To summarize this article
- The hybrid car requires a dedicated high-capacity battery for driving.
- Then why is it equipped with the same 12-volt lead-acid battery as internal combustion locomotives?
- Explain why two types of batteries are used
Current hybrid cars (hereafter referred to as HVs use an internal combustion engine as the main power source and an electric motor as auxiliary power, or use an electric motor as the main power source and use the internal combustion engine as an auxiliary power source or for power generation to charge the power battery. There are two types used. However, in either case, a large amount of power is required to drive the electric motor, and a large-capacity battery dedicated to driving is installed
So why do HVs use the same 12-volt lead-acid batteries as internal combustion engines, even though they have large-capacity batteries? The reason for this is that power batteries have a high voltage and are designed exclusively for motor drives, while automobiles are equipped with conventional electrical equipment such as lights, navigation systems, and car audio. This is because it requires a power supply. In addition, the most important application is the control power supply to control the HV system, and the 12-volt battery plays this role.
This 12-volt battery is also called an auxiliary battery. Even if the driving battery is fully charged, if the auxiliary battery does not function (such as when the battery is dead), the HV system cannot be controlled and the HV vehicle is paralyzed.
Well, let's think about these troubles for HVs with two types of batteries. First of all, the auxiliary battery is a 12-volt lead-acid battery, the same as the conventional model. And this battery, like a normal internal combustion engine car, is a mechanism that charges the amount of electricity used while driving, but if it stops functioning (including battery dead), it will not be possible to start and control the HV system. As a result, the car becomes unable to run.
The auxiliary batteries must be used exclusively for HV
As with internal combustion locomotives, there are ways to deal with dead batteries. These include charging the battery with a battery charger or using a booster cable to get help from another vehicle. However, the battery is ruined. If you do, you need to be careful.
This is because, although it is easy to understand by checking the mounting position of the auxiliary battery, in most cases it is mounted in a poorly ventilated position. For example, it is mounted in the trunk room or under the rear seat, or in a closed state. However, lead-acid batteries generate hydrogen gas during charging, so HV batteries are equipped with special hoses (tubes) that release hydrogen gas into the atmosphere. Ordinary batteries for internal combustion engines do not have this mechanism. Therefore, it is extremely dangerous to use ordinary batteries in HV vehicles, even though they have the same capacity, size, and other standards. For HV batteries, a special battery with a hydrogen gas release mechanism must be used.
So, what happens when the vehicle battery deteriorates? In many cases, the manufacturer's warranty is 5 years or 100,000 km, and in a sense, it can be considered as one measure of the battery life limit. If deterioration progresses, starting acceleration and overtaking acceleration will become less effective, and you will feel a lack of power when climbing a slope. In addition, there are cases where the HV system's warning function (lighting of a warning light, etc.) is activated due to a change (decrease) in the original battery specifications.
In cases where it can be determined that fuel efficiency has definitely deteriorated, it is a symptom that indicates that the battery is deteriorating from the expected performance. In cases where acceleration and climbing performance are declining, the battery voltage has already decreased. In many cases, replacement is required. If you feel these symptoms, I would like to recommend that you consult the manufacturer's maintenance factory for the time being. Whether to replace the battery or consider purchasing a new vehicle depends on the circumstances of each user, so I can't say anything, but nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion running batteries have a limited lifespan. Because it is a fairly expensive part, it would be better to think carefully about countermeasures.
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