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How does my Nissan Altima hybrid engine work?

Hello, I just got a new Altima Hybrid. I am not too familar with how it charges itself and when it "decideds" to go into hybrid... sometimes the battery level is high (no idea how it charges itself) Sometimes the electric runs for longer distances and sometimes it drives on gas for a while then out of now where electric kicks in.... can someone break it down for me?

Public Comments

1. Go to nissanusa.com on the bottom click on hybrid a little screen in the middle is gona pop out after in the bottom click on hybrid system and they explain it all!
2. go to wickapedia...most work by charging while you brake...when u run low on battery power the gas motor runs...
3. Well Nissan Altima is a great car, the hybrid is not bad either. The car usually runs with gas but unless you're driving longer distances. For Freeway driving: you're using the battery most of the time. For Normal driving: (with signals) it sometimes uses the battery and sometimes uses the battery, it will use gas when you've stopped and suppose the signal just turned green, when you accelerate, then it uses the gas and then switches to battery. By the way excellent choice and thanks for buying the hybrid.
4. Hi, this will take a little bit of explanation, so stay with me, and I'll also give you some ideas to boost your mileage at the end short answer: There is an electric motor/generator that provides power for the front wheels to move. This main electric motor also regulates how much power is transferred from the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric portion of the hybrid drive through a continuously variable transmission (CVT), also called a power split/modulator, to the front wheels. The system reads a variety of sensor data, including throttle input (how hard you're pressing the accelerator pedal) and load weight (mass from the seat occupant position sensors) and driving pattern history of the main driver (it stores how hard and how fast you press the accelerator), among others. It then calculates when to turn on the ICE, how much power to pull from the NiMH to turn the front wheels, how much energy is still stored in the NiMH, and more. All of this is done without any exact set levels as to when the ICE runs or the NiMH is charged, there are only general ranges set in the middle of the NiMH's charging level. You can play the system (and make the NiMH charge level higher) by being gentle with the accelerator and doubling your stopping distance. You are charging the NiMH whenever you press the brake pedal, whenever the ICE is running, or even just from the friction of the front wheels rolling on the ground. This is because the AltHy is considered a full hybrid, not a partial or mild (which I differentiate below). full answer: Just for trivia- Nissan licensed the hybrid portion of the drivetrain from Toyota and it is a modified version of the Camry Hybrid Synergy Drive. Nissan uses it's own 4 cylinder ICE, not the Camry ICE. All Toyota/Lexus hybrids are full hybrids. So, the Altima is considered a full hybrid, meaning it can move and power the A/C using electricity only, the ICE does not have to start, as you've noticed. There are several levels of hybrids- full, partial and mild. Partials and milds must have the ICE running to move or power the A/C, so you have one of the more efficient versions of a hybrid. The main electric motor/generator provides the drive to move the front wheels from power supplied by the NiMH. The ICE also moves the front wheels, but only when it is needed. The main generator is transferring energy to move the AltHy constantly, it does not "turn off" like the ICE. The main generator is the starter, alternator, and houses the computer that regulates where the power is coming from and how much power is coming from each source (ICE or NiMH through the motor generator). You can increase your mileage (and see how efficiently you can work the hybrid system) by doubling the distance you normally stop in, playing the accelerator, and being more proactive in your maintenance. Say you normally take 100 feet to stop. At 200 feet, take your foot off the accelerator and coast for the first 100 feet, then press the brake pedal gently to your stop. You will watch your mileage jump considerably if, for no other reason, the ICE will be shut off abut twice as soon as it usually would. On acceleration, press the accelerator like you have an egg under the accelerator and you are trying to roll the egg out, not make omelets. You do not have a "gas" pedal anymore, the system is more advanced than just dumping gas into the ICE because you press hard on the pedal. To be more proactive in your maintenance, check your tire pressure at least once a week with a digital tire gauge. Throw away the cheapy stick gauges, they're just not accurate enough. Use the tire pressure from the sticker on the driver's door frame and never put more than 3-5 psi more than that recommended pressure. When you eventually replace your tires (the Altima uses specialty tires called low-rolling resistance tires, or LRR's, to increase mpg), check and use the pressure recommended for those new tires. Follow the maintenance logbook that came with the AltHy closely. I personally change my oil every 3000 miles and rotate my tires every 6000. You may hear different ideas on when and where to service, but remember- the average driver travels 12-15,000 miles annually, or 1000-1250 miles a month. If you wait to change your oil until 5000 miles, that is an additional 2 months of driving. If there is a problem that you may not be aware of, that is an additional 2 months of driving with that problem, which may make it worse. I have seen too many owners who follow 5k service intervals who have had unknown damage or other problems that could have been caught much sooner. Take your vehicle to whomever you are comfortable with, but keep all receipts in your maintenance logbook or a notebook in your glove compartment, no matter which vehicle it is. Let me know if that doesn't do it. Good luck and enjoy your new AltHy.