What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid electric vehicle combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor. It cannot be plugged in, and it uses the motor to help the engine, shut the engine off at stops and capture braking energy to improve efficiency.
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- Why you are seeing it
- It is in vehicle listings and ads, and on the fuel economy label, for vehicles that have both a gasoline engine and an electric motor.
- Why it matters
- A hybrid pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor to improve efficiency, so it affects how much fuel the vehicle uses.
- What should I do?
- Compare its MPG with the other vehicles you are considering.
- Use the Fuel Savings Calculator to see what a higher MPG is worth over your yearly miles.
- Remember that a regular hybrid is not plugged in: a plug-in hybrid is a different vehicle.
- A common misunderstanding
- A hybrid is not an electric vehicle that you plug in: a regular hybrid cannot be charged from an outlet.
Two power sources in one vehicle
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors. The electric motor can assist the engine, which allows a smaller engine, and the vehicle can switch the engine off when it stops and start it again when you accelerate.
A simple example
A stop at a traffic light
A conventional engine keeps running while the car waits at a light.
A hybrid can shut its engine off during the stop and restart it when you accelerate.
This is one way the combination uses less fuel; how much depends on the vehicle and how it is driven.
Where the electricity comes from
A regular hybrid cannot be plugged in to charge. Hybrids use regenerative braking, which recaptures energy that would otherwise be lost when the vehicle slows or coasts.
Try these tools
- Fuel Savings CalculatorCompare two MPG values and see the yearly, monthly and 5-year fuel savings. Also answers how much better gas mileage is worth.
- Gas vs EV Cost ComparisonCompare the cost of owning a gas car and an electric car.