Take a Look under the Bonnet of the SUPERB iV

Take a Look under the Bonnet of the SUPERB <span>i</span>V

ŠKODA has unveiled a revised version of its flagship, the SUPERB, at the 2019 IIHF Ice-Hockey World Championship. This model will now be also offered in the form of the SUPERB iV with a plug-in hybrid drive. Let’s explore this technology up close.

23. 5. 2019 Models Superb

What’s the simplest way of describing how the plug-in hybrid drive works in the new SUPERB iV?

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a large rechargeable battery. Unlike normal hybrids, plug-in hybrids can be charged from an ordinary socket, so they offer a relatively long range on electricity alone. The ŠKODA SUPERB iV features a 1.4 TSI turbocharged internal combustion engine connected, via a clutch, to a synchronous electric motor.

How does the system control which engine powers the vehicle at any given moment? Does the driver know which engine is in use?

When it comes to propulsion, the ŠKODA SUPERB iV offers two basic driving modes for the driver to choose between: electric mode and hybrid mode. In electric mode, only the electric motor is operable, while the internal combustion engine remains off. In hybrid mode, the motor control unit itself assesses many different factors and chooses whether to enable one, the other or both engines in order to accommodate the driver’s driving requirements while minimising consumption. Engine activity is displayed on the instrument panel.

The internal combustion engine is mounted in the front. So where is the electric motor?

The electric motor is also at the front, between the transmission and the internal combustion engine. From an engineering point of view, it is built directly into the gearbox and is separated from the internal combustion engine by a clutch. With this connection, the vehicle can rely on a fully electric ride with the internal combustion engine off or, alternatively, there may be an interplay between the engines in hybrid mode.

The orange under the rear seats shows a 13 kWh traction battery. The orange cables running forwards from this battery are high voltage and are connected to the power electronics in the engine compartment. All of this part comprises electric-drive technology.
The red shows the fuel tank for conventional fuel (in this case petrol), which is mounted above the rear axle.
The black under the bonnet at the front shows a classic 1.4-litre 115 kW internal combustion petrol engine, which is connected to the electric motor.

The SUPERB iV will also harness regenerative braking. What is the simplest way of describing this principle?

When a conventional vehicle is braked, the kinetic energy generated by the brake pads is converted into heat and dissipates. In hybrid vehicles, the kinetic energy produced when braking is converted into electricity (the electric motor works as a generator) and is stored in the battery as chemical energy. The energy stored in this way can subsequently be reused for acceleration or for driving at a constant speed.