# Series Hybrid **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013 "2011-07-06T22:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![technoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@technoboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/technoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/1 "2011-07-06T22:43:26Z")
I want to know how does a series hybrid work…?? I mean what happens after the motor gets power from generator does it goes to a drive shaft which drives a differential and axle and then wheels or is there some other mechanism…?? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/2 "2011-07-07T01:12:20Z")
A series hybrid has a gas (or diesel) engine powering a generator that both charges the battery and runs the electric motor(s) which drive the wheels. The electric motors are also powered by the battery. A parallel hybrid has the wheels powered by both the electric and the gas motor. More info here: > **[Hybrid vehicle drivetrain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain)** > > Hybrid vehicle drivetrains transmit power to the driving wheels for hybrid vehicles. A hybrid vehicle has multiple forms of motive power. Hybrids come in many configurations. For example, a hybrid may receive its energy by burning petroleum, but switch between an electric motor and a combustion engine. Electrical vehicles have a long history combining internal combustion and electrical transmission –as in a diesel-electric powertrain–, although they have mostly been used for rail locomotives. A d... ---
**Author:** ![technoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@technoboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/technoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/3 "2011-07-07T01:35:19Z")
This part i know what i want to know is the motor powers the wheel througha differential and axle or there is a separate motor at each wheel.?? and can it be a 4 wheel drive…?? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/4 "2011-07-07T01:43:48Z")
That part is optional, it could be done any of those ways (2 or 4 wheel drive, single or multiple motors). The one I know of (Chevy Volt) has a single motor with a differential. But it’s not a true series, because the gas engine can run the wheels if the battery is dead, I think. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/5 "2011-07-07T01:49:45Z")
There have been some 4wd designs that had the motor/trans drive one set of wheels and an electric motor drive the other set, but I don’t know of any that have come to market yet. I don’t know of any 4wd hybrids yet. Chrysler had a design for the Durango that was going to have regular RWD and either one or two electric motors to run the front wheels. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/6 "2011-07-07T02:03:02Z")
The Highlander Hybrid has 4wd available. I just checked the Toyota web site, the 4wd is achieved with an added electric motor powering the rear wheels. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/7 "2011-07-07T02:08:46Z")
I wasn’t aware of the Highlander. ---
**Author:** ![technoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@technoboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/technoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/8 "2011-07-07T02:10:13Z")
I have been searching the internet like hell but i didn’t find anything on that post motor system…!! Can someone tell me the exact mechanism post traction motors to the wheels… just naming the parts in order will also do…!! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/9 "2011-07-07T02:12:14Z")
I’m sorry, what do you mean by ‘post motor system’? ---
**Author:** ![technoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@technoboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/technoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/10 "2011-07-07T02:14:39Z")
I meant the mechanism after traction motors upto the wheels…!! like for ex. motors drives a drive shaft or differential which in turn drives axle etc etc…!! Hope u get it…!! ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/11 "2011-07-07T03:56:53Z")
As of right now, a well designed parallel hybrid seems to be more efficient then a series hybrid. When the car companies put a battery in that is capable of near 100 miles before the motor kicks in, then series will have the advantage. Now, with mileage similar to a Corolla when the Volt gas motor starts, GM is not serious in producing an EV. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/12 "2011-07-07T04:11:09Z")
After the traction motors it’s pretty much the same as non-hybrids: differential, axles, and CV joinnts. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 10:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/13 "2011-07-07T10:55:31Z")
It’s very likely that future EV’s will have differentials, axles, and CV joints just like gas powered cars. Putting the traction motors in the wheel hubs, while possible, will result in too much un-sprung weight resulting in poor handling. You can also use a pair of DC motors wired in series as a differential. The current through both motors must always be the same so the torque of both motors is always the same. If you jack one wheel off the ground, that motor speeds up and its amp draw goes almost to zero resulting in almost zero amps going through the other motor and hence, almost zero torque being delivered to the wheel not jacked up off the ground. The voltage will all be across the freewheeling motor instead of being shared equally by both motors so it will run at 2X speed. In other words, they behave just like a differential. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/series-hybrid/66013/14 "2011-07-08T23:15:50Z")
I do not see series hybrids as big gas savers at this point. Where I do see is their advantages is in longevity, safety and ease of use. Imagine, no transmission, braking done w/o brake pad friction, complete computer monitoring of not only braking but acceleration with 4 traction motors and the near generational motor longevity. The flexibility of any fuel source from gas, gasoline, hydrogen, diesel, etc. even a cheap Briggs and Stratton off an old garden tractor…a typical limited rpm generator motor. Look at the freedom of having any handyman do the ICE maintenance and any computer armed electrician do the rest. Throw in a decent battery storage that can sponge free energy from solar, wind, geothermal thermal, tidal or other sources and we can be totally independent and free travel creatures. Is series the ultimate way to go ? Of course. Just ask the military with their nuclear power subs and surface vessels and the transportation industry’s diesel electric locomotives.