CALL: 1-876-927-1779 | CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM UPDATE : JULY 2015
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CARIBBEAN Petroleum Update A Publication of the Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS)
July 2015 ISSUE
Hybrid Vehicles A combined force of power Climate change and energy security remain high on governments’ agenda worldwide. The thrust towards cleaner and renewable based energy have increased in the last decade and in countries like the Caribbean, the promotion of energy diversification is a significant aspect of many of the energy policies and a critical aspect to a sustainable future.
demand in the transport sector. It is being looked at also as a means to achieving greater progress in reducing carbon emissions and improving the global carbon footprint. As such different technologies have been introduced to the market to improve the efficiency of cars in the transport sector. There has also been the introduction of hybrid and electric vehiOver fifty percent (50%) of oil used around the world is cles as alternatives to gas powered vehicles. In this for transport, and nearly all the recent and future expect- issue of the Petroleum Update, we will assess hybrid ed growth in that use comes from increased transport cars as alternative vehicles to gas powered vehicles. activity. However, many of the energy efficiency policies are being directed to the electricity sector in Caribbean WHAT IS A HYBRID? countries. Whilst the electricity sector is the pivot on which the many other sectors operate, the transporta- A vehicle is a hybrid if it utilizes more than one form tion sector also plays a critical role in the movement of of onboard energy to achieve propulsion. In pracresources, goods and services. It is therefore a critical tice, that means a hybrid will have a traditional incomponent of any country’s sustainable development. ternal-combustion engine and a fuel tank, as well as one or more electric motors and a battery pack. On In recent times though there has been an ongoing glob- the other hand, a gas-powered car has a fuel tank, al look at fuel economy and its potential to reduce oil continued on page 2/ To access CEIS website
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CALL: 1-876-927-1779 | CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM UPDATE : JULY 2015
Hybrid Vehicles: A Combined Force of Power continued from page 1/ which supplies gasoline to the engine. The engine chargeable battery, inverter and transmission, the difthen turns a transmission, which turns the wheels. ference however is found in the configuration of the vehicles. In a parallel hybrid, both the electric motor Using hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles instead of and the combustion are connected to the transmission conventional vehicles can help reduce reliance on im- and in turn work together to power the vehicle. When ported petroleum and increase energy security. Hybrid fuel travels to the engine or when the electric motor is electric vehicles (HEVs) typically use less fuel than simi- turned on, the power that is generated propels the car. lar conventional vehicles, because they employ electricdrive technologies to boost efficiency. Plug-in hybrid Additionally, a controller in the transmission deterelectric vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (EVs) mines when to operate the electric motor and when to are both capable of using off-board sources of electricity. switch to the gasoline engine. The electric motor provides an extra boost, and if it’s large enough, it may be Classification of Hybrid Vehicles the car’s only source of propulsion for short distances. The composition of parallel hybrids makes them more Hybrid vehicles are classified based on the system which efficient for highway driving at higher, more conconnects the transmission to the drive axles known as the stant speeds. In conventional parallel hybrids, such as drivetrain. What is also important in classifying hybrids the Civic Hybrid from Honda, regenerative braking is the powertrain which essentially is the mechanism is the sole source of recharging power for the battery. that transmits the drive from the engine of a vehicle to its axle. These two features will therefore determine how The regenerative braking system, as the name suggests, the engine and the motor work together to power the car. regenerates power when the brake is applied. The way in which it works is that as the brake is pressed the Series Hybrid electric motor slows the car down, the energy that is The oldest hybrid type is known as the Series Hybrid. then released from the wheels turns the electric moThis feature a gasoline engine, electric motor, re- tor, which acts as a generator and sends electricity back chargeable battery, inverter and transmission. In this to the battery. Both parallel and series hybrids feature type of hybrid, the electric motor is solely responsi- the regenerative breaking system as shown on Page 4.
ble for turning the vehicle wheels. The engine powPlug-in hybrids ers a generator to produce the electricity onboard the vehicle but the gasoline engine is not coupled Unlike the series hybrid the Plug-in hybrids (also called to the wheels and does not directly power the car. PHEVs) have an enlarged battery that allows the electric driving range to be far greater than with reguHowever, the electric motor is charged by the batlar hybrids. It also provides a way to plug the battery tery pack or by the generator, which is powered by into an electrical outlet for recharging while parked. the gasoline engine. To determine how much powThe benefit of the plug-in hybrid is its ability to traver is needed for propulsion of the vehicle a controlel in all-electric mode for most short trips, reservler in the transmission determines whether to pull ing the gasoline engine for longer drives which is a it from the battery or the generator. Two types of vefeature that can boost fuel economy. In addition to hicles that are classified as series hybrids include the the Volt, plug-in hybrids include the Ford Fusion En2014 BMW i3 and 2012 Fisker Karma (no longer on ergi, Toyota Prius and a version of the Honda Accord. market). However, these cars are also plug-in hybrids. Series-parallel hybrids Parallel hybrids As the name implies, these cars contain elements of Similar to the series hybrid, the parallel hybrid has both series and parallel hybrid features. The engine and the same features (gasoline engine, electric motor, rethe electric motor feed into the transmission through
CALL: 1-876-927-1779 | CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM UPDATE : JULY 2015
individual parts thereby enabling propulsion via the engine or electricity. In other words depending on the power required to propel the vehicle, the electric motor and gasoline engine can work separately or collaboratively. In parallel fashion, as the system drives the wheels, the combustion engine drives a generator to simultaneously generate electricity to recharge the battery when necessary. The battery is recharged by the use of a regenerative braking system which reclaims the waste energy of decelerating or braking.
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no emissions at all. In addition, hybrids tend to rely mostly on the motor in slow traffic, reducing emissions in high-congestion, stop-and-go conditions. According to consumer reports tests, most hybrid cars have better fuel economy than their gas-only counterparts; for example, the Honda Civic hybrid model rated 40 miles per gallon (MPG) versus the standard Civic’s 29 MPG, The Hyundai Sonata hybrid managed 33 MPG compared to the Sonata SE’s 27 MPG, and the Ford Fusion hybrid achieved 34 MPG against the SEL’s 24 MPG. Because of the absence of regenerative braking technology, gas cars consume more fuel if they are subject to braking and acceleration frequently, which is common in high traffic and populated areas.
An important note to also consider is that compared to conventional gas powered vehicles, the series-parallel hybrid reduces exhaust emissions by 80% to 90% and produces about half the amount of carbon dioxide. The Ford’s C-Max and Fusion hybrids and all Toyota and Lexus hybrids use series-parallel systems. Price
Hybrids seem like a perfect answer for better mile- Due to their greater complexity and the relatively high age and a better environment, but are they really cost of rechargeable batteries, hybrid cars command a the most effective cars one can contemplate buying? premium of at least a few thousand dollars over their conventional counterparts in terms of initial purchase Vehicle Complexity price. However, according to consumer reports, many (if not most) hybrids make up the price difference in about Hybrid cars depend on computerized controls that a year’s worth of driving due to money saved through switch between the engine and motor, maintain bat- fuel efficiency. These are just a few of the major points tery charge, and perform many other complex tasks. For to be considered for understanding hybrid cars versus example, a system called regenerative braking uses the their gas counterparts. The bottom line is that hybrid vehicle’s motion to generate electricity, which recharg- cars are more fuel efficient and environmentally friendes the battery. When a hybrid stops at a traffic light, it ly than gas cars, but they are also more expensive. As a turns the engine off temporarily to save fuel. On the oth- result, it is up to individuals to become informed coner hand, modern gas-powered cars also have sophisti- sumers in order to choose a car that is right for them. cated electronic control systems. The basic components that are required to operate a gas-powered car are an Conclusion internal combustion engine, a standard or automatic transmission, an alternator, a carburetor or fuel-injec- PHEVs are considered a combined force of power as it tion system, spark plugs, a crankshaft, and a battery. pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery pack to capture wasted energy and improve fuel econoFuel Efficiency my. Also, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles allow drivers to charge up batteries using a wall outlet or vehicle charging Not all hybrid vehicles have a goal of fuel efficiency; station. Finally, pure electric vehicles use only electricity the LaFerrari sports car, for example, uses the engine/ from the power grid, with no gasoline or other liquid fuel. motor combination for high performance. Most hybrids, however, do capitalize on the electric motor’s Diesel has long provided an alternative to conventional energy efficiency to improve fuel economy—when gasoline power, and new innovations mean diesel enthe vehicle is running on the motor’s power, it con- gines are more efficient than ever. Hybrids are another sumes no fuel. A typical hybrid car produces 90 per- fuel-saving choice. For some drivers, diesels are the ideal cent fewer emissions compared to traditional models; choice. For others, an EV or PHEV makes the most sense. while operating on the electric motor, the vehicle has
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CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM
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Hybrid Driving tips
*Improve efficiency with ECO *If you’re in stop-start traffic, don’t mode, which reduces aggressive put the car in neutral (‘N’) when throttle response. stationary, as electricity will not be generated and the hybrid battery *Harvest time – braking gently and will discharge. early helps the regenerative braking harvest more energy, which means *Consider using cruise control to *Become familiar with the hybrid EV mode can operate for longer pe- maintain steady speeds. information display so you can riods know how much energy is being *When using climate control, reused. *Keep an eye on the dials and circulate mode reduces energy gauges to fully understand the hy- usage. *EV does it! Keep the car in EV brid system and manage the charge mode as much as possible by using levels in the hybrid’s high-voltage Source: http://blog.toyota.co.uk the accelerator gently, pressing it battery. lightly but consistently.
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CALL: 1-876-927-1779 | CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM UPDATE : JULY 2015
Prices at the Pump JULY 2015 Retail prices for Regular Unleaded Gasoline in the fourteen Caribbean countries reviewed at the end of July 2015 showed overall increases in prices for four countries; Dominica,Grenada, St.Lucia and St.Vincent/ Grenadines between 0.8% and 18%. St.Vincent saw the highest price increase of 18%. Prices in Guyana decreased by 6.3% while Jamaica saw a 1% reduction in prices. Prices in the remaining eight countries were stable.
Unleaded Gasoline: Regular : Average Retail Price January - July 2015 (US$/Litre) COUNTRIES
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
7 Mths AVG
ANTIGUA/ BARBUDA
1.11 1.15 1.53 1.12 0.92 0.97 1.06 0.96 1.04 0.96 1.21 1.03 0.91 0.42
1.11 1.36 1.42 1.06 0.85 0.90 0.83 0.99 1.04 0.96 1.04 0.93 1.10 0.42
1.11 1.38 1.43 1.15 0.83 0.95 0.93 1.06 0.95 0.94 0.98 0.85 1.11 0.42
1.11 1.39 1.51 1.15 0.98 1.03 0.97 1.12 0.95 0.94 1.03 0.85 1.11 0.42
1.11 1.23 1.55 1.20 0.98 1.10 0.93 1.15 0.95 0.94 1.05 0.85 1.23 0.42
1.11 1.17 1.60 1.22 1.51 1.14 0.93 1.16 0.95 0.94 1.07 0.85 1.23 0.42
1.11 1.17 1.60 1.22 1.60 1.15 0.87 1.15 0.95 0.94 1.10 1.01 1.23 0.42
1.11 1.27 1.52 1.16 1.10 1.04 0.93 1.08 0.97 0.94 1.07 0.91 1.13 0.42
BAHAMAS [91 OCT] BARBADOS BELIZE [87 OCT] DOMINICA GRENADA (95 OCT) GUYANA JAMAICA 87 Octane[E10] MONTSERRAT ST. KITTS/ NEVIS ST. LUCIA ST. VINCENT/ GRENADINES SURINAME [95 OCT] TRINIDAD/ TOBAGO [92 OCT]
NOTE: *US Gallon = 3.785 L *Imperial Gallon = 4.546 L
US$/Litre
*As at November 1, 2009 MTBE was phased out from all gasoline blends in Jamaica and replaced with 10% Ethanol.
1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00
Comparative Retail Pump Prices Regular Unleaded Gasoline July vs. 7 Mths Avg (Jan-July 2015) JULY
14 Caribbean Countries
See prices for all products at www.cippet.org
7 Mths AVG
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International OIL PRICES
PAGE 9 Average Weekly and Monthly Crude Oil Prices (May - July 2015)
CALL: 1-876-927-1779 | CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM UPDATE : JULY 2015 70
60.01
60
US$/Bbl
60.07
57.92
50 40 30 20
May-15
10 0 Period WK1
WK3
WK4
Jul-15 MTH AVG
Average Monthly World Crude Oil Prices (2012 - 2014) 110.0
US$/BBL
Analysis of International Crude Oil Prices for the May - July 2015 period showed an average price of US$52.80/bbl . This average price was 10.8% lower than the average price reported in May 2015 and 11.9% lower than the price in June 2015. The highest weekly price seen in July 2015 for the commodity was US$57.92/ bbl-reflected in week one while week four accounted for the lowest price of US$49.21/ bbl. An average of the three month’s average prices reflected US$57.29/BBL..
WK2
Jun-15
106.6
106.6
105.8
90.0
70.0
2012
2013
2014
50.0
Period
FEATURED OFFERS: P E TS TATS - t h e Ca r i b b e a n E n e rg y I n fo r m at i o n System (CEIS) primary report of historical annual petroleum energy statistics provided for 18 Caribbean Countries. Included are data on total energy production, consumption, and trade; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, electricity, as well as financial and environmental indicators for over twenty years.
Scientific Research Council, Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica 1-876-927-1779 (Telephone) 1-876-977-1840 (Fax)
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