Quick Facts About Hybrids
- Hybrids use gasoline and electric power.
- They burn less gas and are better for the environment.
- Hybrids typically refer to plug-ins and pure hybrids, not mild hybrids.
- Regenerative braking captures energy and routes it to the battery.
Most cars use an internal combustion engine for propulsion, but a hybrid vehicle uses two power sources working together. More specifically, they use an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor to power the wheels of the car and take care of other functions like starting, steering, and more. The result is much better fuel economy than a traditional gasoline-powered car with little compromise.
Hybrids used to be mostly limited to compact cars. However, today you can get SUVs, sports cars, minivans, and even pickup trucks that use a hybrid powertrain to improve efficiency. Sometimes, a hybrid system can also enhance performance.
Let’s take a closer look at what a hybrid vehicle is, how it works, and whether it’s right for you. Skip ahead using our jump links below.
- What Is a Hybrid Vehicle?
- How Do Hybrids Work?
- Types of Hybrids
- Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle
- Hybrid vs. Electric Vehicle
- Is a Hybrid Right for You?
What Is a Hybrid Vehicle?
A hybrid vehicle combines two power sources: a gasoline-fired engine and an electric motor. There are a few different types of hybrids, which we’ll get into shortly. All hybrids have an electric motor assisting in either powering the wheels or powering accessories. This is done to take some of the workload off the gas engine.
How Do Hybrids Work?
How a hybrid works depends on the hybrid type we’re talking about. We’ll start with the conventional full hybrid.
A full hybrid receives power from a gas engine and an electric motor but doesn’t plug into the wall. The popular Toyota Prius is an excellent example of a full hybrid. It can run solely on the gas engine, the electric motor alone, or a combination. It has a built-in generator capable of charging its battery pack via regenerative braking or the gas engine.
The car can run on just the electric motor at low speeds, cruising, idling, or reversing. Full hybrids switch between power sources in mixed driving, resulting in improved fuel economy compared to a regular ICE-powered car.
A plug-in hybrid is a bit different. Plug-in hybrid cars have larger lithium-ion battery packs onboard, which you charge up by plugging into the wall. Plug-in hybrid models like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid have varying all-electric ranges. For example, the Pacifica can go up to 32 miles on electricity alone before the gas engine kicks in. When the battery is drained, it works like a conventional full hybrid.
A mild hybrid like the Ram 1500 with the eTorque system uses a small electric motor to take care of accessories and functions like starting the engine. The electric motor doesn’t do much, if anything at all, to help propel the vehicle in a mild hybrid. But it takes some of the strain off of the gas engine. The result is slightly improved fuel economy but less efficient than a full hybrid.
Type of Hybrids
- Full hybrid — Also known as a conventional hybrid or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a full hybrid car like the Toyota Prius uses a gas engine assisted by an electric motor to achieve excellent fuel economy. A hybrid can switch between gas-only, gas-hybrid, and hybrid-only operation.
- Mild hybrid — A mild hybrid (MHEV) is technically a hybrid. While it uses a small electric motor, it typically doesn’t help with the propulsion of the vehicle. Instead, it takes some of the work away from the gas engine to make it more efficient.
- Plug-in hybrid — A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid with a larger onboard battery pack that can propel the car on electricity alone. When the battery is drained, it works like a full hybrid.
Do You Need to Charge a Hybrid?
You don’t need to worry about charging a full hybrid or a mild hybrid, but a plug-in hybrid needs to be plugged into a power source if you want to take full advantage of its hybrid engineering. You can plug it into a regular wall outlet, a dedicated charging station in your garage, or a public charging station.
Hybrid vehicles use some clever tricks to charge their batteries while driving. For example, regenerative braking captures the energy created using the brakes and routes that energy back into the battery. It’s a small thing that adds up over time.
Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle
The most significant benefit of a hybrid vehicle is fuel economy. For example, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid has a combined fuel economy rating of 52 mpg, making it 57% more efficient than the non-hybrid Corolla sedan with the base engine. According to EPA estimates, that results in fuel savings of $550 per year. An efficient plug-in hybrid has even lower annual fuel costs.
Another benefit of hybrid cars is a reduced carbon footprint. Simply put, a car that burns less gas is better for the environment. This is especially true if you have a plug-in hybrid and live in an area that gets a lot of energy from renewable resources like solar and wind.
This might come as a surprise, but another benefit of hybrids is improved performance. These performance enhancements specifically apply to plug-in hybrids with plentiful electric torque. Plug-in hybrid models ranging from the Toyota RAV4 Prime to the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring and many others have more power and more torque than their non-hybrid counterparts on top of being more efficient.
Hybrid vs. Electric Car
A hybrid car combines gas and electric power, while a pure electric vehicle (EV) solely uses a battery-powered powertrain with no ICE. However, a plug-in hybrid is often considered both since it has a gasoline engine and can drive significant distances with electric power alone.
Is a Hybrid Right for You?
A full hybrid or a mild hybrid can be fueled up at any gas station. It’s an excellent option for environmentally conscious drivers or anyone looking to save a few bucks on gas.
A plug-in hybrid really only makes sense if you have somewhere to plug in to charge the battery regularly. A plug-in hybrid is best if your car is parked in a garage with a power outlet or charging station every night. If not, then a full hybrid or mild hybrid would be more practical.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was originally published. Josh Sadler contributed to this article.
