Understanding Your Hybrid Vehicle
The trend of driving cleaner vehicles and helping the environment is growing and with that growth, the popularity of hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of a gas-powered engine and an electric motor to propel the vehicle forward. This method of powering your car, truck, or SUV come with a variety of benefits for you and for the environment. The infographic below goes in-depth into the components and maintenance that goes into being a Hybrid Vehicle owner.
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Bring your hybrid into your local AAMCO Minnesota today.
Hybrids need regular maintenance to perform at peak performance.
Hybrid Vehicles — How do they work?
Making use of a conventional engine, an electric motor and a battery in conjunction, hybrid vehicles primarily use electric power to propel themselves. There are three different types of hybrid vehicles, each using that combination of parts in different ways to power the vehicle. The three types of vehicles are the Parallel Hybrid, the Range Extender Hybrid and the Plug-in Hybrid.
The Parallel Hybrid
The hybrid powers its wheels by splitting the work between the electric motor and the conventional engine. To maintain efficiency, this type of vehicle can alternate its mode depending on whether its driving in stop-and-go traffic or driving and higher speeds. It exclusively uses the electric motor at low speeds and then increases its gas engine more as speeds get high or when accelerating hard. The range, however, is fairly low, only reaching up to 1.25 miles on its own.
The Range Extender Hybrid
This type of hybrid has a longer range, due to having a much higher capacity battery and primarily using the conventional engine to produce electricity. The engine does not propel the vehicle, it uses the electricty produced for a generator that recharges the batteries.
The Plug-in Hybrid
This is the ultimate middle ground between the traditional vehicle and current fully electric vehicles. As the name suggests, the plug-in hybrid can be plugged in to an electrical outlet to keep the battery pack charged. They have a much longer range than the other types and offer incredible fuel economy due to their very large battery pack; not requiring gas if you keep your vehicle charged.
Your Hybrid Needs Maintenance, but What Parts Does a Hybrid Have?
The Electric Motor
One of the most important components of the hybrid vehicle; this is what propels it forward by pulling power from the battery. Due to being primarily an electrical part, it has a very long lifespan and needs little maintenance. Plug-ins and fully electric vehicles are very quiet due to exclusively using the electric motor for locomotion.
The Electric Motor
One of the most important components of the hybrid vehicle; this is what propels it forward by pulling power from the battery. Due to being primarily an electrical part, it has a very long lifespan and needs little maintenance. Plug-ins and fully electric vehicles are very quiet due to exclusively using the electric motor for locomotion.
The Traditional Engine
Whether the combustion engine is directly powering the wheels or producing energy for the generator so that the electric motor can move the wheels, it still requires traditional maintenance services such as oil changes and transmission repair and replacement. It’s important to keep the engine maintained because the battery and electric motor can only do so much on their own in a hybrid vehicle.
The Electric Motor
Normally, when you apply the brakes in a traditional vehicle, friction and heat and created, wasting energy into the environment. In hybrid vehicles, however, the brakes utilize the energy to help recharge battery. This not only extends the range of the hybrid but also reduces the amount of wear the brakes experience, thus extending their lifespan. Despite the extended durability of the brakes, they may still require maintenance, brake fluid flushes or replacements. Bring your hybrid vehicle in to your local AAMCO Minnesota for a brake inspection and maintenance.
The Hybrid Transmission
Transmissions in hybrid vehicles work harder than in traditional vehicles — they help to reduce your vehicle’s speed when you apply the brakes, they assist in keeping the battery packs charged, and finally they deliver power to the wheels to propel the vehicle forward. This increased responsibility also increases the speed of wear and tear on the transmission, making it even more important to maintain regular service. Hybrid transmission replacement is more expensive and can cost upwards of $11,000. You should get transmission fluid service every 50,000 to 60,000 miles to prolong the life of your hybrid.
AAMCO Minnesota Can Help You Keep Your Hybrid Properly Maintained
Hybrid vehicle component repair and replacement can get expensive. Give your Hybrid some love and keep it maintained and serviced regularly at your local AAMCO Minnesota. While there are tons of benefits to switching to driving Hybrid vehicles, keep in mind that it needs maintenance too. Schedule an appointment today!
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