How does a hybrid car work?
Hybrid cars are a great first step before going completely electric – but how do they work?
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How do hybrid cars work?
Hybrid cars are powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric motor and a battery that work together to provide the most efficient drive.
The ICE is powered by fuel like petrol or diesel, while the electric motor uses energy stored in the battery.
How the battery in the hybrid vehicle is charged will depend on the type of hybrid it is.
Self-charging hybrid models use regenerative braking and energy from the combustion engine, while plug-in hybrid models can also use electric car chargers to charge up.
Regenerative braking turns the kinetic energy lost from braking into energy that can be stored in the battery and used.
It does this by reversing the electric motor on your car to push energy back into your battery while you brake.
All hybrid cars have automatic gearboxes that work the same as they usually do in ICE cars.
In some cases, there might be an additional mode that boosts the regenerative braking to power the car.
Combining electric motors, batteries and internal combustion engines means that hybrid cars use less fuel than conventional vehicles.
This makes them more efficient and can mean they’re cheaper to run.
The electric motor and battery will usually power the hybrid car for shorter trips, while you can rely on the fuel-powered engine for longer journeys.
Different types of hybrid cars
There are a few different types of hybrid cars on offer, and the one you pick will determine how much you rely on the hybrid tech and how you regain power.
Mild hybrid (MHEV)
Out of all the hybrid cars on offer, mild hybrid models rely on the electric power system the least.
These cars are usually fitted with a small electric generator in place of the alternator and starter motor, as well as a small battery.
Usually, a mild hybrid system will step in to assist during hard acceleration and can help you to save fuel.
It won’t be as noticeable as a full hybrid model, but mild hybrids can help improve fuel efficiency.
Great examples of impressive mild hybrid car include the Ford Kuga, Suzuki Swift Sport, and the BMW 3 Series (M340i).
Full Hybrid (FHEV)
A full hybrid car is another self-charging option that offers more power than MHEV models.
Over short distances, the ICE is taken over by the battery to power the car while lowering fuel consumption and emissions.
Full hybrid models self-charge by using regenerative braking – recouping energy lost through braking and using this to power the car. They also use energy created by the ICE.
These types of hybrid cars don’t need to be plugged in to charge, so are a great step up from mild hybrids if you want to cut back further on fuel.
Great options for a self-charging, full hybrid car include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Kia Sorento.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
While plug-in hybrid cars self-charge through regenerative braking, they can also be plugged in to charge up like a fully electric car.
This means that the car will have a longer electric mile range, thanks to a larger battery and more powerful motor than other types of hybrids.
Plug-in hybrid cars are usually more expensive than mild or full hybrid cars, but they can help cut down on fuel costs substantially depending on how you drive.
If you’re considering a plug-in hybrid car, we love the BMW 330e, Kia Sportage PHEV and the Lexus NX 450h+.
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What are self-charging hybrid cars?
Self-charging hybrid cars are any hybrid models that don’t need to be plugged into a charger to get a boost and can charge themselves using energy from the combustion engine and regenerative braking.
You might prefer a self-charging hybrid car if you want to cut back on fuel costs and lower your exhaust emissions, but don’t want to fit an electric car charging point.
Plug-in hybrid cars can also be self-charging, but they’re at their best when they can be plugged in to recharge.
What’s the difference between hybrid and electric cars?
The main difference between hybrid and electric cars is that fully-electric models don’t have a combustion engine, while hybrid models have an ICE, a battery and an electric motor.
Electric cars will also need to be plugged in to charge up, while some hybrid cars are self-charging and don’t need to be plugged in at all.
This means that you can still drive your hybrid even if the battery runs flat, as long as you have fuel to power your ICE.
It’s worth noting that letting your battery run flat isn’t good for battery health, so it's best to try and keep it boosted where possible.
Another difference between the two is the lack of exhaust emissions from electric cars.
As hybrids still have an ICE, they still produce emissions that can be harmful to the environment.