybrid Cars (HEV) May Promote an Earlier Introduction of 42V Cars". 2009-10-23. Archived from the original on 2009-10-23.
- ↑ "Reliance Electric FlexPak 3000 40FR4042 | Automation Industrial". 40fr4042.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ↑ "Citroën.com, the International website of Citroën". Citroen.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ "Citroën.com, the International website of Citroën". Citroen.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ "VW Brings Diesel Mild-Hybrid Concept to Shanghai". Green Car Congress. 2004-10-13. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ Panait, Mircea (2019-03-29). "Here's How the Hyundai Mild-Hybrid 1.6 CRDi Turbo Diesel Works". autoevolution.
- ↑ "Land Rover Defender gains plug-in hybrid electric power, six-cylinder diesel and new X-Dynamic model" (Press release). UK: Land Rover. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ↑ "Land Rover adds hybrid diesel model to plug-in electric Range Rover". 2020-07-15.
- ↑ "Range Rover Sport Hybrid Review".
- ↑ "2022 Range Rover Sport D300 First Drive: The Right Diesel Engine at the Wrong Time". 2022-01-04.
- ↑ "2021 Range Rover - new 3.0 litre mild-hybrid diesel engine, limited edition Westminster editions launched - paultan.org". 2020-07-15.