Regenerative braking significantly enhances the fuel efficiency of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) during city driving by capturing and reusing energy that conventional vehicles typically lose as heat during braking.
How Regenerative Braking Works in PHEVs and HEVs
- When braking or decelerating, the electric motor in hybrids acts as a generator, converting the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electrical energy.
- This electrical energy is then stored in the vehicle’s battery rather than being wasted, as in traditional friction braking systems.
Contribution to Fuel Efficiency in City Driving
- City driving involves frequent stopping and starting, making regenerative braking particularly effective because there are many opportunities to recover energy.
- The recaptured energy powers the electric motor, reducing the need to draw energy from the internal combustion engine (ICE), which leads to lower fuel consumption.
- This is especially beneficial at low speeds and during stop-and-go traffic, where the electric motor can assist or even handle propulsion, minimizing gasoline engine use.
- For PHEVs, this recovered energy supplements battery charge alongside grid charging, enabling more electric-only driving and further reducing fuel use.
- Additionally, regenerative braking lessens wear on traditional brake components, which indirectly supports efficiency by reducing maintenance needs.
Overall, regenerative braking in both HEVs and PHEVs improves energy efficiency by capturing braking energy and using it to recharge batteries, which decreases reliance on gasoline during city driving and leads to better fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-regenerative-braking-contribute-to-the-fuel-efficiency-of-phevs-and-hevs-in-city-driving/
