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Hybrid vehicle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A hybrid vehicle (HV) is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle such as: * An on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fueled power source (internal combustion engine or fuel cell) for vehicle propulsion * Air and internal combustion engines; it is also called a bi-energy vehicle. * Human powered bicycle with battery or gas engine assist * A human-powered or sail boat with electric power. The term most commonly refers to Hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) which includes internal combustion engines and electric motors (generally powered by electric batteries, other rechargeable energy storage system -RESS- or overhead wires). Environmental issues The hybrid vehicle typically achieves greater fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), resulting in fewer emissions being generated. These savings are primarily achieved by four elements of a typical hybrid design: 1) recapturing energy normally wasted during braking etc.; 2) having significant battery storage capacity to store and reuse recaptured energy; 3) shutting down the gasoline or diesel engine during traffic stops or while coasting or other idle periods; 4) relying on both the gasoline (or diesel engine) and the electric motors for peak power needs resulting in a smaller gasoline or diesel engine sized more for average usage rather than peak power usage. These features make a hybrid vehicle particularly efficient for city traffic where there are frequent stops, coasting and idling periods. In addition noise emissions are reduced, particularly at idling and low operating speeds,[1] in comparison to conventional gasoline or diesel powered engine vehicles. For continuous high speed highway use these features are much less useful in reducing emissions. Vehicles which have significant idle periods and only occasional needs of peak power like railroad switching locomotives or repeated lifting and lowering cycles like Rubber Tyred Gantrys are also good candidates for hybrid systems resulting in potentially significant fuel and emission savings. Hybrid types by vehicle Single wheeled vehicles There were large Chinese wheelbarrows depicted with sails and masts.[2] Likewise, there are the same Chinese wheelbarrows with sailing masts depicted in the Atlas of Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594 AD), as well as the 1626 AD book Kingdome of China by J. Speed. The English poet John Milton (1608-1674 AD) popularized the Chinese sailing carriage in Europe with a poem written in 1665. Two-wheeled and cycle-type vehicles Mopeds and electric bicycles are a simple form of a hybrid, as power is delivered both via an internal combustion engine or electric motor and the rider's muscles. Early prototypes of motorcycles in the late 1800's used the same principles. * In a parallel hybrid bicycle human and motor power are mechanically coupled at the pedal drive train or at the rear or the front wheel, e.g. using a hub motor, a roller pressing onto a tire, or a connection to a wheel using a transmission element. Human and motor torques are added together. Almost all manufactured models are of this type. See Motorized bicycles, Mopeds and [3] for more information. * In a series hybrid bicycle (SH) the user powers a generator using the pedals. This is converted into electricity and can be fed directly to the motor giving a chainless bicycle but also to charge a battery. The motor draws power from the battery and must be able to deliver the full mechanical torque required because none is available from the pedals. SH bicycles are commercially available, because they are very simple in theory and manufacturing. The first known prototype and publication of a SH bicycle is by Augustus Kinzel (US Patent 3'884'317) in 1975. In 1994 Bernie Macdonalds conceived the Electrilite SH lightweight vehicle which used power electronics allowing regenerative braking and pedaling while stationary. In 1995 Thomas Müller designed a "Fahrrad mit elektromagnetischem Antrieb" in his 1995 diploma thesis and built a functional vehicle. In 1996 Jürg Blatter and Andreas Fuchs of Berne University of Applied Sciences built a SH bicycle and in 1998 mounted the system onto a Leitra tricycle (European patent EP 1165188). In 1999 Harald Kutzke described his concept of the "active bicycle": the aim is to approach the ideal bicycle weighing nothing and having no drag by electronic compensation. Until 2005 Fuchs and colleagues built several prototype SH tricycles and quadricycles.