The energy is converted to heat in from the friction of the brakes slowing the car down. It is released through the brake disks or brake drums.
While braking a hybrid vehical this energy is used to charge the reserve batteries for later use.
While braking a hybrid vehical this energy is used to charge the reserve batteries for later use.
The energy lost from the decrease in potential energy is typically converted into other forms of energy. In the case of braking, the majority of this energy appears as heat. This is because when the brakes are applied, friction is created between the brake pads and the rotors or drums, which converts the kinetic energy of the car into thermal energy.
In a conventional combustion engine vehicle, the heat energy produced during braking is mostly dissipated into the surrounding air. However, in a hybrid vehicle, the setup is slightly different. Hybrid vehicles have regenerative braking systems that can recover and convert some of the braking energy into electrical energy.
Here's how it typically works in a hybrid vehicle:
1. When the driver applies brakes, the system detects this and activates the regenerative braking.
2. The kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted into electrical energy by using the electric motors in reverse as generators.
3. The electrical energy generated is then stored in the vehicle's battery for later use.
4. The remaining braking energy that cannot be recovered is dissipated as heat through traditional braking systems.
By utilizing regenerative braking, hybrid vehicles can effectively recover and reuse some of the braking energy that would otherwise be wasted in conventional vehicles. This not only helps improve overall energy efficiency but also helps extend the range of the vehicle.