If you’ve been wondering what hybrid cars are and how they work but didn’t know who to ask, continue reading.
What Is a Hybrid Car?
A hybrid is a car that combines at least one electric motor with a gasoline engine to power a vehicle. The electric motor is powered by a battery that gets charged via regenerative braking and sometimes by being plugged into an electrical outlet. The result of this combination is enhanced fuel efficiency as there are times when the electric motor alone drives the car, or both work together. Sometimes, electric power is also used to boost performance.
Types of Hybrids
Parallel
Here, the electric motor(s) and the gas engine are connected in a common transmission (auto, manual, or CVT) that combines these power sources. The acceleration, sound, and feel of the hybrid depend on the transmission and size of the gas engine. Parallel hybrids are the most common ones available.
Series
Here, the gas engine is only used to charge the battery. The battery then drives the electric motor(s). The gas engine never drives the wheels. So sometimes, the gas engine can start revving when you’re not accelerating because the battery needs charging. These cars have reduced vibrations and a smoother, more powerful acceleration like an EV.
Plug-in
These hybrids have a large battery pack that needs to be plugged in to an external power source to be charged. They can be driven between 15 and 55 miles on electric power alone. Once the electric power is consumed, the vehicle behaves like a standard gas-powered car.
Others
Then there are cars that function like a series hybrid most of the time but can also allow the engine to drive the wheels like a parallel hybrid. There are also through-the-road hybrids that have a standard gas-powered front-wheel setup, but the transmission is also paired to an electrically powered rear axle. Some supercars have this setup, but the electric-axles are at the front.
Mild
The above examples can move the car on electric power alone. A mild hybrid has an electric motor that only assists the gas engine to improve fuel economy, boost performance, or both. The mild hybrid system also works the auto start-stop system.
