Hybrid Vehicle Technology - Current Status and Future Challenges - Effect of Hybrid System Factors on Vehicle Efficiency

It is the general view in Japan, Europe and North America that hybrid vehicles are a promising energy efficient and low carbon dioxide (CO2) emission vehicle for possible use in the near future. Thus, attention is focused on the development of hybrid vehicles and the verification of their potential. Hybrid vehicle technology has progressed with a great effect on vehicle efficiency, fuel economy and the reduction of CO2 emissions. The efficiency of the future hybrid vehicles under development within the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Advanced Clean Energy Vehicle Project (ACE) has reached over 45%. The efficiency of these hybrid vehicles is approaching that of advanced fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FC-HVs). Therefore, well to wheel efficiency and CO2 emission levels of these hybrid vehicles have improved by a greater margin than the advanced FC-HVs. Key technologies are high performance motor/generators, new batteries/capacitors and advanced hybrid system configurations/mechanisms with advanced electronic control systems.