Hybrid Motors 101

Posted: June 8th, 2010 | By: bfuller

Hybrid motors are all the rage these days with BP’s Oil Spill fiasco teaching many of us the perils of gasoline fuels.  There are many advantages to using a hybrid motor in your car, but even more when using using such a motor in your factory.

What is a Hybrid?

A hybrid motor uses two or more power sources to operate. Usually, hybrid motors feature a pairing of one (or more) electric motors and an internal combustion engine. In the electric motor, magnetic fields and electrical conductors use electricity to create mechanical energy. The electricity stored in the batteries is used to turn the motor or motors. The mechanical energy is then used to power the equipment or vehicle.

The internal combustion engine makes up the other part of the motor. This engine uses a traditional lead acid battery and an induction coil to create an electrical spark. The spark ignites the fuel and air combined in the combustion chamber, usually within the cylinder heads. This action creates energy, which is the purpose of an engine.

The History of Hybrid Motors

The hybrid motor that combines fuel and electricity dates back to 1900 when it was created by Ferdinand Porsche. High fuel prices and the desire for “greener” engines have propelled hybrid motor advances in the last ten years. As battery storage is currently being researched and improved, hybrid motors will continue to improve in performance.

Lower Fuels = Lower Costs

Hybrid motors save on fuel and have fewer emissions than regular internal combustion engines, thus, also saving our environment. A smaller internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle accounts for part of this gain in efficiency. Batteries in the electric motor can reuse energy that is usually released as heat, also offering energy savings.

Not Your Grandpa’s Motor

Hybrid motors are not just used in cars; they can be used to operate conveyor systems, lifts, agricultural machinery, and much more. Related parts in hybrid motor systems are small and lightweight, thus improving efficiency.

Engineered systems that use hybrid motors have a greater flexibility in design that is not possible with mechanical-only systems.  As a result, maintenance costs are reduced and even noise emissions are lower with this type of motor systems.

Hybrid motors offer improved efficiency and savings for engineered and automated systems. Whether the hybrid motor is used in your vehicle or industrial equipment, you’ll reap the rewards.

Filed under: Hybrid Motors | Tags: combustion engine, conveyor systems, electric motors, Ferdinand Porsche, fuel, gasoline, Hybrid Motors, internal combustion, machinery | 6 Comments »