Blended mode

Blended mode is a

regenerative brakes to recapture kinetic energy that should not be considered a fuel source but rather an efficiency aspect of these types of electric vehicle powertrains

not found in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

An example of plug-in hybrids that operate in blended mode while charge-depleting is the

U.S. EPA estimated its EV range for blended operation on a combination of electricity (from a fully charged battery pack) and gasoline as 11 mi (18 km) until the battery is depleted.^[1]^[2]

Blended mode uses both gasoline or diesel and electricity as sources of energy, and as such reduces the amount of liquid fuel used while displacing it with electricity. In such a mode of operation the

miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent

.

Since the electric energy stored on board is substantially less than that of a tank of gas, typically less than 1/4 gallon equivalent, the blended mode range might also be reported as the distance that the available battery capacity can sustain such a mode. Of course, driving conditions and speeds affect the mileage and range just as they do a traditional ICE vehicle's gas mileage. Hybrid vehicles have unlimited range so long as a supply of gas is available and they are able to operate as a gas only vehicle. Most blended mode hybrid vehicles also have some amount of all-electric range, and BEV's using pusher trailers or genset trailers can conversely give those vehicles unlimited range on gas as well as blended mode range.

Some early non-production

DaimlerChrysler

's to overtake others who presently dominate the hybrid market by delivering a markedly more versatile and fuel efficient Hybrid.

References

^ John Voelcker (2012-03-13). "2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Parsing The EPA Efficiency Sticker". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
^ Toyota News Release (2012-02-28). "Prius Plug-In eligibile for a $1,500 California consumer incentive plus $2,500 Federal tax credit". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 2012-04-12.

[1] John Voelcker (2012-03-13). "2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Parsing The EPA Efficiency Sticker". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 2012-04-12.

[2] Toyota News Release (2012-02-28). "Prius Plug-In eligibile for a $1,500 California consumer incentive plus $2,500 Federal tax credit". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 2012-04-12.

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