Volvo Mild Hybrid System Explained - Does it improve fuel economy?

[@kenswims]

That was an incredibly thorough and easily understandable explanation of the Mild Hybrid System. You have no idea how much I appreciate that. Thanks for recognizing the need for a video like this.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks for the kind feedback Kenneth. I'm glad you found it helpful. If others are also in need of the same explanation, please feel free to share!

[@agesmith1454]

Great explanation of the system. I wish you had made this 7 months ago when I was looking for one 😂 . I bought my S60 B5 in April, I love it. I manage to average 37 mpg on a mixture of roads in my area of England. On a 200 mile motorway journey recently I averaged 49mpg. During the current fuel drama and the disparity between the cost of diesel compared to petrol - 20 pence per litre - I’m more than happy. Its a very smooth quiet powerful engine that can be driven in all manner of ways to suit all moods. It never fails to make me smile when I press the starter and the engine just comes on! No starter motor chuntering away it just on!! I’ve just had the polestar upgrade and its just got much more fun in so many ways. Over 250 hp in a beautiful well made rocket ship that can do 40mpg quite easily when you want too and yet capable of 0 - 60 mph in less than 6 seconds 😊 whats not too like

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks for the feedback and I'm glad to hear you're happy with your S60 B5!

[@watto7728]

Im interested in your polestar upgrade you did as most reviews are of it fitted as standard so no pre/post comparison. We have the XC90 B5 diesel - what real world difference did it make?

[@artcampli9756]

I bought a Volvo S60 fwd in 3/22. I average 32-35 mpg in mixed driving. My previous car was a ‘14 Lincoln MKZ awd which averaged 22-25 mpg. I love driving my S60, smooth, quiet, and plenty of power. It has all the technology I like. My first 6000 miles have been trouble free. My only complaint is the paint on front fascia seems to chip very easily. I have already touched up 3 or four small paint chips. I do use 93 octane gas and drive mostly in the normal or comfort mode. Haven’t really used the dynamic mode all that much. This is my first non-Ford product. I doubt I will ever switch back. Great car and a really good review except I would say the fuel economy is an improvement over other 4cyl turbo cars.

[@ConsPopov]

Excellent video! Mine is with the B5 engine, and wanted to find a video which neatly and succinctly explains the mild hybrid, so I could show it to my wife and friends, without having to explain it myself, and this video is just that! Thanks for your work, keep it up!

[@TheNovakReport]

Glad that I could be of help, and thanks for the comment and the watch!

[@johnm7251]

Our V60CC B5 economy is 7.6L/100km average in real world driving. Very happy with it

[@cosettapessa6417]

Wow

[@Sumerdini]

What is the cost of 48v-battery ❓ What is the life-span of this battery❓Is it cost-effective ❓I don't think so...

[@cosettapessa6417]

@@Sumerdini lol

[@Sumerdini]

@@cosettapessa6417The cost of this tiny battery is 3000$. Possible life span of this battery 5-7 years... Not profitable IMO...

[@cosettapessa6417]

@@Sumerdini stop lying 🙏

[@tomvolvo7208]

Eric, Thank you so much for explaining it in layman’s terms. I now understand the system completely and not only is it enticing; Volvos are an outstanding value when considering the safety factors.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Tom. Glad that you found this helpful!

[@brianstaudt8246]

Thanks for this video Eric. Super informative and clear. I'm here because I'm interested in a Volvo V60 CC and heard from 2023 model year it will be the only drivetrain available-- this is the first clear explanation I've gotten as to what that means in practice!

[@TheNovakReport]

My pleasure Brian! I'm glad you found it to be helpful.

[@orreng]

Great info and explanation Eric. Not surprisingly, here in Texas…the supporting system for electric vehicles, is sparse. Texas isn’t unique tho, that because it’s a large state, battery capacity isn’t there yet to be practical for moving around the state. That’s going to be a real challenge for any of the western states. Plus, the grid system has been unreliable. We drive a 2016 V60 and love it so much. Hope there is a good Volvo option available for us in the future. Eric…your content is always so good! Thanks!

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Orren! I think Texas has strong pockets of EV capability. Austin for example has strong EV infrastructure and Tesla has just moved it's HQ there. There is also a lingering misconception that EVs have limited functionality and that there must be highly developed infrastructure in place for them to be viable. This is largely a red herring argument since most EV's today have effective driving ranges of 200 miles or more. There are 300 mile EVs on the market as well and so long as one can charge at home, they can conduct the vast majority of their daily lives with an EV. Best of all you can fill up every night in your driveway while saving thousands of dollars a year compared to the price of gas which won't be going down any time soon. Cheers!

[@nacho-man1063]

Good job on your review. We have a v90 cc t6 2020.. amazing vehicle

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Adolfo!

[@P.E.J.]

In my country (the home of Volvo) there is another salesargument for the mild hybridsystem: If you have parking in a public parkinghouse you cant charge a regular hybridsystem because of the hazard of fire.

[@TheNovakReport]

I take your point if you were comparing the mild hybrid to a plug-in hybrid, but a mild hybrid would have the same parking benefits as a traditional hybrid, which also does not need to be plugged in. At least that's what I believe it would be in your country. Excited about the EX90 though which debuted today.

[@shauncorney5944]

Excellent video! Very informative and helpful. Thank you.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Shaun - glad you found it helpful.

[@Welovedaxies]

I have a V90 T6 PHEV, the drive train alone is worth it. Compared to the older models it’s soooo quiet and smooth. I’m averaging about 60mpg!!

[@JStieloSoloPhysique1987]

Is this engine as reliable as the T5? My 2012 is at 217 k miles

[@TheNovakReport]

It's basically the same engine, but with the 48v mild hybrid system added for start up assist.

[@hectorvazquez7929]

My 2016 s60 T5 is at 165k miles with no major issues. Great engine.

[@privateuser3725]

Would be nice if add-on hybridization or electrification would be available as a future upgrade to existing vehicles...this would help alleviate a lot of the back-log since they wouldn't have to build an entire vehicle and if these mild hybrids are just an additional component.

[@TheNovakReport]

Interesting idea, but the mild hybrid approach is only a bridge endeavor as Volvo will transition to selling only 100% BEVs by 2030.

[@privateuser3725]

@@TheNovakReport Sometime an expensive and soon to be demolished bridge is worthwhile endeavor to allow those that can not swim to reach the other side.

[@atulganguly73]

Great explanation!

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful.

[@MrPigwoods]

Thanks, Eric.

[@TheNovakReport]

My pleasure!

[@atulganguly73]

So, for .4L, is it worth the extra expense? Should I consider a T6 instead?

[@TheNovakReport]

Here in North America they don't sell T5 and T6 any longer. All are mild hybrid systems as they transition over to full electric.

[@thybel1]

One thing I would point out: a (mild) hybrid vehicle gets is fuel economy by putting kinetic into new energy, and not putting it in warmth by the brakes. On hilly roads you will get the best fuel benefits compared gas and diesel.

[@TheNovakReport]

You are confusing a traditional gas hybrid (HEV) with a mild hybrid (MHEV) it seems.

[@cosettapessa6417]

Can you do updates yourself like tesla or do you need to go to the dealership?

[@TheNovakReport]

As mild hybrids are still gas-powered, dealership servicing would be recommended. But I believe that their full EVs such as the XC40 and C40 Recharge can receive updates over the air while charging overnight.

[@gokusupersaiya8067]

what happen when we dont charge plug in mild hybrid? its the power decrease?

[@TheNovakReport]

A mild hybrid system doesn't need to be plugged in.

[@kprotsenko1877]

In theory, since mild hybrids are easy to design and cheaper to manufacture than “normal” hybrids or plug-in hybrids, they should be less expensive… unfortunately they are not. Perhaps they will depreciate quicker though and will be cheaper as second hand cars.

[@TheNovakReport]

Truth be told, I don't see mild hybrids having much longevity. I would be hard pressed to imaging next-generation variants of existing mild-hybrid models keeping the technology. It's more like a placeholder technology until companies are ready to head deeper in full full electrification in my view.

[@kprotsenko1877]

@@TheNovakReport yes, it feels like it just makes the start/stop functionality a little better but that’s it. Maybe having a bigger battery is better in some other way, but it basically seems to me like a petrol car with a bigger battery. Could be wrong

[@TheNovakReport]

@@kprotsenko1877 a bigger battery would make it a traditional hybrid.

[@Frejborg]

The reason I will look at this car over the PHEV is because I'm not a homeowner, and I don't have a way to plug in my car overnight. I couldn't get the PHEV without realistically having the charger available at home, no?

[@TheNovakReport]

It's definitely easier to maximize the benefits of a PHEV if you can charge at home. However, depending on where you live and work, there might be places where you could park a PHEV to charge while working or even shopping. It's not a simple yes/no answer.

[@GbMuthu]

Minimalism ⁉️😅 Super charger, turbo charger & the mild hybrid electric motor are all auxiliary boosters and this car has them all ‼️ Here in India we are hoping that mild hybrids will pave the way for direct drive CVT by eliminating the torque converter from the drivetrain. This by employing an Integrated Starter Generator to handle stalling speeds. Will be far less refined like the AMT we are used to now but given the cost advantage & efficiency improvements we will accept it. Direct drive CVT could be fun too. Informative video. Don't worry about physics. It is understandable until taught.😉🙏

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks. Despite the 51% in physics, I guess I learned enough to get by...

[@mactep1]

So, basically what Toyota already does in their normal hybrids with their eCVT.

[@GbMuthu]

@@mactep1 I'm afraid not. What Toyota does with its full hybrid eCVT transaxle is to employ electric motors to completely replace the multi speed gearbox required to cope during the torque challenged regions of the ICE. Mild hybrid ISG produces only about 4 to 5 KGM of torque and can just about handle the stalling speeds of a car. Suzuki's R06a is close but I think in addition to the CVT & ISG it also uses a torque converter to pair the ICE to the CVT. This inorder to meet Japanese refinement standards. We are hoping for Direct Drive CVT technology.

[@crashlaga]

@@GbMuthudoes it mean that mild hybrid toyotas doesn’t use planetary gears?

[@GbMuthu]

@@crashlaga there are no mild hybrid Toyotas as of now. There are talks of a mild hybrid diesel engine for the fortune. Toyota full hybrid employ planetery gears.

[@pgivno4241]

lexus is300h is hybrid,but not mild?, not normal also ,i am not sure..

[@TheNovakReport]

The Lexus IS300h isn't offered in North America, but it is a traditional Lexus hybrid system. Lexus does not utilize mild hybrid technology so it would be considered a traditional gas/electric hybrid or HEV. It does have the ability to run on electric only for periods of time as determined by the computers on the drive system. That is something mild hybrid systems don't typically have the ability to do. Hope this clarifies for you.

[@pgivno4241]

tnx.@@TheNovakReport

[@Sumerdini]

What is the cost of 48v hybrid-battery ❓ What is the life-span of this battery❓Is it cost-effective ❓I don't think so =>>> 5-7 years & 3000$...

[@TheNovakReport]

Did you watch my video? Or did you just go around looking for places to rant?

[@Sumerdini]

@@TheNovakReport I have watched your video. If I use a hybrid (mild or strong) or an electrical car for 5-7 years average, it seems there is no profit. In addition, also there will be no second hand market probably, for these hybrid or full electrical cars because of lithium battery cost issues...

[@TheNovakReport]

@@Sumerdini mild hybrids are not EVs. They cannot and do not ever run on electricity alone as the battery was not designed to function this way. If you had watched and listened, you would have known this. There might be more lithium in your smartphone and laptop than in a mild hybrid powertrain.

[@Sumerdini]

@@TheNovakReport strong hybrid batteries 7500$, mild hybrid batteries 3000$, batteries of full electrical vehicles 15.000-20.000$... Not profitable (advantageous) IMO...

[@TheNovakReport]

@@Sumerdini profitable? Do you work for an automaker?

[@archimedesbird3439]

The thing that bothers me is that there's an opportunity for regenerative braking, but during regenerative braking the engine will always parasitize kinetic energy No doubt it's still better than completely wasting the kinetic energy in a conventional ICE setup, but this is a problem I can't see a way out of A solution where the motor is directly linked to the wheels would be complicated enough to push this system closer to a full hybrid than a mild hybrid, negating the one benefit of mild hybrids - simple and cheap implementation

[@TheNovakReport]

I can only offer my personal view here, but I don't believe the goal of creating this system was ever to improve it closer to a traditional HEV. My take is that this is more of a small-scale initiative to serve as a temporary measure en route to much more ambitious end goals.

[@Jan-zm2yv]

I'm not sure what exactly the mild hybrid means ir does 🤔🤔😔

[@lynn5060]

This video explains it . It basically harnesses the power you normally would lose through braking with a charging system and then uses this captured electrical power through an assist electrical motor (12-13 hp) to start the main engine or push it along thus taking the demand off from your main engine which increases your fuel efficiency.

[@CarsandTechInfo]

Is there any actual proof that Volvo wouldn't make an electric XC60? It's one of their best-selling models so it would be very weird if they would've make an EX60

[@TheNovakReport]

I don't think the right question is whether Volvo is planning to make an electrified XC60 or not. Rather it's more about whether Volvo is planning to make a fully electric mid-sized, 2 row SUV. And given the popularity of the segment combined with Volvo's stated commitment to being all-electric by 2030, I think the likelihood is very strong, if not certain.

[@philwarracks]

51 in physics and I’m here to try to understand the fundamentals of Volvo drive systems. Shit. Actually compared to everybody else on the Internet you didn’t do half bad.

[@TheNovakReport]

Ha! Thanks Will! A little bit of science and a lot of paying attention to what the engineers teach, blended with my 30+ years of media and communications experience...and I guess I figured out how to explain this simply. Cheers!

[@h8GW]

A stupid Volvo commercial that mentioned you "never have to plug it" in brought me here. No duh! That's what ALL hybrids DO. Besides, sometimes you WANT to plug it in and almost eliminate gas use.

[@TheNovakReport]

No idea what that commercial was, as I have nothing directly to do with Volvo. But...thanks for watching!

[@rickviola]

So, when do you get to the part that explains the Mild Hybrid System? You are talking in circles.

[@TheNovakReport]

According to other comments, I explained it well enough. Maybe watch to the end?

[@nixnet83]

the music during transitions, and in B roll is waaay too aggressive, intrusive and has VERY LOUD compared to the presenter talking quietly

[@TheNovakReport]

Classic or mellow music beds don't work well on KZbin in the automotive category. It's a quick way to get people to click away. Sorry.

[@davidjoles9737]

Yes

[@dudmanjohn]

Does the mild hybrid system improve fuel economy ? This video quotes official test figures but we know those are not real world results.

[@TheNovakReport]

There is a smaller improvement in fuel economy when compared to a traditional hybrid - usually in the neighborhood of 5 to 10%.

[@georgedoolittle9015]

The Chicoms just don't know how to sell Das Auto in North America.

[@SuperDryDiver]

B for Bandaid...

[@rodrigocuevas6291]

We got a XC90, is Not a Hybrid.....bad idea selling like that

[@TheNovakReport]

If you bought a B5 or B6, you bought a mild-hybrid system, which is not a traditional hybrid, but rather what I described in this video.

[@isaachunt5799]

makes zero difference to mpg. makes the car annoying to drive. my son has a similar kia to ours. his has better mpg. kia wont give me a reason they fit this crap to these cars. DO NOT BUY INTO THIS SHITE IF U EXPECT BETTER MPG. it makes zero difference. just makes the car a pita to drive. no idea what planet these car manufacturers are on..they think we're stupid or what?

[@TheNovakReport]

Why would Kia give you an answer as to why Volvo uses mild hybrid systems?

[@Dmaelstrom]

How does it make the car annoying to drive??

[@isaachunt5799]

@@Dmaelstrom right ok. i have driven over 4 million miles in my life ok. when you go to slow down the car slows down way to fast. so i then i have to gas it again to get to where the car should have rolled itself to. you have to slow down much later. it's a pita to drive.

[@TheNovakReport]

@@isaachunt5799 what do you actually drive?

[@isaachunt5799]

@@TheNovakReport gen6 camaro ss and kia stonic mild hybrid

[@RobertLeininger-n1l]

A mild hybrid is taxed just like a full hybrid in Ohio.

[@TheNovakReport]

Why would a basic gas/electric hybrid or a mild hybrid be taxed any different than a regular gas only vehicle? Neither option requires the need to be plugged in.

[@podunkman2709]

Mild-hybrid is just a marketing. I own Audi with this system and do not see any difference in fuel consumption. In fact this is more anoying because sensor starts engine withoutht reason if car in front of you move. Marketing - nothing more. Anyway, you really buy chinese volvo?

[@TheNovakReport]

I don't buy...I review.

[@tommasocarta7747]

Chinese Volvo?😂 just because Geely own the brand does not mean is Chinese, best thing to Volvo was to get away from Ford

[@isaachunt5799]

yep all bollox. i just bought a kia stonic mild hybrid. mpg is worse than my sons normal kia. why the fek they fit this crap to them? just marketing crap.

[@isaachunt5799]

@@tommasocarta7747 does. nothing but trouble these new chink volvos.

[@tommasocarta7747]

@@isaachunt5799 I change every 3year and do about 70.000km year, never had a problem, perfect service, can’t complain. Actually I have xc90 b5 and v60cc b4 and I’m very happy.

[@Welovedaxies]

One thing you said, just change the T for the B, kind of, but the B5 and the B6 engines are identical now, there is NO supercharger in the B6, not even electric. It’s just a slightly higher tune.

[@TheNovakReport]

According to the information I received from Volvo when putting this together, a B6 supplants the supercharger for the mild hybrid system - so it's electric in a sense.

[@edwardmaslow]

ah but alas some of us motor enthusiast reject electric in favor of petroleum . Good luck Volvo in your efforts to slowly go out of business with electric woketardism .....I won't be driving any Volvo anytime soon .

[@TheNovakReport]

Ah but alas, the motor enthusiasts loudest rants and protests about the changes being made across the entire industry, won't stop that very same change. I understand how some resist change simply because it's not what you're used to, but that in and of itself isn't a strong enough defense against what is taking place. If your boycott of Volvo is based on their move to electrification, it won't be long before you'll be ruling out many other brands and eventually you'll have no brands left to choose from. Change is coming and it has already begun. You may not like it, but you'll need to get used to it.