How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

Hybrid cars are showing up more and more on Council Bluffs roads, and Edwards Hyundai carries several hybrid models. But how do hybrid cars work? If you’re curious about what is a hybrid car and how it works, we can help! Whether you’re driving a new Sonata Hybrid or Tuscon Hybrid, you’ll appreciate the incredible fuel economy on your drives around Omaha, NE. 

What is a Hybrid Car, and How Does it Work?

First of all, what is a hybrid car, and how does it work? A hybrid car includes two power sources: a regular combustion engine and an electric motor. The two power sources work together to reduce fuel consumption in hybrid cars. The two most common configurations for hybrid vehicles are parallel and series:

What’s the Difference Between Parallel and Series Hybrid Vehicles?

Parallel Hybrid

Most hybrid cars on the market around Atlantic are parallel hybrids. The electric motor and the gasoline engine are linked to the same transmission in these types of vehicles.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids also use an electric motor and a standard gasoline engine. The difference is that only the electric motor is connected to the transmission. In other words, the electric motor is the only source of power. The gasoline engine acts as a generator for the electric motor but does not power the car forward.

What’s the Difference Between Hybrid Cars and Plug-In Electric Vehicles?

So, how do hybrid cars and EVs differ? Hybrid vehicles run on both a gasoline engine and electric battery, while EVs typically use only electric power. Some newer vehicles are beginning to change that. Some auto brands now make plug-in hybrids. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Plug-in hybrids can travel further on electric power alone. 
• For short trips in Council Bluffs, you can use a plug-in hybrid just like an EV and rely on 100% electric power, but remember to recharge it at night.
• If you’re heading out on a long road trip beyond Missouri Valley that exceeds the electric driving range, you always have the option to fill up on gasoline like you would with a traditional car.
• Because hybrid vehicles don’t rely solely on electricity, they take between 1 and 4 hours to charge completely.

Experience Hybrid Power at Edwards Hyundai Today

Now that you know how hybrid cars work and how they differ from electric cars, we invite you to Edwards Hyundai to get behind the wheel of a hybrid. Let’s go for a test drive! Our finance team will explain all of your finance options and quickly give you a value for your trade-in. Reach out to us today to get started!