What is a Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle?
2 Answers
Mild hybrid electric vehicles refer to traditional fuel-powered vehicles that incorporate additional fuel or power systems to enable the use of more environmentally friendly and efficient technologies. The advantages and disadvantages of mild hybrid vehicles are as follows: Advantages of mild hybrid vehicles: At high speeds, the vehicle uses conventional fuels such as gasoline or diesel for propulsion, providing stronger power output. At low speeds, a 48V electric motor supplies energy, achieving fuel-saving effects. During vehicle acceleration, the motor assists the engine, reducing jerky movements. In terms of noise levels, mild hybrids are quieter compared to traditional fuel-powered vehicles, enhancing passenger comfort. They also effectively reduce emissions of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in exhaust gases. Disadvantages of mild hybrid vehicles: The technology is complex due to the presence of two or even multiple power systems in the vehicle, increasing both design difficulty and manufacturing costs. Repairs are expensive; if the transmission system of a mild hybrid vehicle malfunctions, diagnostics can be troublesome, and repair costs may rise. Reliability remains to be tested, as mild hybrid technology is relatively new in recent years, and its long-term reliability still requires market validation.
I've researched quite a few mild hybrid vehicles. They are an advanced version of conventional gasoline cars, equipped with a small electric motor to assist the combustion engine. Specifically, this motor is typically mounted on the engine belt and serves two purposes: providing extra thrust during vehicle startup or acceleration to ease engine operation and reduce fuel consumption; during deceleration or braking, the motor works in reverse to recover kinetic energy and store it in a small battery for reuse. This results in smooth starts without vibration and achieves about 10% fuel savings, for example reducing consumption from 8L/100km to 7.5L/100km. The cost is significantly lower than full hybrids, commonly featuring 48V systems like those in Mercedes-Benz models, offering good daily driving experience though incapable of pure electric driving. Maintenance is simple and reliable, generally requiring no special battery handling.
