What is a plugin hybrid?

A plug-in hybrid is a vehicle that has both a traditional gasoline engine, and an electric motor powered by a battery that can be recharged while the vehicle is not in use.

Depending on the size of the battery pack, plugin hybrids (PHEVs) can obtain over 100 MPG under normal driving conditions.

There are two primary types of plugin hybrids. One type of PHEV is called a series hybrid, where the electric motor completely drives the vehicle and the gasoline engine simply charges the battery when the battery starts to run out. The other kind of PHEV is called a parallel hybrid where both the electric motor and gasoline engine work with each other to propel the vehicle.

Components of a Plugin Hybrid Conversion

• Battery pack:
  Selecting a battery pack is important because the chemistry of the battery will dictate how the conversion will perform in various weather conditions and climates. Some batteries will provide more distance, while others provide more up-front acceleration or power.
• Compatible battery charger:
  In addition to charging the batteries, the battery charger has to communicate with the rest of the conversion to know when the batteries are full or if there is a fault detected in the pack.
• Battery management system:
  The battery management system must be able to rapidly check every battery cell to verify that each cell remains within tolerance voltages. It also must keep all of the cell voltages balanced.
• Temperature control system:
  Most battery chemistries perform poorly in cold or extremely hot climates. A temperature control system is able to control battery fans or heating pads to try and keep the battery temperature within its most efficient range.
• Vehicle integration system:
  Any plugin hybrid conversion needs to interface with the vehicle that it is being installed in. Data such as existing state of charge (for hybrids) or vehicle error codes are passed on to the conversion.

If you have any questions regarding these components, or you are interested in talking with our engineers regarding your own conversion, please contact us.