8. Rechargeable electric hybrids

8.1 Principle

For hybrid combustion-electric vehicles currently on the market, the battery that supplies the electric motor with electricity is recharged by the combustion engine when running, or by harnessing the vehicle's kinetic energy (Start & Go technology). To achieve a higher level of electricity utilization, an additional option is to be able to recharge the battery by connecting it to the domestic electricity grid or to specially designed public charging stations.

This concept only makes sense if the size (in terms of energy) of the battery is sufficient to cover at least 20 km, which corresponds to the minimum daily commute.

Figure 37...