How does a hybrid electric vehicle work?

A hybrid has a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor with a small battery. The engine and regenerative braking charge the battery, and the motor helps at low speeds.

How does a plug-in hybrid differ from a standard hybrid?

A plug-in hybrid has a larger battery that can be charged from the mains. The car can make short journeys on electricity alone and uses its engine for longer trips.

What is regenerative braking?

Regenerative braking uses the motor as a generator to slow the vehicle. Kinetic energy that would be lost as heat in the brakes is stored in the battery.

What physical infrastructure do battery electric vehicles need?

Battery electric vehicles need home, workplace and street chargers, with rapid chargers along main routes. The electricity grid may also need reinforcing to meet the extra demand.

How does a rapid charger differ from a typical home charger?

A rapid charger supplies direct current at 50 kW or more and can add a large amount of range within an hour. A home charger supplies alternating current at about 7 kW and suits overnight charging.

CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930

Fossil Fuels

Topic overview Coal, oil and gas in modern society Reserves, lifespan and accessibility Fossil fuel combustion and the IPCC evidence Carbon trading schemes Fossil fuel demand, emerging economies and fuel security Environmental impacts of fossil fuel use

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

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Macrogeneration

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Microgeneration

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Sustainable Development

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Waste Management

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Waste to Energy Technologies

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Land Contamination and Remediation

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Hydrogen Fuel Cells

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Transport System Challenges

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Energy Performance of Buildings

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Emerging Technologies

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Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

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The Code for Sustainable Homes

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Transport System Challenges

New vehicle technologies and their infrastructure

3 things to know
A2 1

Overview

Battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, regenerative braking, charging infrastructure and rapid chargers, charging time and emissions calculations, hydrogen vehicles and refuelling, biofuelled vehicles and E10.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

How do a battery electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle each work?

Key term

How are hydrogen vehicles powered, and what infrastructure do they depend on?

Key term

What is a battery electric vehicle?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is a battery electric vehicle?
Model answer
A battery electric vehicle is driven only by electric motors powered by a rechargeable battery. The battery is charged from the mains, and the vehicle has no exhaust.
2
How does a hybrid electric vehicle work?
Model answer
A hybrid has a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor with a small battery. The engine and regenerative braking charge the battery, and the motor helps at low speeds.
3
How does a plug-in hybrid differ from a standard hybrid?
Model answer
A plug-in hybrid has a larger battery that can be charged from the mains. The car can make short journeys on electricity alone and uses its engine for longer trips.
4
What is regenerative braking?
Model answer
Regenerative braking uses the motor as a generator to slow the vehicle. Kinetic energy that would be lost as heat in the brakes is stored in the battery.
5
What physical infrastructure do battery electric vehicles need?
Model answer
Battery electric vehicles need home, workplace and street chargers, with rapid chargers along main routes. The electricity grid may also need reinforcing to meet the extra demand.
6
How does a rapid charger differ from a typical home charger?
Model answer
A rapid charger supplies direct current at 50 kW or more and can add a large amount of range within an hour. A home charger supplies alternating current at about 7 kW and suits overnight charging.

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Fossil Fuels

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Macrogeneration

Microgeneration

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