Simple graphic to show difference between pure EV car and plug-in hybrid?

[howardbc]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to tear my hair out trying to explain to someone the difference between a pure EV car (like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla) and a plug-in hybrid like the Fusion Energi. Their minds stop as soon as I say "plug-in" and I can't make them understand that yes, I could drive hundreds of miles and don't have to constantly stop to recharge the battery (although we would love to.) 

 

So I went looking for a simple graphic that would easily explain the difference. Maybe if the person sees the difference in a simple drawing, they would understand. Has anyone found such a graphic? I'm talking pictures/drawings with very few words.

 

Years ago, before I bought my previous car (a Toyota Prius), I read a book about how a plug-in hybrid was the way to go. I remember it had great graphics that showed the difference between the car types. I would love to find something like that. But even if I could find the book, I don't want to carry it around. I'm hoping to find something short, not more than a page, that explains the car types. I think it's a case of a picture being better than a thousand words. 

 

If anyone can suggest a website that would really show the differences in very simple terms/graphics, that would be wonderful. I would keep copies on me and hand them out. Thank you. 

 

 

[Energized]

I usually just try to explain that the car is sort of 1/2 hybrid and 1/2 EV and you have a button to select which mode you want to be in.

 

Or, if they still look confused, I simply explain that it's an EV until the battery runs down, then it's a normal hybrid until you plug in again.

 

For the really advanced people I explain how I use the EV mode in conditions where an EV is most efficient and how I use the ICE in conditions where the engine is most efficient.

[murphy]

Take a picture of the center console display that shows the power flow.

[Russael]

It's amazing the number of people who have asked me, "So, this is a pure electric car?"  I mean, EVERYBODY has asked me that.  Then I say, "It's a plug-in hybrid, just like the Chevy Volt.  It's just Ford's version." (since the Volt has been around for a little while).  For some, that works, for others, needs a further explanation.  Then I tell them that it's an electric vehicle for the first 21 miles, and then the gas motor takes over, and it works just like a hybrid.  I find it fun to explain the benefits of the car, why I absolutely LOVE the car, and how little money I'm now spending vs the gasoline counterpart I replaced.  I love telling people that I've gone from 2 dollars per 'round trip to work to 25 cents.  And then the most challenging hurdle that turns off a lot of people, showing them the battery in the trunk.  I like to mess with them a little and pull an Robert De Niro (from the movie Analyze That) and say you can fit at least 1 body back there, or 2 carry-on's with duffel bag, or a good amount of groceries.  When people consider how often they use the trunk and then realize that most of the time, a lot of people don't fill all 16 cubic feet of space... then they start coming around and going, "Yeah, I COULD make this work..." and then I sell them on the fact that you can fold the back seats down for extra flat space.

 

But as far as the original topic goes, I'd go with what Murphy says.  The power flow graphic is a good way to show all the components and how they work together.

[howardbc]

Great replies all, but so far the best graphic that I've found is the following:

 

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric.html

 

It uses just a gas pump and an electrical outlet. Can anyone find a better one? It's got to be very simple for people who are "blank slates."

 

I like the idea of the Fusion Energi's car status outline display, but I think some people still wouldn't get it. I wish I could find something on a business-size card so I could hand them out. Hmmm ... maybe organizations like the EAA (Electric Auto Assn) might have something ...

 

Thanks for the feedback. Keep those ideas coming!

 

 

[murphy]

This is about as basic as it gets.

 

http://www.ieahev.org/about-the-technologies/plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles/

[howardbc]

Great website, murphy! Good if it's someone you know well enough to send them an email. Love the way mousing over the components provides more info. 

[TX NRG]

?..trying to explain to someone the difference between a pure EV car (like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla) and a plug-in hybrid like the Fusion Energi...

 

Keep it simple. The Energi has a range of about 600 miles. The first 20-25 miles it runs on pure electric like a Leaf or Tesla; the remainder it runs like a Prius hybrid on gas + electric.

[shaggy314]

Next step, try to explain regenrative braking vs. coasting regenration... :-D

 

I tried the shaking flashlight to charge and then think of the opposite of an electromagnet... then bake their noodle with the fact electrical current has force.

[rcolline]

After 20+ miles of driving, my 3 year old asks if the battery is empty and when I tell him it is, he asks how the car is still going.   "Its now using gas".   He replies "But the battery is still empty".    Then 20 seconds later he notices the hybrid battery symbol and he asks "Woah, the battery is half full!  how did the battery get half full?".   And now I am completely at a loss on how to explain to my 3 year old the difference between the hybrid battery and the electric-only battery.   "Driving charges the hybrid battery, but we are using gas"   -  he looks at me like I am talking nonsense.  

 

The display to the left of the spedometer does not help this explanation.  Both are pictures of batteries with a blue bar inside :)

 

The whole interaction with him makes me smile.

[howardbc]

Hi, shaggy314. Actually, now that you mention it, which is more productive - coasting regenerative power or braking regenerative power? (Please know that I am NOT an engineer.) I would think the braking regenerative power imparts more to the battery than just coasting because braking involves heat. Am I right? 

 

I love learning more every day about how this car works. At first I didn't understand how much the regen power adds to the battery but it has to be quite substantial. I love the braking coach. I regularly get scores of 98-100. Most of my driving is in city situations so it is hard to brake gently when some schmoe jumps in front of you.

 

It is just one large battery, right? How much of it is devoted to moving the car in EV mode (after a full charge) versus how much is devoted to moving the car in hybrid mode? But again the regen power goes into the EV portion of the battery, right? Sometimes the car outline status display shows "Electric Drive/Mode" when I know I'm in hybrid mode, so the regen power must at least partially show up as a bonus to some portion of the battery after its initial depletion. 

 

rcolline, that 3-year old of yours is one smart cookie!

 

[Energized]

Here is an article on the regen system. It can capture up to 95% of kinetic energy as opposed to 30% to 50% for some other manufacturers. A 100% regen score means 100% of maximum (95%).

 

http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/ford-regenerative-brakes-rack-big-energy-savings

[jsamp]

It's a slightly different approach, but here's one for you:

[howardbc]

Thanks, jsamp. Great graphic.

 

I've also thought of just showing a photo/drawing of the left side of my car to show people that it has two fuel doors - one for gasoline and one for charging electrically. I don't want to try to "sell" them on an alt-fuel car - just to explain how mine works. 

[TX NRG]

It is just one large battery, right? How much of it is devoted to moving the car in EV mode (after a full charge) versus how much is devoted to moving the car in hybrid mode? But again the regen power goes into the EV portion of the battery, right?

The single large battery allocates 6.5 kWh for EV range and allows a residual of 1.1 kWh for Hybrid EV operation. The regen power goes into the battery regardless of whether it is in EV mode or HEV mode.

[Dag]

Reviving an old thread - but I've resorted to calling the car a tri-brid.

 

The go into the EV for 21 miles then it turns into a hybrid.

 

As a new Energi owner, I seem to be answering this question daily. It's fun.

[Russael]

I've also explained it as a 'super hybrid' with a battery you can recharge from your wall outlet.  That also seems to get people to understand.  The number of questions I've gotten from co-workers has died off and I haven't been asked about the car out in public at all.  But it's fine.  Whenever I hear an ICE start up somewhere, I grin as I roll away on a domestic product. :)

[shaggy314]

Hi, shaggy314. Actually, now that you mention it, which is more productive - coasting regenerative power or braking regenerative power? (Please know that I am NOT an engineer.) I would think the braking regenerative power imparts more to the battery than just coasting because braking involves heat. Am I right? 

 

I love learning more every day about how this car works. At first I didn't understand how much the regen power adds to the battery but it has to be quite substantial. I love the braking coach. I regularly get scores of 98-100. Most of my driving is in city situations so it is hard to brake gently when some schmoe jumps in front of you.

 

It is just one large battery, right? How much of it is devoted to moving the car in EV mode (after a full charge) versus how much is devoted to moving the car in hybrid mode? But again the regen power goes into the EV portion of the battery, right? Sometimes the car outline status display shows "Electric Drive/Mode" when I know I'm in hybrid mode, so the regen power must at least partially show up as a bonus to some portion of the battery after its initial depletion.

I would guess the braking is more efficient as it is setup for just that including variable rate of charging (harder you press, the more recharging drag induced). You want to avoid heat as that is wasted energy. The coasting regen is you spinning the motor 'backwards' to charge the battery, for bonus while bracking only, shift to 'low' gear to get more regen from coasting. It's dangerous to do that while not braking as you are slowing a lot, but without brake lights on...

 

It is a large battery pack, but consisting of many cells, Tesla goes it one better by having banks of cells in isolation (see Tesla fire), but I do not think Ford goes that far with 16 firewalled banks of cells.

 

When you are in hybrid, it is either charging the battery from the ICE, charging while braking or coasting, or yes, there is enough built up charge it can switch to battery only (it's how we get 43 MPG with all that weight). If you look at the 2.0 L EcoBoost Fusion, the mileage is much worse, but by using electric mode and electric boost, we get double the mileage.

 

In what Ford calls depletion mode, the Energi are pretending to be 'just a hybrid', such that the charge won't ever get better than 10% (I think), but won't drain completely either. It's buried on their web site, or the manual, or even here what the exact % is.

 

If you every want to learn more about your car in some really cool videos, goto youtube and search "fordowner fusion". Lots to see.