What Is a Hybrid Automobile?

Car companies have updated almost all of their fleets with a selection of hybrid cars. While hybrid sounds like something out of a science-fiction movie, the use of the word hybrid is quite simple in the automotive world. Hybrids have many benefits over standard cars, and it is likely that their popularity will continue to grow until hybrids are considered the standard car across the globe. Understanding what a hybrid is and what it does will help you the next time you read about or shop for one these innovative vehicles.

Function

A hybrid car is a car that uses two engines---a gasoline-powered engine and an electric engine. The gasoline engine powers a turbine that powers the electric engine which powers the car. This reduces fuel consumption because more of the car's power demand is placed on the electric rather than the gas engine. A battery pack in the rear of the car stores extra power that is built up from the electric engine.

Benefits

The hybrid car comes with many benefits over a standard car. The use of the electric engine will save automobile owners nearly 50 percent in gas expenses due to the increased miles per gallon (MPG). That also affects the environment because less CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere if less gas is used. Hybrid cars also come with multiple tax breaks or credits. Check your local, state and federal government for more details and deadlines.

Considerations

While most hybrids use the electric engine for a gasoline savings, some use it primarily for performance. Check to see the MPG ratio while shopping for a vehicle to ensure that the hybrid name is not used more for show than for benefits. SUV and truck hybrids may appear to have a low MPG ratio, but the actual number is higher than most other trucks and SUVs. Therefore, to compare the MPG ratio to other vehicles of the same type.

Plug-In Hybrid

The newest version of the hybrid is the plug-in hybrid. Plug-in hybrids have both an electric and gasoline engine, but the cars are most often plugged in and charged, thus reducing their reliance on gasoline. The gasoline portion is only used in case of emergencies or for long trips.

Types

Even though plug-in hybrids are relatively new to the market, there are already many hybrid car models available. Two of the most popular hybrid cars are the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius. SUV hybrids include the Ford Escape and the Chevy Tahoe. The most popular model is the Chevy Volt.