Ask Joe Mechanic: Alternative Energy Vehicles, Part 1

Over the next several weeks, my plan is to try to explain the many types of alternative energy vehicles available - or in the development stage - and to try to show the benefits of each. I will try to look at the costs of each type in comparison to similar conventional fuel vehicles and try to give you an idea whether this type of vehicle is right for you. I will also try to explain some of the drawbacks of each type of vehicle.

When you hear the word “Hybrid,” most people think of a vehicle with a gas engine and an electric motor, but what most people do not realize is that there are a number of different sub-groups and types of hybrids. Even in the gas/electric models, there are a number of different operating configurations.

When the term hybrid vehicle is used, it most often refers to a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. These encompass such vehicles as the Saturn Vue, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h and 450h and others. A petroleum-electric hybrid most commonly uses internal combustion engines (generally gasoline or diesel engines, powered by a variety of fuels) and electric batteries to power the vehicle. There are many types of petroleum-electric hybrid drive trains, from Full Hybrid to Mild Hybrid, which offer varying advantages and disadvantages.

Henri Pieper in 1899 developed the first petroelectric hybrid automobile in the world. In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche developed a series-hybrid using two motor-in-wheel-hub arrangements with a combustion generator set providing the electric power, setting two speed records. While liquid fuel/electric hybrids date back to the late 19th century, the braking regenerative hybrid was invented by David Arthurs, an electrical engineer from Springdale, Arkansas in 1978-79. His home-converted Opel GT was reported to return as much as 75MPG with plans still sold to this original design, and the “Mother Earth News” modified version on their website.

The plug-in-electric-vehicle (PEV) is becoming more and more common. It has the range needed in locations where there are wide gaps with no services. The batteries can be plugged into house (mains) electricity for charging, as well being charged while the engine is running.

Continuously outboard recharged electric vehicle (COREV) given suitable infrastructure, permissions and vehicles, BEVs can be recharged while the user drives. The BEV establishes contact with an electrified rail, plate or overhead wires on the highway via an attached conducting wheel or other similar mechanism (see Conduit current collection).
The BEVs batteries are recharged by this process -on the highway - and can then be used normally on other roads until the battery is discharged. Some of battery-electric locomotives used for maintenance trains on the London Underground are capable of this mode of operation. Power is picked up from the electrified rails where possible, switching to battery
power where the electricity supply is disconnected.

This provides the advantage, in principle, of virtually unrestricted highway range as long as you stay where you have BEV infrastructure access. Since many destinations are within 100 km of a major highway, this may reduce the need for expensive battery systems.  Unfortunately private use of the existing electrical system is nearly universally
prohibited.

Hybrid fuel (dual mode) some electric trolley buses can switch between an on-board diesel engine and overhead electrical power depending on conditions. In principle, this could be combined with a battery subsystem to create a true plug-in hybrid trolleybus, although as of
2006, no such design seems to have been announced.

Flexible-fuel vehicles can use a mixture of input fuels mixed in one tank - typically gasoline and ethanol, or methanol, or biobutanol.

Bi-fuel vehicle: Liquified petroleum gas and natural gas are very different from petroleum or diesel and cannot be used in the same tanks, so it would be impossible to build an (LPG or NG) flexible fuel system. Instead vehicles are built with two, parallel, fuel systems feeding one engine. For example Chevy’s Silverado 2500 HD, which is now on the road, can effortlessly switch between petroleum and natural gas, and offers a range of over 650 miles.
While the duplicated tanks cost space in some applications, the increased range, decreased cost of fuel and flexibility where LPG or NG infrastructure is incomplete may be a significant incentive to purchase. 

While the U.S. Natural gas infrastructure is partially incomplete, it is increasing at a fast pace, and already has 2600 CNG stations in place. With a growing fueling station infrastructure, a large scale adoption of these bi-fuel vehicles could be seen in the near future. Rising gas prices may also push consumers to purchase these vehicles. When gas prices trade around $4.00, the price per MMBTU of gasoline is $28.00, compared to natural gas’s $4.00 per MMBTU. On a per unit of energy comparative basis, this makes natural gas much cheaper than gasoline. All of these factors are making CNG-Gasoline bi-fuel vehicles very attractive.

Some vehicles have been modified to use another fuel source if it is available, such as cars modified to run on autogas (LPG) and diesels modified to run on waste vegetable oil that has not been processed into biodiesel. Next week we will discuss the different engine
configurations in the standard hybrid vehicles we are used to seeing, and if space permits, some exciting new technology. 
 
If you have a question for Joe Mechanic, email the author at JoeMechanic@autolocator.com.
 
This week’s recalls:

42,696 2014 Chevrolet Malibu
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in
these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable
when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield
defroster from working. The inability to turn on the
windshield defroster may decrease the driver’s
visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

14,909 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring
harness for the power seat may contact the seat
frame which may chafe the harness. If the harness is
chafed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit
could occur, resulting in unintended movement of the
seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under
the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

15,500 2007-2008 Hyundai Entourage and 79,867
2006-2012 Kia Sedona 
In northern states, the front lower control arms may fracture due to corrosion
resulting from exposure to road salt and water. A
fractured control arm can result in the loss of control
of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

If you own one of these vehicles, contact your dealer for further instructions on what to do.