Sarjahybridijärjestelmiä

Sarjahybridijä is a Finnish term that translates to "series hybrid" in English. It describes a specific type of hybrid electric vehicle powertrain configuration. In a series hybrid system, the internal combustion engine does not directly drive the wheels. Instead, its primary function is to act as a generator, producing electricity to charge a battery pack or to directly power an electric motor that propels the vehicle.

This setup means that the gasoline or diesel engine can operate at its most efficient speed and load, regardless of the vehicle's actual speed or acceleration demands. This can lead to improved fuel economy and reduced emissions, especially in urban driving conditions where frequent starting and stopping occurs. The electric motor, on the other hand, provides all the motive force to the wheels. This allows for quiet and smooth acceleration, and the vehicle can operate purely on electric power for a certain range, depending on battery capacity.

A key characteristic of a series hybrid is that there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels. The engine is essentially an onboard power generator. This contrasts with parallel hybrid systems, where the engine can both drive the wheels and charge the battery, and series-parallel hybrids, which combine both operating modes. Examples of vehicles that have employed series hybrid technology include certain models of electric buses and some range-extended electric vehicles (REVs).