National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Hybrid Electric & Fuel Cell Vehicles

Technology Basics

Petroleum fuels have many advantages for automobiles. Their energy-dense, liquid composition works well with internal combustion engine (ICE) and diesel technologies, which have driven most cars and trucks for more than a century. Vehicles propelled by electric motors also bring some clear benefits, however. They have low emissions, cost substantially less to operate, and lessen our dependence on petroleum.

NREL Transportation Technologies researchers are helping develop three major technologies for incorporating the advantages of electric motor drive. Hybrid-electric vehicles improve performance and efficiency by using both internal combustion or diesel engines and electric motors. Plug-in-hybrids use larger battery packs and external charging capability to make it possible to reap the benefits of electric vehicles while overcoming their drawback of limited range. Fuel-cell vehicles generate their own electricity using hydrogen or other fuel convertible to hydrogen.