Hybrid vehicles have two sources of power that work in harmony together – a petrol or diesel engine and a battery-driven electric motor. Hybrids have been designed with efficiency in mind and effortlessly switch between engine power and electric power to ensure the vehicle performs in the most economical way possible.
Generally, the idea is that the electric motor takes care of the driving at low speeds or while accelerating, because that’s when a combustion engine is at its most efficient. Then, once up to speed, when the engine can run at low effort to keep things ticking along, it takes over.
The result is better fuel economy and fewer trips to the pump, which is always a good thing!
When you hear a car referred to as simply a ‘hybrid’ alone, it tends to mean that it has the capability to run on pure electric but the batteries can only be recharged through regenerative braking.
This is when motors in the wheels ‘harvest’ energy that would normally be lost when decelerating and braking and uses it to replenish the battery charge. You might have heard the term ‘self-charging hybrid’, and this is where the term comes from – you never charge the vehicle from an external source, it recharges itself through regeneration.
The positive side of a hybrid is that they’re massively more economical than a mild hybrid, because you can drive on electric only, providing there’s enough charge, and they tend to be less expensive than plug-in models.
The downside is that, because they rely on deceleration to charge, if you do a lot of motorway miles at a consistent speed, you could find the battery is dead once you get to a town where you could use EV mode.
Hybrid cars are powered by a mixture of a standard combustion engine and an electric motor which uses batteries that self-charge through regenerative braking technology.
It is fact that hybrids deliver much better fuel economy. They are also more reliable, better for the environment and can also offer a number of tax benefits.
A hybrid car uses more than one type of power. It uses either a petrol or diesel engine alongside an electric motor.
Hybrid cars use two sources to power them: an electric motor which self charges and either a diesel or petrol engine.
Hybrids have proven to be very reliable, probably more so than many traditional combustion engines, regularly coming out top in dependability and reliability surveys.
Absolutely. It’s just a case of making sure you pick the right model for the job. For specific guidance, contact Swansway Group today.
The main advantages are low fuel consumption, less harmful fuel emissions and tax advantages as a result.
Hybrid cars can be more expensive than standard fuel engines but this can often be off-set over time against lower fuel consumption, reduced running costs and even lower insurance.
Hybrid cars are partly powered by an electric motor but cannot be considered electric cars because of the presence of a petrol or diesel engine.
Hybrid electric vehicles became widely available in 1997 when Toyota bought the Prius to market. But the first invention dates back to around 1900 with the Lohner-Porsche.
The range of hybrid cars available is growing rapidly. Swansway Group has a great selection including family hybrid cars and seven-seat hybrids from Audi, Volkswagen and more.