Automotive hybrid technology became successful in the 1990s when the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius became available. These vehicles have a direct linkage from the internal combustion engine to the driven wheels, so the engine can provide acceleration power. The 2000s saw development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which can be recharged from the electrical power grid and don't require conventional fuel for short trips. The Renault Kangoo was the first production model of this design, released in France in 2003
A gas-electric hybrid engine is a combination of a gasoline/petrol or diesel internal combustion engine with an electric motor to power a vehicle. Various designs exist for how the motor and engine interact with the drive train. Because the engine recharges the battery smaller batteries are required than in an electric vehicle.
A standard combustion engine is required to operate over a range of speed and power, yet its highest efficiency is in a narrow range of operation. Also, an engine designed for a reduced operating range can be more efficient than a standard engine. The battery storage and electric motor allows the engine to operate at its point of maximum efficiency, to be of a higher efficiency design, and to be smaller than non-hybrid applications.
The gas-electric hybrid uses less gasoline than conventional internal combustion engines and does not have the limitations in range that have been a problem for traditional electric vehicles. This type of piston engine is used in hybrid electric vehicles which have begun to enter the market as of 2002.
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