Final answer:
Charge-sustaining mode (CS) refers to a function in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles where the battery's charge level is maintained by the internal combustion engine or similar means, allowing the car to operate like a conventional hybrid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term charge-sustaining mode (CS) refers to a concept in electric vehicle technology, specifically related to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In CS mode, the vehicle's battery maintains a constant state of charge instead of being depleted, which is achieved by the vehicle's onboard internal combustion engine or another charging method that generates electricity. This mode contrasts with the charge-depleting mode, where the battery's stored energy is used until it's significantly discharged before switching to another energy source.
Although your references to canceling the charge Q and the example of 0.1 Amps current sustaining for 100 seconds resulting in 10 Coulombs of charge flow relate to basic principles of electricity, they do not directly address the specific concept of CS mode in electric vehicles. To understand CS mode, consider a vehicle that uses its gasoline engine to generate electricity to keep the battery at a consistent charge level, thereby allowing the vehicle to operate like a conventional hybrid when its battery is not being actively charged from an external source.