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What is a Hybrid Car and How Do They Work?

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What is a hybrid?

Quite simply, a hybrid combines at least one electric motor with a gasoline engine to move the car, and its system recaptures energy via regenerative braking. Sometimes the electric motor does all the work, sometimes it's the gas engine, and sometimes they work together. The result is less gasoline burned and, therefore, better fuel economy. Adding electric power can even boost performance in certain instances.

With all of them, electricity comes from a high-voltage battery pack (separate from the car's conventional 12-volt battery) that's replenished by capturing energy from deceleration that's typically lost to heat generated by the brakes in conventional cars. (This happens through the regenerative braking system.) Hybrids also use the gas engine to charge and maintain the battery. Car companies use different hybrid designs to accomplish different missions, ranging from maximum fuel savings to keeping the vehicle's cost as low as possible.

Type of Hybrid Vehicles

In this most common design, the electric motor(s) and gasoline engine are connected in a common transmission that blends the two power sources. That transmission can be an automatic, a manual, or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). One very popular hybrid transmission is a power-split CVT, which is used by the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt. Transmission type and the size of the gasoline engine are the main factors that determine how a parallel hybrid will accelerate, sound, and feel. Brands that use the parallel design include Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Honda, Lincoln, Nissan, and Infiniti.

Series Hybrid

In this design, the electric motor(s) provides all the thrust, and there is never a physical mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels. The gasoline engine is just there to recharge the battery. This results in a driving experience that's more indicative of an electric car, with smoother, powerful acceleration. There's typically less vibration when the gasoline engine engages. However, that engagement doesn't always happen in concert with what your right foot is doing (remember, the battery is making the demands), so the engine might be revving up while the car is cruising at a steady speed. Some find this behavior disconcerting. The BMW i3 with the range extender is an example of a series hybrid.

Plug-In Hybrid

A plug-in hybrid enhances the conventional hybrid concept with a much larger battery pack that, like an electric car's, must be fully recharged using an external electricity source-from your home, office, or public charging station. This greater amount of energy storage is like a larger gas tank: It allows for extended all-electric driving (between 15 and 55 miles depending on the model) and can significantly reduce fuel consumption. In fact, if you have a short commute and recharge nightly, you'll be running on electricity most of the time. Should you deplete the all-electric range, the car basically reverts to being a conventional parallel hybrid. The Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid (shown above) is an example of the plug-in breed.

Eventually, the answer to "what is a hybrid?" will probably be "everything."

Plug-in hybrids can be either a series or a parallel hybrid. No one said this wasn't complicated.

Variations on the Hybrid Theme

Twenty years of advancement is making it even more complicated to answer "what is a hybrid?" Honda's new hybrid design, for instance, doesn't fall neatly into the series or parallel bucket. In this design, the engine turns a generator most of the time, like a series hybrid, but at other times, the engine can also directly drive the wheels, like a parallel hybrid. Then there are the so-called through-the-road hybrids, like the plug-in hybrids from Volvo that use a fairly conventional front-wheel-drive engine and transmission paired with an electrically powered rear axle. The Acura NSX, BMW i8, and Porsche 918 Spyder supercars are similar, except their electric-only axles are at the front.

Mild Hybrids

All of the above are considered "full hybrids," which means that the electric motor is capable of moving the car by itself, even if it's for a short distance. In a "mild" hybrid, it cannot. Just as in a full hybrid, a mild hybrid's electric motor is there to assist the gasoline engine for the purposes of improving fuel economy, increasing performance, or both. It also serves as the starter for the automatic start-stop system, which shuts down the engine when the car comes to rest in order to save fuel.

Originally envisioned as a simpler and cheaper means of bringing hybrid technology to market, mild hybrids don't improve fuel economy to the extent that full hybrid systems can. As such, they never enjoyed the same popularity. Recently, however, mild hybrid powertrains are making a comeback, as evidenced by the adoption of 48-volt electrical subsystems in vehicles such as the Ram 1500, Mercedes-Benz E-class, and Audi A6, A7, and A8. Basically, car companies are now applying mild-hybrid technology to just about every new model. In the not-too-distant future, the answer to "what is a hybrid?" may well be "everything."

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What is a Hybrid Car and How Do They Work?

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Quite simply, a hybrid combines at least one electric motor with a gasoline engine to move the car, and its system recaptures energy via regenerative braking. Sometimes the electric motor does all the work, sometimes it's the gas engine, and sometimes they work together. The result is less gasoline burned and, therefore, better fuel economy.

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5 Reasons Not to Buy a Hybrid | HowStuffWorks

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Yeah, you read that title right: Five reasons to not buy a hybrid car - so, are we crazy? Maybe a little bit.

Ten or 20 years ago, hybrids were new, unproven technology. What if they burst into battery-powered flames? What if the batteries had to be replaced? What if you had to - gasp - pass a car on the highway or go up a hill?

Hybrids have been on the market and continuously improving since 1999, though. They're commonplace to the point of being kind of boring. Nearly every major auto manufacturer has a hybrid or two in its lineup, and hybrid heavyweight Toyota has an entire Prius sub-brand.

There are many reasons someone might want a hybrid: saving the environment, making fewer stops at the gas station, feeling good about your green self - but not every reason will pan out in the long run. While hybrids continue to be popular, there may be better, greener and more efficient alternatives out there.

Take a look at these five reasons not to buy a hybrid vehicle and see if any of them steer you away.

The first obstacle anyone interested in buying a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle will run up against is the higher cost of the hybrid powertrain versus its gasoline-only equivalent. Hybrid versions generally run several thousand dollars more than conventional versions of the same car.

Much of the extra cost comes from the expense of the gas-saving technology found in hybrids. The price difference is less than it used to be, however, especially in the most popular models. Here are a few examples:

2018 Chevy Malibu: $21,680 vs. 2018 Chevy Malibu Hybrid: $27,920

2019 Ford Fusion: $22,840 vs. 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid: $27,555

2018 Honda Accord: $23,570 vs. 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid: $25,100

So you're going to pay more for a hybrid version of a conventional car. But that's OK, because you'll recoup the extra cost through all the gasoline you save, right? Maybe not...

Most new hybrid owners justify the higher initial purchase cost of their vehicle by saying that they'll make up the difference in fuel savings. Well, that plan may take a little (or a lot) longer than most new car owners think.

Oftentimes, it can take several years to make up that cost of a hybrid car in gas savings. When gas was setting new record-high prices in the summer of 2008, people penciled out the time it would take to recoup in fuel savings the extra dollars they had paid for a hybrid car.

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At the time, a hybrid car may have sounded like a great idea. In fact, when gas prices are high, hybrid cars can make up the price difference in as little as two years - like in the case of the Toyota Camry Hybrid. At that time there were also tax credits and incentives available from the federal government, and some state governments, for purchasing new hybrids. Those credits have all dried up, though. There are still tax incentives available for plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles, but even those will end in a few years as more of these vehicles become available on the marketplace.

But when you're talking about an extreme case, like the Lexus LC hybrid sports car (which happens to have an almost six-figure price tag), even when gas prices are relatively low, it would take decades to make up the difference in price.

OK, gasoline is great, but you can do better. You can plug your car in.

When hybrid cars came on the scene in a big way in the early 2000s, they had the stage pretty much to themselves. Pure electric vehicles like the Zap Xebra were tiny little things with 40-mile ranges at best and a top speed somewhere near "pokey." The Tesla Roadster, with a range over 200 miles, didn't arrive on anyone's radar until 2008, and the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf came along in 2011. Fully electric cars, with not one drop of gasoline or an engine under the hood, were the territory of super nerds and early adopters.

Now there are dozens of EV models, from the futuristic BMW i3 to the Volkswagen e-Golf, which deliberately looks like every other Golf on the road. And there are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, like the Toyota Prius Prime and Chrysler Pacifica minivan. That's right - an electrified minivan. Every automotive brand on the planet has pledged to "electrify" its fleet in the next five to 10 years, which means more hybrids, PHEVs and EVs. So while hybrids will still be available and so far have stood the test of time, there are other, cleaner powertrains out there that are just as easy to live with.

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Any vehicle running on electric power only, like an EV or a PHEV when the batteries are doing all the work, is getting the job done with zero emissions. Electric-only cars don't even have tailpipes.

Of course, electrified vehicles aren't for everyone. Read on to find out which situations might have you choosing an engine over a motor.

Hybrid cars can handle almost any kind of driving situation. City, highway, small car, minivan: There's a hybrid for nearly everyone at a variety of price points.

Unless you need to tow or haul anything at all. Like, anything. Hybrids are not engineered to create the power needed to move the car, the people inside it, and a boat trailer or a bed full of mulch. Some hybrids can pull a little trailer for runs to the dump or one of those adorable tiny teardrop campers. In 2016, Toyota began offering a tow package for the Prius, which was seen as groundbreaking. No one expected a hybrid to ever tow anything, really. But it still is only capable of towing about 1,600 pounds (725 kilograms), which is the low end of the lightest campers on the market.

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There's one more reason to not buy a hybrid, and it's a big one. But it might be the reason that gets you.

More than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, according to the World Bank Group. Urban areas are famously congested with traffic, whether that's Los Angeles or Shanghai or Paris - and it's getting worse. Many cities are banning traffic from their urban centers, and some are planning to ban combustion engines entirely within the next two decades. To get around, city dwellers are using public transportation plus carpooling, ride sharing, car sharing, bike sharing, scooter sharing and plain old walking to get around.

People who live in cities might consider whether they need a car at all. A bus pass and an app for Uber or Lyft will get you pretty far, as will a membership in a car sharing service like Car2Go or Zipcar. Not having a car means not paying extra for a space in your building's garage or having to fight to park at the curb. No maintenance, no insurance, no stopping for gas. Remember, hybrids do require gasoline to run, just less of it than a conventional car. And you can't be pulled over and ticketed for texting while driving if you're riding the bus.

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Originally Published: Aug 31, 2009

Author's Note: 5 Reasons Not to Buy a Hybrid

Hybrids were strange birds in 1999 when the Honda Insight first came to market, followed quickly by the Toyota Prius. The economic and fuel crisis that hit in 2008 brought down gas-guzzlers like the Humvee and elevated hybrid reputations - and prices. Now hybrids are nearly old hat as PHEVs and EVs come online in greater numbers and styles. But hybrids aren't done yet. The technology has proven itself to be so delightfully boring and consistent that it will be hard to not buy a hybrid vehicle in the future. Most manufacturers are planning on their basic powertrains being hybrids in the next few years, with PHEV and EV options.

Related Articles

Sources

Appel, Tom. "Zap! Xebra: The EV No One Needs to Know About." ConsumerGuide.com. (Oct. 29, 2018) https://blog.consumerguide.com/zap-xebra-the-ev-no-one-needs-to-know-about/

Branman, Miles. "Toyota's Prius Hybrid Features a Towing Package for the First Time Ever." DigitalTrends.com. (Nov. 2, 2018) https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/toyota-2016-prius-hybrid-towing-capability/

Chevrolet. (Aug. 21, 2009) http://www.chevrolet.com/

Dulin, Jon. "Are Hybrid Cars Worth It? The Answer May Surprise You." (Oct. 29, 2018) https://www.moneysmartguides.com/are-hybrid-cars-worth-the-price

Ford. (Aug. 21, 2009) http://www.fordvehicles.com/

FuelEconomy.gov. "New Energy Tax Credit for Hybrids." May 5, 2009. (Aug. 21, 2009) http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml

Hanson, Brandon U. "Is a Hybrid Worth It?" OmniNerd.com. Nov. 11, 2005 (Aug. 18, 2009) http://www.omninerd.com/articles/Is_a_Hybrid_Worth_It

Honda (Aug. 21, 2009) http://automobiles.honda.com/

HybridCars.com "Reasons Not to Buy a Hybrid." March 23, 2006. (Aug. 18, 2009) http://www.hybridcars.com/decision/reasons-not-to-buy-a-hybrid.html

InTech RV. http://www.intechrv.com/. (Nov. 2, 2018)

Padgett, Marty. "Seven Great Reasons to Buy a Hybrid -- and Six Bad Ones." TheCarConnection.com. Aug. 19, 2008. (Aug. 18, 2009) http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1015967_seven-great-reasons-to-buy-a-hybrid-and-six-bad-ones

Ransom, Kevin. "Reasons to buy a hybrid -- or not." CNN.com. Jan. 28, 2008. (Aug. 18, 2009) http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/28/buy.hybrid/index.html#cnnSTCText

Robinson, Aaron. "Out of Africa: Where Electric-Vehicle Batteries Come From, Part II." CarAndDriver.com. November 2010. (April 12, 2012) http://www.caranddriver.com/columns/aaron-robinson-out-of-africa-where-electric-vehicle-batteries-come-from-part-ii

Scientific American. "The Coal Truth: Will the Coming Generation of Electric Cars Just Be Coal Burners, Once Removed?" ScientificAmerican.com. May 4, 2010. (April 13, 2012) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=earth-talk-the-coal-truth

Silke Carty, Sharon. "Hybrids recoup higher cost in less time." USA Today. May 12, 2008. (Aug. 21, 2009) http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2008-05-11-hybrids-gas-prices_N.htm

Straubel, JB. "Roadster Efficiency and Range." Tesla blog. (Oct. 29, 2018) https://www.tesla.com/blog/roadster-efficiency-and-range

U.S. News & World Report. Prices from U.S. News & World Report (Oct. 29, 2018) https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/hybrids

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Yeah, you read that title right: Five reasons to not buy a hybrid car - so, are we crazy? Maybe a little bit. Ten or 20 years ago, hybrids were new, unproven technology. What if they burst into battery-powered flames? What if the batteries had to be replaced?

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My wife and I thought we were doing well with our Subaru wagons since we had avoided the purchase of a gas guzzling SUV. Our "Subies" are fun to drive, hold lots of stuff, and usually see about 22 miles to the gallon.

Nevertheless, our Outback was starting to get up there in miles and was generating repair bills that were uncharacteristic for a Subaru. Being fascinated with hybrid technology, we finally decided to take the plunge and replace the old Outback with a newer hybrid.

We carefully weighed the arguments for buying a new vs. used car. We realized there weren't any reasonably equipped new hybrids for less than $20,000, so we settled on a loaded 2007 Prius in pristine condition. Here is what we learned.

Pro tip: If you're planning to finance your car, check out MyAutoloan.com. You will be able to compare up to four different loan options within minutes.

Benefits of Hybrid Cars

1. Hybrid Cars Show You How to Drive Efficiently
Just like a Jeep is in its element when driven off-road, and a Ferrari likes to be driven like a race car, a hybrid desperately wants to be driven efficiently. Our Toyota Prius, like most hybrids, has a display that shows our present mileage as well as average miles per gallon. It even tells us how much energy we recoup with the brakes.

All cars get better mileage when you accelerate and brake gently. But with a hybrid, you can see it, especially when you accelerate gradually enough so that only the electric engine is used. Normally I love to drive fast, but I've discovered myself unexpectedly enjoying the challenge of driving efficiently.

2. You Can Beat the EPA Mileage Estimates
Our goal was to double our observed fuel economy from the 22 mpg we had been getting with the Subaru. While we would have been happy with 44 mpg, or even the EPA rating of 48 mpg in the city, we were astonished to regularly see our fuel efficiency in the mid 50s. We credit efficient driving, aided by the Prius display, as the key to beating the EPA mileage estimates.

3. Hybrids Love the City
Hybrids are unique in that their EPA mileage ratings are actually higher in the city than they are on the highway. Our Prius is perfectly suited to my wife's daily commute in stop and go traffic. Every time you stop, it generates more electricity which can then be used at lower speeds, or for accelerating quickly. It is in town where we see our mileage jump above 50 mpg.

4. Hybrids Have Multi-Engine Power
As a pilot with a sport pilot license, I appreciate the difference between a single engine airplane and the power of a multi-engine craft. The Prius is no hot rod, but, unlike a Ferrari, it actually comes with two engines. Its small gasoline engine is complemented by a powerful electric engine. Electric engines produce all of their torque from 0 rpm (revolutions per minute), a feature that allows the Prius to really scoot through an intersection from a stop. It is kind of like the snap you feel in your wrist when you operate a powerful electric hand tool.

5. It's Eerily Quiet
Starting this car is about as much of an event as turning on a light switch. When the car begins to move, it is so silent that you are confused into thinking it is rolling downhill by itself. This is because the gasoline engine isn't running and the electric engine is noiseless.

6. The Car Stays Warm
Mechanics will tell you that when you start an engine cold, it is harder to crank and produces more engine wear than when you start one that's already been warmed up. In researching the Prius, I learned that it prevents cold starts by storing coolant in the equivalent of a thermos. This system keeps the fluid warm for up to three days. We are looking forward to enjoying easy starts and instant heat next winter.

7. No Emissions Tests Required
When I inquired about registering my car, I was told that a hybrid does not need an emissions test to be registered. Since your state's laws may differ from those here in Denver, Colorado, check with your local DMV to see if an emissions or other test is required for registration.

8. Durability
One of the big myths out there is that the components of a hybrid will wear out and be costly to replace. Consumer Reports recently tested a 2001 Prius with over 200,000 miles; they found it still performed nearly identically to the 2001 Prius they tested new, and the hybrid battery was working fine.

9. Don't Worry about the Battery
Every time I mentioned that I was buying a hybrid, I was warned about the battery failing. There is a popular myth that the battery is unreliable and a replacement is shockingly expensive. Consumer Reports notes that Toyota sells replacement batteries for $2,300 to $2,600. Practically speaking, if you had to replace a battery on a 10-year-old hybrid, you could pay about $500 for one from a salvage yard, just like you could if you had to replace any major component on an older car.

With that said, Toyota's hybrid batteries and all other hybrid specific parts normally have a warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. In California, the warranty is 150,000 miles. Moreover, there are numerous reports of the Prius being driven over 200,000 miles on the original battery. Given the strong warranty and consumer reports, I am confident we will never have to replace our hybrid battery.

10. Expect Less Maintenance
One of the neat things about a hybrid is that the gas engine is not running when you are stopped or driving slowly. It is amazing how often that happens in city driving. The result is that you are putting less wear on your engine. For this reason, Toyota only recommends oil changes every 5,000 miles, unlike my Subaru which specifies oil changes every 3,000 miles.

Its brakes should last longer too. Unless you have to brake suddenly, a hybrid regenerates electricity with a regenerative brake instead of applying the standard brakes. Since you could drive around all day without hardly using the conventional brakes, you can expect your brakes to need service far less often than a non-hybrid would. When the Prius was used in taxi fleets, it demonstrated less of a need for brake maintenance than its non-hybrid counterparts.

Problems with Hybrid Cars

1. Rising Gas Prices Equals Rising Hybrid Prices
We knew we had to pay a bit more for our used Prius due to gas prices rising. There weren't many hybrids on the market, and they were selling fast. Some sellers were even trying to get a ridiculous premium by advertising their used cars for almost what a new one would cost! However, unless gas prices plummet and stay low for a long time, we feel we will largely make up our purchase premium when it comes time to sell our car.

2. Lower Highway Mileage
You won't find me driving my Prius on the highway in the right lane at 50 miles per hour; I can only take the efficiency thing so far. When driven at the speed of most highway traffic, you can expect mileage in the mid to lower 40s. This is great, but there are compact cars and diesels that can achieve this kind of efficiency at highway speeds.

3. Not All Hybrids Are Equal
We also considered the very similar looking Honda Insight, but we were turned off by the fact that it is not a full hybrid, but rather a "mild hybrid." Its gasoline engine shuts off when the car stops and it cannot run on its electric motor alone. It does not receive the fuel economy ratings of the Prius, and we were shocked to discover that its heat and air conditioning systems do not operate when the gasoline engine stops. That might be acceptable in a temperate climate, but it's not acceptable in Colorado. A mild hybrid might get better fuel economy than a conventional car, but it won't ever live up to the promise of a true hybrid.

4. Few Third Row Hybrids
We really wanted a larger vehicle with third row seating, but there is currently only one choice on the market. Toyota makes their Highlander Hybrid SUV with a third seat, but it is a huge vehicle with relatively poor mileage for a hybrid. Toyota recently announced they are coming out with a larger version of the Prius, but they will not offer a third row of seating in the version they plan to export to the United States.

5. Weak 12 Volt Battery
We were most surprised to discover that our Prius actually has a conventional 12 Volt battery just like any other car, in addition to the larger high voltage battery. This smaller battery provides power to the accessories, and like any other car, the Prius will need a jump start if this battery is drained. We accidentally left an interior light on overnight and couldn't start the car in the morning - it turns out that accidentally draining the conventional battery is a common problem. Many Prius owners buy an aftermarket battery for $180 when the original one finally gives out, as the aftermarket version is reported to last much longer than the standard model Toyota uses.

Final Word

Through careful research, I was able to dispel many of the frightening myths going around about hybrid ownership. At the same time, we have no illusion that our Prius will always be perfectly reliable and maintenance free during the years we own it. What we do have is the reasonable belief, based on hard evidence, that this vehicle will be at least as reliable as a standard car while delivering more than twice the fuel economy of our Subaru.

So far, we are extremely satisfied with our purchase. Until the day we buy a full electric car, it is difficult to imagine there will be a time when at least one of our cars is not a hybrid.

If you're ready to make the jump to a hybrid car, start your car search with Edmunds.com. You're going to learn more about the car you're considering including exactly how much you should pay.

Do you own a hybrid car? What has your experience been like?

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Hybrid Cars Pros and Cons - Benefits & Problems

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My wife and I thought we were doing well with our Subaru wagons since we had avoided the purchase of a gas guzzling SUV. Our "Subies" are fun to drive, hold lots of stuff, and usually see about 22 miles to the gallon.

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What are the pros and cons of owning a hybrid car? | RAC WA

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Like it or not, electrification of our cars is here to stay, and hybrid cars are leading the charge.

Hybrids are often considered the stepping stone between cars with conventional internal combustion engines and pure electric vehicles (EV). Hybrids essentially combine the two.

But there are a few variations in the hybrid range, so to help you understand the options and the pros and cons of each, we've looked at some of the reasons you might consider a hybrid and explained how the different types of hybrids work.

What are the benefits of a hybrid car versus a normal petrol or diesel car?

Reduced running costs:

Hybrids consume less fuel than regular cars, since the electric motor drives the wheels for part of the time, especially from standstill or at lower speeds, and helps for the rest of the journey. When the engine fires up, it doesn't have to work so hard either, as the car is already in motion, further improving fuel economy.

Lower tailpipe emissions:

In EV-only mode, there are no harmful emissions from the exhaust pipes, making hybrids especially suitable in densely populated areas.

Quieter, smoother operation:

Electric motors are almost completely noiseless and thus quieter than an engine, as well as smoother in operation, improving comfort.

Stronger performance:

The addition of an electric motor provides a useful extra amount of power and torque, for stronger acceleration and throttle response.

What are the advantages of a hybrid car versus a full electric car?

Cheaper to buy:

Using the Hyundai Kona SUV as an example, the Elite 2.0L petrol is nearly half the price at $30,600 compared to its $60,740 Elite Electric EV equivalent.

No range anxiety:

When the electricity runs out and the battery goes flat in any hybrid, the engine takes over just as in an ordinary car, meaning that hybrids can venture out to remote areas that EVs cannot reach.

No waiting for the battery pack to recharge:

EVs need time to fully recharge, from around 30 minutes at a high-capacity charging station to 24 hours using a household power socket, depending on battery size.

No special parking bays:

Hybrids don't need a dedicated parking bay to recharge, instead the on-board engine generates most of the electricity it needs.

How do hybrid cars work?

There are basically two different types of hybrids: A regular hybrid (HEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Both have an engine paired with an electric motor, battery pack and generator, to send drive separately or concurrently to the wheels.

The differences centre around the size of the battery packs and the consequent electric-only range on offer, and whether the electricity comes via the engine or an external source.

In addition to this, there are two other hybrid categories - mild hybrid and range extender hybrid - which we've also explained below.

1. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

In a series-parallel HEV, the battery pack is relatively small. It provides enough charge to get the car moving to speeds and distances of around 40km/h and 2km respectively, before the engine fires up to directly drive the wheels. After that, the electric motor chimes in and out seamlessly as required.

The HEV's battery pack is charged by the engine when driving, either when idling or on the move, and/or via kinetic energy gathered from the action of braking. This is known as regenerative braking. No external charging of the battery pack is possible, so don't bother about looking for a wall plug or charging station. Note that Toyota promotes its hybrids as 'self-charging', which is technically true, but sidesteps the fact that a fossil fuel is still required for it to happen.

The PHEV, meanwhile, has a much larger battery pack, offering up to about 50km of pure EV range, before the engine takes over. However, while the PHEV's battery pack is also charged as per the HEV's, plugging into mains power is necessary due to its extra size and capacity. That's the price you pay for having useable everyday pure-electric range.

Some older HEVs, like Honda's defunct Insight, Civic Hybrid and CR-Z used a 'parallel-only' hybrid set-up, where the electric motor assisted the petrol engine but never drove the wheels directly. The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid employs a 'series-parallel' arrangement similar to Toyota's.

Honda-Accord-VTi-LX-Hybrid

The benefits of HEVs:

Accessibility. HEV is the cheapest entry into vehicle electrification, with prices for the Toyota Prius C starting from $25,000. Combined with their low running costs, some HEVs nowadays are cheaper than diesels.

Refinement. Initial acceleration is largely silent and very smooth because the electric motor is doing the driving. Great for quiet getaways.

Packs a punch. The available performance comes on strongly because electric motors produce their maximum torque from zero revs, boosting acceleration and providing immediate throttle responses. This in turn means a smaller-capacity and lighter petrol engine is sufficient, further improving efficiency.

Greener machines. HEVs produce fewer carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions than petrol or diesel cars, resulting in dramatically more economical and cleaner vehicles - especially in city areas where heavy traffic means the electric motor is more likely to be the main propulsion system driving the wheels.

Efficiency. All HEVs feature a stop-start function that extinguishes the engine when coasting along with the foot off the throttle, or at lower speeds coming to a halt. This further preserves fuel, lowers emissions and cuts noise pollution. Sitting in heavy traffic is (slightly) more bearable with no idling engine droning away.

Refuel and forget. The very nature of the HEV - an electric motor and engine combo - means the battery pack never needs to be plugged into an external power source for recharging. The engine diverts power to a generator to charge it instead, or electricity is converted from otherwise wasted kinetic energy using regenerative braking technology. If you live in an apartment or have no access to off-street parking, you never need to worry about finding a long-enough power cord.

Result? No range anxiety or wasting time and energy finding a place to plug the car in, the HEV is great for city driving and short distance commutes.

The disadvantages of HEVs:

Expense. While there are cheap HEVs, they are generally more expensive than their equivalently-sized and equipped petrol-engined counterparts because of the added cost and complexity of electrification, from the battery pack and electric motor to the unique transmission and generator technology. Case in point: choosing hybrid in Corolla means paying $1500 extra. Plus, with low petrol prices, recouping that difference will take tens of thousands of kilometres of driving.

Not so great outside the city. HEVs are most efficient around town in slow traffic; out on the open road at speed, they generally lose their economy advantages over normal engined models, as the electric motor isn't required to save fuel. Basically, highway-only driving squanders the HEV's potential, and what you're left with is a car with two propulsion units instead of one to lug around.

Less luggage space. Batteries are heavy and usually located in the lower rear half of a vehicle, at the cost of luggage capacity, and with a temporary spare tyre instead of a full-sized spare. Some even resort to a fiddly tyre-inflator kit, or expensive and harder-riding runflat tyres.

More to go wrong. Having two propulsion systems in the one car adds cost and complexity to servicing and repairs, though most have proven reliable and durable as electric motors actually require fewer moving parts than an engine.

Weighty issues. HEVs can add hundreds of kilograms to a vehicle's weight, and that extra mass reduces the overall efficiency of the powertrain as there's more weight to haul around. Additionally, the extra weight means the brakes have to be larger and more powerful to stop the vehicle in an emergency, the suspension has to be braced to deal with shifting forces on the move. The vehicle also steers, handles and corners with less agility and ease than a lighter, regular-engined equivalent. Plus, the added masses drive up car registration costs, since in WA they are calculated by vehicle mass.

Battery cell degradation. Although battery packs are usually guaranteed for eight years, they wear out and eventually do need to be replaced at a cost of thousands of dollars depending on the manufacturer, so beware of the condition of a battery pack in older and higher-mileage hybrids.

Shock and awe. HEVs pose an additional safety risk to emergency services workers who must be specially trained to deal with the dangers of high-voltage hardware when attending an accident scene.

HEVs: The players

Credit where it is due. You cannot talk HEVs without starting with Toyota.

Along with the regular Prius, Toyota has offered the Prius C city car for $25,000, as well as the Prius V seven-seater wagon since the early 2010s. Additionally, it is the first and still the only carmaker making affordable HEV versions of all established mainstream models, starting with the Camry Hybrid (since 2012), then adding the popular Corolla (from 2016), C-HR and RAV4 (from 2019), Yaris (2020) and Kluger (coming in 2021) versions.

Toyota Prius C

This strategy followed Toyota's luxury brand Lexus' lead back in 2003 with the RX premium medium SUV, with most models following suit since. It is also likely that Australia's bestselling vehicle, the Toyota HiLux truck, will eventually go HEV.

Toyota/Lexus aside, only four circa-$50,000 HEVs currently exist - the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, Subaru's fresh XV and Forester E-Boxer and the Honda Accord Hybrid. Honda also sells the NSX Hybrid electric supercar from $420,000.
RELATED: Hybrid cars available in Australia 2020 "
2. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

As the name suggests, a PHEV is a hybrid but with a socket like an EV, so it must be charged from an external source, such as from a home, office or charging station. While there is also some electricity fed back into the battery pack from the engine and regenerative braking systems within the car, it's not nearly enough to fully recharge the PHEV on the move.

Yet, despite possessing much the same-size engine, electric motor and generator tech as a HEV, a PHEV is much closer to the ownership and driving experience of an EV, because a PHEV uses a much larger battery pack than an HEV. Compared to its hybrid sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV's version holds five times the capacity. Think of the battery-pack as a fuel tank for electricity, so the bigger it is, the further you can travel. When the electricity does run out, the engine takes over, just as in a regular HEV.

It's the solution to range anxiety while still enjoying many of the EV advantages. In fact, some PHEVs have a phenomenal combined petrol/EV range, such as the $120,000 Mercedes-Benz E300e's 2700km distance between refills. Astonishing.

As with all EVs, a PHEV comes with its own charging hardware, namely a cable to a three-pin household socket. Additionally, a wall box can be purchased, installed by an outside supplier from around $3000.

Mercedes Benz GLC 300e being charged

The advantages of a plug-in hybrid:

Got your back. As with EVs, PHEV owners report that they naturally plug their cars in to charge overnight as they would a mobile phone, except they don't worry about being left stranded if they forget to occasionally.

Saves money. US studies have shown that using household electricity to charge a PHEV costs substantially less than the fuel a HEV requires to recharge their (much smaller) battery packs - and that's before solar or subsidised electricity and cheaper American petrol.

Save more money. A PHEV's low fuel consumption and emissions ratings would come in handy if Australia switches to a European-style emissions-based registration and taxation system, further rewarding EV and PHEV motoring.

Choice. PHEVs allow the driver to control when the electric motor operates, to preserve charge for when it is most beneficial running in EV mode, such as in built-up areas or during traffic jams.

Farewell fossil fuels. For drivers with sub-50km daily commutes, it is possible to never have to visit petrol stations, saving time.

Going the distance. Astonishing combined range is possible, with two Mercedes PHEVs technically able to drive from Perth to Alice Springs on one tankful with a couple of hundred kilometres to spare.

Not just around town. EV charging infrastructure is growing rapidly across Australia, meaning PHEV owners are increasingly able to use their vehicles without the engine security blanket if they so desire.

How's the serenity. In EV mode, PHEVs are as hushed and smooth as EVs, while packing plenty of low-down torque oomph.

Less stress. Engine wear is significantly reduced as in many cases it isn't used nearly as often in a PHEV compared to an HEV, let alone a non-hybrid.

Price shock. PHEVs are cheaper than EVs. Using the Hyundai Ioniq as an example, the Plug-in model is $6600 less than its electric counterpart.

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

The disadvantages of a plug-in hybrid:

Even more to go wrong. The added complexity of a larger and heavier battery pack, combined with extra electrical engineering for the plug-in technology, means more to service and repair over the longer term, on top of the engine and motor combination.

Scarcity. Currently there are few PHEVs to choose from. (Check out our 2020 list of plug-in hybrid cars available in Australia).

Purchase price. PHEVs cost substantially more than their petrol and HEV counterparts - around $7000 is the additional premium you'll pay to get the Ioniq.

Less luggage space. As with most HEVs, PHEVs powertrain electrification often results in reduced cargo capacity, though it's worse in the PHEV because the battery pack is larger again, often necessitating the removal of a spare wheel.

Battery costs. Though a warranty for up to eight years is the norm, eventual wear and degradation means that replacing a PHEV battery pack will be much more expensive than an HEV's smaller equivalent. For example, a Prius battery pack is about $4000 while an PHEV's can cost upwards of $15,000 (before labour) for some models.

Charging inconvenience. Using a regular household outlet requires around six to eight hours depending on the PHEV, while obviously a HEV requires no plugging-in hassles.

Charge it or lose it. Owners who forget or don't bother to plug their cars in and drive their PHEVs purely on petrol will actually suffer higher consumption and wear compared to regular cars and especially HEVs.

Parts availability. Reports state that some PHEVs sit in workshops for months awaiting rare spare parts.

PHEVs: The players

Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV (from $47,390) paved the way for PHEVs since 2013. Blending SUV practicality with a 50km EV range or 800km between refills has helped it become history's bestselling PHEV.

Cheapest is the Ioniq Plug-in from $42,410, but from there up it's mostly all premium, from the BMW 330e, Mercedes-Benz C300e and Volvo S60/V60 T8 PHEVs at under $100K, to luxury limos at more than twice that amount such as the BMW 745e and Porsche Panamera 4E-Hybrid.

Mercedes Benz C300e PHEV engine bay

Notable PHEV SUVs include the Mini Countryman, Volvo's XC40, XC60 and XC90 T8s, the Mercedes GLC 300e, BMW X5 45e, Range Rover/Range Rover Sport and Cayenne E-Hybrid, while Ferrari's SF90 Stradale tops out at a cool $850K.
RELATED: Hybrid plug-in cars available in Australia 2020 "
3. Mild hybrids

Whether Mild HEVs are actually hybrids is debatable, since there is generally no electric drive motor, just a larger starter motor to ensure the engine and 12-volt car battery has the capacity to stop/start reliably.

And while the few offered overseas can bring fuel savings upwards of 15 per cent compared to standard models, their added expense makes their importation cost-prohibitive in Australia. Exceptions are in the luxury class, where brands like Mercedes are introducing mild hybrid tech in up-spec models from their performance division, AMG.

4. Range extender hybrids

Range-extender (or REx) hybrids are closer to EVs again compared to PHEVs, with only an electric motor driving the wheels, backed up by a small petrol engine that is there solely as an electricity generator to recharge a big battery pack.

The Holden Volt (2011-2014) and BMW i3 REx (2014-2019) are defunct examples. Both were well packaged and good to drive but short on range and too expensive, with the latter also criticised for providing disappointing additional extended petrol range, while being markedly noisy due to having a tiny scooter engine.

No range-extender hybrid is currently sold new in Australia.

Hybrid cars FAQs

Which is better - a HEV or PHEV?

Hybrid on a budget, PHEV for that all-electric experience but with a petrol engine safety net for extended journeys and no range anxiety.

Are hybrids worth it?

Definitely if using considerably less fuel and creating fewer emissions are important to you.

What are some of the advantages of a hybrid/plug-in hybrid?

They cost more to buy, may cost more to service, weigh more so might be more expensive to register here in WA due to a car's mass affecting rego costs, and are generally heavier than their petrol-powered equivalents so aren't quite as agile around corners.

Do plug-in hybrids charge while you drive?

Yes, they 'self-charge' in that the petrol engine sends power to charge the battery pack, while energy from braking is captured and also stored as electricity.

What plug-in hybrid has the longest range?

Luxury carmaker BMW offers the 330e PHEV with an all-electric range of more than 60km, while Mercedes-Benz's E300e PHEV can go up to 2800km combining both the battery range and 60-litre petrol tank.

Can you drive a plug-in hybrid without charging?

Yes, just as you would a normal engined car, but the extra weight of the electric bits would mean it actually would use more fuel than a non-PHEV equivalent.

What happens if you don't charge a plug-in hybrid?

Nothing, it will still drive normally, except you won't enjoy any pure-electric driving range.

Can hybrid cars run on fuel only?

Yes. HEVs rely on fuel to run as their all-electric range is only about 2km before their battery goes flat and the petrol engine kicks in. Plug-in models can go up to about 50km in most cases before their engine takes over.

What happens when a hybrid car runs out of battery power?

Nothing, it's business as usual, as the engine takes over seamlessly to drive the wheels and then recharge the battery pack.
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difference between a plugin and non plugin hybrid car

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What are the pros and cons of owning a hybrid car? | RAC WA

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Like it or not, electrification of our cars is here to stay, and hybrid cars are leading the charge. Hybrids are often considered the stepping stone between cars with conventional internal combustion engines and pure electric vehicles (EV). Hybrids essentially combine the two.

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Seven Reasons For Not Buying A Hybrid Car

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Looking to buy a hybrid car? Are you scouring the web for which are the best hybrid cars, what are the facts about hybrid cars, and perhaps even what are hybrid cars for sale on eBay?

Just hold on a moment and slow down. Of course, a hybrid car is a popular choice right now. And you're thinking that getting a hybrid vehicle is all about doing your bit about global warming and save money on fuel. It's a feel-good, win-win situation isn't it?

But is this true and is that all there is to it? Well, let's just say that there are at least seven good reasons why you should not buy a hybrid car.

Do you need a hybrid car?
Have you thought about your purpose of using a car at all? Who, and how many passengers will be using the car? Driving in the city or in the country? Perhaps public transport, a bicycle or an electric scooter could fit your needs just as well.

Just because we're all used to the comfort of our air-conditioned boxes on wheels does not necessarily mean we need to continue the habit, does it? You don't really need a car, hybrid or other? Then the best thing you can do for the environment, and for your pocket, is not to buy one.

Would your hybrid hold its value?
OK, so you know that hybrid car prices are above average but are inevitably coming down with a rapidly increasing demand. You also know that any tax incentives that may apply now may not continue forever. What does that mean? It means that you will not be able to sell your car at a premium price later, even though resale value is good now. So if you buy a hybrid because you think it will hold its value, don't count on that being true in five year's time.

Getting your money back by saving on fuel?
This depends on your mileage and the model hybrid. Even in the best scenarios you will need five years before you recoup your purchase price. Don't buy a hybrid for economic reasons only.

What are your alternatives?
Hybrid car technology is only one means of saving the environment and your money. Cars that drive on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or natural liquid gas (NLG) do this too. Modern diesel vehicles run much cleaner than older models and biodiesel fuel is emerging rapidly as an alternative, not to mention ethanol blends.

So, if you cannot justify buying a hybrid car compared to what's locally available to you in alternative fuels, don't buy one.

Mechanical assistance?
Many mechanics are not yet trained in maintaining a hybrid vehicle. Could you get yours repaired and maintained locally?

Hybrids ain't hybrids
The hybrid car range includes SUVs. How many people really need one? Buying a hybrid to roll over the off-road environment seems a little incongruous. Don't buy one unless you absolutely cannot do without it for good reasons.

Saving the environment?
You are probably like most people who buy a hybrid car because they want to do their bit about global warming. Right? Good for you. Hybrid cars are part of the future. But...

You cannot buy a sustainable world. Selling cars, whatever fuel they use, involves vast quantities of energy and emissions in mining metals, transportation, production and distribution. Whereas it is better to drive a hybrid car than a gasoline-driven one, don't expect to save the planet from global warming just by doing that.

It's a change in thinking that's needed, from seeing ourselves as independent consumers, to interdependent people who live in relationship to others and our environments. Once you and I know that we'll act more wisely in choosing Earth-friendly technologies that we really need.

Cannot afford to buy a hybrid? So what? Reach out to someone else who needs you today or volunteer in your local environment protection group. That's really putting your foot down in making a difference!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Seven Reasons For Not Buying A Hybrid Car

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Looking to buy a hybrid car? Are you scouring the web for which are the best hybrid cars, what are the facts about hybrid cars, and perhaps even what are hybrid cars for sale on eBay? Just hold on a moment and slow down. Of course, a hybrid car is a popular choice right now.