Chapter One Hybrid Vehicles—Transitional Technology or Ultimate Solution?

Hybrid Powered Vehicles, 2nd Edition builds on the original edition’s exploration of hybrid components, system engineering, design constraints, challenges, and opportunities of hybrid vehicles. Since the first edition was published in 2003, hybrid vehicles have seen major technical developments and have gained significant market share. This book provides the reader with a thorough yet accessible understanding of the latest hybrid technology developments, along with keen insight into the market forces shaping the technology and a look at what lies ahead. Author John German reviews the development history of hybrid vehicles and the current state of hybrid technology, including battery types and chemistries. He also highlights the cycles of fuel availability, fuel economy, and concern for environmental issues, and profiles government efforts to spur development of more efficient vehicles. Future enhancements, including more sophisticated hybrid control strategies and integrating additional electrical components to improve efficiency, are also featured. Cost reduction, being a major barrier to mass market adoption, is also discussed. Finally, future sales and market forecasts are offered, including the belief that hybrid sales will rapidly increase after approximately 2020 and will capture about 75% of the market by about 2030. Topics include: Transitional Technology or Ultimate Solution Design Components Design Constraints Plug-In Hybrid Design Hybrid System Optimization Customer Acceptance Future Development Future Conventional Hybrid and PHEV Markets