Hybride en Elektrische Auto EV Specialist

Autobedrijf Hong-Paul has been familiar with hybrid technology since 2005. We have the proper diagnostic computers and measuring equipment to perform diagnostics for complete repairs and maintenance on hybrid or fully electric vehicles.


The services provided by Autobedrijf Hong-Paul include:

• Hybrid software update
• Hybrid software flash
• Hybrid tuning
• Hybrid battery revision (in the future)
• Hybrid service at dealer level
• Maintenance with factory warranty retention
• Repair/replacement of electrical components
• Fault diagnostics
• Hydrogen car diagnostics up to full maintenance/repair in the future
• Hybrid specialist/doctor
• Hybrid Doctor
• Hybrid Specialist
• EV Specialist
• EV Doctor

The hybrid car market is booming in the Netherlands. Sales are increasing, and technological advancements are making hybrid cars more efficient. The use of lightweight materials and improved aerodynamics has significantly reduced fuel consumption. The success of the Toyota Prius (1997) encouraged many European car manufacturers to include hybrid cars in their production lines as part of the race to achieve the lowest CO2 emission figures. The general public is now showing increased interest, and almost every brand has an electric vehicle under development. By around 2010, many major brands had introduced their first EVs. Today, numerous electric cars are available and increasingly in use.

Challenges for consumers include the higher purchase price compared to gasoline cars, lack of charging infrastructure and regulations, unequal lobbying efforts, lack of subsidies, and limited public awareness. Electric cars also have a shorter driving range compared to fuel cars, and when their batteries are empty, they require several hours to recharge. Efforts are being made to reduce charging times, but this requires large amounts of electricity over short periods, which can potentially overload the power grid. One possible solution is the use of swappable batteries and cars equipped with built-in generators. These cars run entirely on electricity for the first few kilometers, and when the batteries run out, they are recharged by the generator. An example of this is the Opel Ampera. Another issue is passenger compartment heating. Traditional cars use waste heat from the combustion engine, requiring no extra energy. Electric motors, however, produce little heat, meaning electric vehicles need battery power for heating, which significantly drains the battery. This issue is exacerbated in cold weather, further reducing the vehicle´s already limited range.

The environmental impact of producing and decommissioning electric cars is similar to that of traditional cars. However, electric cars have heavier batteries, and battery production poses a greater potential environmental burden compared to conventional cars. Lithium-ion batteries typically lose about 20% of their range within 5 years, depending on driving behavior and manufacturer. Another concern is the increased use of rare metals like lithium, neodymium, yttrium, and lanthanum, which are available only in limited quantities worldwide.

What does hybrid mean?
A hybrid car generally refers to a vehicle that uses a combination of different technologies for propulsion. Although it could be any combination of two different engine types, it typically refers to a car powered by both a combustion engine and an electric motor with a substantial battery. The battery is charged during driving by a generator powered by the combustion engine. There are various types of hybrids.

Full hybrid cars
Full hybrid cars use both a combustion engine (petrol, diesel, or LPG) and an electric motor for propulsion. There are two main types: parallel hybrid and series hybrid. Full hybrids also charge their batteries using energy recovered from braking or stopping. Increasingly, plug-in hybrid cars are being developed, allowing the batteries to be charged via the electrical grid.

Parallel hybrid cars
Parallel hybrids are primarily driven by electricity. When the battery is low or additional power is needed, the combustion engine provides assistance. Examples include the Toyota Prius and Lexus Hybrid SUV.

Series hybrid cars
Series hybrids use a generator for propulsion. The generator is powered by the combustion engine, which provides the electricity needed for the vehicle. Examples include the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera, launched in late 2010 and early 2011.

Mild hybrid cars
Mild hybrids cannot run solely on electricity. The electric motor, situated between the combustion engine and gearbox, assists during acceleration, take-off, and high-speed driving. When the car stops, the combustion engine shuts off and restarts upon acceleration. The electric motor automatically turns off at constant speeds (e.g., Hyundai Elantra).

Micro hybrid cars
The term micro hybrid is somewhat misleading, as these cars do not have an electric motor. Instead, they are equipped with fuel-saving technologies such as start/stop systems and regenerative braking. The start/stop system turns off the engine when the car is stationary and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. Micro hybrids typically save at least 10% fuel. Examples include Volkswagen´s BlueMotion and Opel´s Ecoflex models.

Fully electric cars
Fully electric cars are powered solely by electric motors, with no combustion engine or generator. Modern electric cars have a range of up to 500 kilometers on a full battery (e.g., Tesla).

Hydrogen cars
Hydrogen is a gas that, unlike natural gas, cannot be extracted from the ground and must be produced. One method is electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. This is the reverse of the reaction in a fuel cell: 2 H2O → O2 + 2 H2. Hydrogen is not a primary energy source like fossil fuels but an energy carrier, meaning the energy used during consumption must first be stored. In practice, producing hydrogen via electrolysis requires electricity, and its sustainability depends on the source of that electricity.

The electric motor in hybrid vehicles serves multiple functions
Is hybrid technology viable? Some automakers are fully invested in it. But which system will prevail?

Hybrid systems have pros and cons. The additional components compared to conventional combustion engine vehicles make hybrids heavier and more expensive. The extra weight contradicts the main goal of hybrids: reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The additional components also require more installation space. However, by integrating components intelligently, lighter, more cost-effective, and fuel-efficient hybrids can be developed.

EVT
Traditional hybrid concepts like the Toyota Prius utilize two electric motors. Siemens VDO Automotive, TNO Automotive, and TU Delft have developed an Electric Variable Transmission (EVT) system, integrating two electric motors into one compact design. The rotors of both motors are integrated into a single component with a shared yoke, resulting in low mass and compact dimensions. The EVT is driven directly by a 1.5-liter, 57 kW four-cylinder gasoline engine. Compared to the Toyota Prius, the EVT hybrid is less technically complex, lacking a conventional automatic transmission or any intermediary transmission components. The EVT features only two rotating parts.

Hybrid functions
An EVT hybrid comes equipped with a special battery that charges while driving and supplies power as needed. EVT hybrids feature start-stop functionality, regenerative braking, the ability to drive temporarily in full-electric mode, and a boost function for short-term enhanced performance. According to EVT developers, a 1,470 kg vehicle equipped with an EVT system and the aforementioned 1.5-liter gasoline engine consumes only 4.3 liters of fuel per 100 km.

Direct hybrid
A variant of the two-motor design is Volkswagen´s direct hybrid. One rotor serves as a generator, and the other as a driving electric motor, housed within a shared casing. The generator rotor is connected to the combustion engine´s crankshaft, while the drive rotor connects directly to the axle´s differential. A shared stator slides axially between the generator and drive rotors, controlling power storage and output. For instance, if the stator is fully within the generator rotor, all energy generated by the combustion engine is stored in the battery.

High efficiency
The direct hybrid eliminates the need for components like the starter motor, clutch, transmission, alternator, and flywheel. Connected via a DC/DC converter, the stator enables hybrid functions such as boosting, regenerative braking, start-stop, and full-electric driving. The direct hybrid offers higher efficiency compared to series hybrids (which convert all engine power to electricity) and fewer components compared to parallel hybrids (which use both engine and motor for propulsion), requiring less installation space and simplifying the design.