Hybrid Vehicles Advantages And Disadvantages

In recent years, the demand to develop hybrid vehicles is increasing due to concern over environment depletion and energy insecurity. Auto-manufacturers are striving to develop many alternatives to curb fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions, one such alternative known as “Integrated Starter Generator (ISG)” most commonly used in mild hybrid vehicles. Integrated Starter Generator is an electrical device which replaces the conventional starter, alternator and flywheel in the vehicles by performing functions of these elements collectively. The main function of ISGs is the automatic start-stop capability which switches the engine off at zero load i.e., when the vehicle is at standstill (for example in traffic signal) and instantly starts and accelerates the IC engine to the idling speed to initiate the combustion process in the engine [3]. By this function, it is said to reduce the fuel consumption by around 20% and hence the emissions from the vehicles [2]. Other main functions of ISGs include effective generation of electric power (better than conventional alternator) when the driver takes his

The power from this battery is used to feed the auxiliary components of the vehicle such as air-conditioner, seat heating device, music systems, and refrigerator. The advantage of ISG is that it is able to provide power to these auxiliary elements even when the engine is off as the power generation is not from the internal combustion engine. The reason behind the use of 42-volt electrical system instead of conventional 14-volt electrical system is because of more secure current supply to the sophisticated information systems used in the vehicles. In fact this is the first step in the transition from 12 or 14 volt system to 42-volt system which is one of the major priority of the hybrid vehicle