A drivetrain is the collection of components that deliver power from a vehicle’s engine or motor to the vehicle’s wheels. In hybrid-electric cars, the drivetrain’s design determines how the electric motor works in conjunction with the conventional engine. The drivetrain affects the vehicle’s mechanical efficiency, fuel consumption, and purchasing price.
Hybrids that use a series drivetrain only receive mechanical power from the electric motor, which is run by either a battery or a gasoline-powered generator. In hybrids with parallel drivetrains, the electric motor and internal combustion engine can provide mechanical power simultaneously. Series/parallel drivetrains enable the engine and electric motor to provide power independently or in conjunction with one another.
