What is a drivetrain?

A drivetrain delivers power from a vehicle's engine or motor to its wheels, influencing fuel consumption, mechanical efficiency, and cost. Hybrid vehicles employ three primary drivetrain types: series, where only the electric motor powers the wheels; parallel, where the engine and motor work in tandem; and series/parallel, which combines both methods to optimize efficiency across different speeds. While series/parallel systems offer the best fuel performance, they are more expensive due to the need for larger batteries, generators, and advanced computing.

• A drivetrain consists of components that transfer power from a motor or engine to the wheels, and its specific design impacts a vehicle's purchase price, fuel consumption, and mechanical efficiency.
• Series hybrid drivetrains use only an electric motor to power the wheels, with electricity supplied by a battery or a gasoline-powered generator. These are most efficient in stop-and-go traffic but are more expensive than parallel hybrids due to the requirement for a more powerful battery pack and a generator.
• Parallel hybrid drivetrains allow the internal combustion engine and electric motor to provide power to the wheels simultaneously. Because the engine connects directly to the wheels, they avoid the energy loss of converting mechanical power to electricity, making them more efficient for highway driving.
• Series/parallel drivetrains combine the features of both series and parallel systems, allowing the engine to either drive the wheels directly or be disconnected while the motor provides power. This configuration can outperform both standalone series and parallel systems in fuel use and efficiency, though it requires higher costs for computing power, batteries, and a generator.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2015). What is a drivetrain? https://www.ucs.org/resources/all-about-drivetrains

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. What is a drivetrain? 2015. https://www.ucs.org/resources/all-about-drivetrains.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=What is a drivetrain? |date=25 February 2015 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/all-about-drivetrains |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2015what, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{What is a drivetrain?}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/all-about-drivetrains}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }