Electric’s Lounge | AC/DC
For all science fiction fanatics, accepting the fact that in 2020 cars do not fly ten meters above our heads by squirming through thin glass buildings has to be a low blow. But in the real world everything is always more complicated and there are already so many accidents traveling on one level, let alone if we had to worry about those having to give us way coming from below. Another aspect that seems to be relegated to a distant future and has instead become an increasingly solid reality, revolves around alternative propulsion, moreover petrol is getting more expensive and will not last forever. I’m talking about electric cars, but also hybrid vehicles, which have almost definitively replaced that LPG engines that seems ready to throw the towel, now that practically all manufacturers have embarked on their own path in the electric/petrol venture.
Chatting at the bar, surfing on various forums – those few that still exist and who have not yet turned into Facebook groups – and peeking through a few emails in our mailbox, I could see that there is really a lot of confusion on the subject. This time it’s not just about those random drivers that see a car like an enormous appliance, it’s about real enthusiasts who still believe in the false myth that all hybrids are boring and to be avoided like the black plague. Strange that it was not yet understood a few years ago, when the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder made it clear that hybrid should not only be seen as a way to transform a performance car in the last found to cope with the city traffic block. The addition of one or more electric motors is in fact the key for even better performance, with an instant acceleration offered by the work of the battery pack which acts as a real On/Off switch. But which hybrid to choose, especially now that every brand have one in their list? And when should one turn to all- electric cars? The latter is probably the simplest answer to give, since it is enough to make a quick calculation of how many kilometers you have to face on a daily basis. Of course, not everyone can rely on Tesla’s fast charging network, with its so-called superchargers, but it must be said that the presence of universal recharging columns is finally increasing, so you could have an unexpected pit-stop before returning home. Do not worry, you don’t have to be a math teacher or live with the constant fear of being stuck for having traveled too long with air conditioning and radio turned on.
EVs are exclusively driven by one or more electric motors and must necessarily be charged from external energy sources. We might start with the little Renault Twizy, ideal to wriggle through traffic and with an EPA of about 250 km, passing through the efficient Tesla, which currently offers three different models, different for bodywork and dimensions, but all united by a very high technological content and enriched by exclusive services courtesy of Mr. Elon Musk. In this case we start from the Model 3 (about 530 km), passing through the Model S sedan (600 km ca.) up to the Model X SUV (about 500 km), available with various engines and with nothing short of amazing performance. Just to add another name in what would be an extremely large list of options, there is the brand new Porsche Taycan, an all-electric sports sedan that maintains the nomenclature of the traditional petrol models of the brand, offering up to 761 hp with the Turbo S and with an estimated mileage set at around 420/450 km.
To represent a more conservative choice than the EVs, we have an even denser array of hybrids, which are commonly divided into Mild Hybrid, Full Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid. Forget improvised experts or random salesman talks, it’s easy to get confused and then finding yourself with the wrong car, plus you have to take into account that a hybrid car costs more during production and therefore it will logically cost more than a standard diesel or petrol version of the same car once arrived at the dealerships. But choosing the right one can really save you a bunch of money. Before quickly passing through the differences between the three categories mentioned a few lines above, let us try to shed light on whether a hybrid car only serves to save a few coins at the petrol pump, or not. The reality is that this is a technology still under development, so improvements are substantial and come year after year, here’s another good reason not to neglect this type of propulsion. Hybrids do not only mean that you can access limited traffic areas, or that you have the possibility of taking advantage of tax cuts, but in addition to polluting less, they tend to work alongside smaller engines, precisely because they are going to divide the task of moving the car and therefore the supply of the necessary power.
On supercars and hypercars we obviously have electric motors that have the task of raising the performance side of the car, maybe going to supply energy on every single wheel and offering lightning acceleration, with the minimum pressure of the throttle. In these cases, the energy consumed is then regenerated during braking, but this is an aspect that is not just limited to the cars of our dreams. Let’s get back to us and find out what those three names that I mentioned earlier mean. Plug-In Hybrid: probably the ideal type at the moment and that as the name suggests, with a hybrid of this type you have the possibility to recharge the battery pack by connecting the car to an electrical outlet, just like a smartphone. The electric motor works independently and in sync with the thermal motor in order to reduce emissions and improve performance. Full Hybrid: a type of engine that lets the vehicle to operate in electric mode only (for a limited distance depending on the charge and the size of the batteries), only with the combustion engine, or using their combined power. In this case, the electrical unit is exclusively recharged by kinetic energy, which means during braking or downhill bits of road, where it is substantially left at rest. Finally, Mild Hybrid, which is the least expensive option and which provides a smaller electric motor that solely acts as a support for the thermal one. This last case does not provide the possibility to drive in electric mode only, except for very small bits or just for turning the engine on. If electric cars are still focused on the future, hybrid technology is a consolidated reality now and maybe, having done a bit of clarity, you’ll stop looking at your neighbor’s alternative car that strange way.
Words by Carlo Brema / Photo by Jay Tomei