Source: Manufacturing Industry Finishing Author: Zhu Hao
Cover/Figureworm Creative Editor: Xiu'er
According to Reuters, a spokesman for the German automaker Volkswagen Group recently said that more than 100,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles will be recalled worldwide due to the risk of fire. The reporter learned from Volkswagen China yesterday (April 2) that the recall does not involve the Chinese market.
The 100,000 vehicles recalled this time include not only Volkswagen brand models, but also Skoda, Audi and other models.
Among them, the Volkswagen brand will recall 42,300 vehicles worldwide, and Audi will recall 24,400 vehicles. A Volkswagen spokesperson explained that there are hidden dangers in the high-voltage battery insulation inside the recalled plug-in hybrid vehicles, and these vehicles are at risk of catching fire when charging. German auto regulator KBA revealed that the loosening of the recalled car hood may cause the engine to come into contact with the heated parts, which can cause a fire. The agency has received 16 reports of fires in Volkswagen's vehicles in Germany.
Previously, Volkswagen recalled more than 246,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada due to problems with the wiring harness that could cause cars to brake suddenly without warning. A number of car owners complained that during the driving process, the warning lights would suddenly light up, or the alarm sounded, the driver's seat window would roll down, and the vehicle suddenly braked, almost causing a rear-end accident.
1/ What hybrid car?
To put it more simply, a car has two or more power sources, which is a hybrid. The current compound power vehicle generally refers to the internal combustion locomotive generator, plus the battery of the car.
Hybrid vehicles are actually a generalization, in essence, hybrid vehicles can be divided into three categories, namely plug-in hybrids, oil-electric hybrids and extender hybrids.
After the use of composite power, the maximum power of the internal combustion engine can be determined according to the average power required, and it is working under the optimal working conditions of low fuel consumption and low pollution. When the power of the high-power internal combustion engine is insufficient, it is supplemented by the battery; when the load is small, the surplus power can generate electricity to charge the battery, because the internal combustion engine can work continuously, the battery can be continuously charged, so its stroke is the same as that of ordinary cars. Thanks to the battery, it is very convenient to recover energy during braking, downhill, and idling. In bustling urban areas, the internal combustion engine can be shut down and driven by batteries alone to achieve "zero" emissions.
Japan is currently one of the countries with the fastest development of electric vehicle technology, especially in the development of hybrid vehicles, Japan is the world leader. In December 1997, Toyota Motor Corporation first launched the world's first mass-produced hybrid sedan PRIUS on the Japanese market. By 2012, all of its models will be equipped with hybrid engines. Toyota Motor Corporation is already at the forefront of achieving low energy consumption, low emissions and improved driving performance of hybrid systems.
2/ Three types of hybrid vehicles
There are three types of hybrid vehicles on the market today: plug-in hybrid vehicles, gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, and extended-range hybrid vehicles. Each of the three types of hybrids has its own advantages and disadvantages. The 100,000 hybrid vehicles that German automaker Volkswagen Group will recall this time should be plug-in.
(1) The battery of the plug-in hybrid vehicle is relatively large, can be charged externally, can be driven in pure electric mode, and then driven in hybrid mode (mainly internal combustion engine) after the battery is exhausted, and charged to the battery in a timely manner. The main reason is that you can get a green card, and there are subsidies. The disadvantages are battery life, lack of charging conditions, etc.
(2) Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles are a relatively mature type of hybrid vehicles. The biggest feature of the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle is fuel saving, because when starting and accelerating, due to the assistance of the electric motor, the fuel consumption can be reduced. Due to the small battery capacity of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, it is not possible to travel longer distances in pure electric mode. There is also a higher price of the product, the price of the oil-electric hybrid model is at least tens of thousands of dollars more expensive than that of ordinary fuel models, and it cannot be on the green card.
(3) Extended range hybrid vehicles
The principle of extended-range hybrid is to use an engine to generate electricity, and an electric motor to drive a vehicle. When the battery pack is fully charged, it is driven in pure electric mode, and when the power is insufficient, the engine in the car starts, driving the generator to charge the power battery and providing power for the operation of the motor (that is, the range extended mode).
Compared with pure electric vehicles, the advantage of extended-range hybrid vehicles is that the mileage is longer, and the low-rotation and high-torque characteristics of the motor also make the starting and acceleration performance of the vehicle better, and the comprehensive 100-kilometer fuel consumption is also lower than that of ordinary gasoline engines, and can also enjoy subsidies.
The disadvantage is that because the engine cannot be used directly to drive the car, the heat energy generated by the combustion of the gasoline engine must be converted into electrical energy, and the electricity is used to drive the car, and the energy conversion process will absolutely cause energy loss, compared to other types of hybrid vehicles, the energy conversion efficiency of the extender hybrid is low, so it is difficult to avoid a day charge.
The 100,000 hybrid vehicles that German automaker Volkswagen Group will recall this time should be plug-in.
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