3. Hybrid Vehicle Drives

This chapter introduces the hybrid vehicle types, operating modes, and technologies. An overview is given of the common motor and transmission variants for hybrid and fully electric passenger cars. The hybrid vehicle classes from micro-hybrid to plug-in hybrid are presented in detail. The required motor power and battery capacities and the technical functionalities are presented. The shell diagram of the combustion engine is used to illustrate how fuel savings can be realized through hybrid drives and their potential. Finally, the hybrid powertrains (serial, parallel, and power-split hybrid drive) are discussed. The planetary gearbox, which is presented in detail in a separate section, is essential for power-split drives.