What is a Hybrid Car?

Hybrid cars (HEV) are often referred as self-charging hybrid cars. They combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery to power the car. A Hybrid electric vehicle can't be plugged in to charge. Instead, the battery charges in decelerating, stopping or coasting phases.

How do Hybrid cars work?

It's simple really. Along with a petrol or diesel engine, hybrid cars (HEV) have an electric motor powered by a small but effective battery. The electric motor in a hybrid electric vehicle assists the engine for improved fuel efficiency.

What's it like to drive a Hybrid car?

A hybrid drives like a traditional combustion engine car but with a few bonuses. It’s a lot quieter for a start and you systematically benefit from the convenience of clutch-less drive with either an automatic or dual-clutch auto transmission.

What does Hybrid mean?

A hybrid electric vehicle combines two different types of power: electricity and petrol. Hybrid cars regenerate energy through the braking system to power the battery. The engine and battery tend to help each other out. They can work together or separately.

What are E-Hybrid cars?

E-Hybrid cars are plug-in hybrid vehicles. We don't use this terminology in our range of plug-in hybrid vehicles.

What is a Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)?

PHEV is the abbreviation for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This type of hybrid electric car runs on electricity as well as petrol or diesel. A Plug-In Hybrid is perfect for those who want to travel further in electric mode. It’s got a bigger battery than a Hybrid and can give you a 30-mile plus electric range. When that electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to Hybrid mode. The battery can be recharged from an external outlet, which enables them to run solely on electric power for longer.

What is the meaning of PHEV?

PHEV is the abbreviation for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This type of hybrid electric car runs on electricity as well as petrol or diesel. PHEVs have a large battery that can be recharged from an external outlet, which enables them to run solely on electric power for longer.

How does a Plug-In Hybrid work?

A Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) works in a similar way to a standard Hybrid – there is a petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a battery however, in a Plug-in Hybrid, the battery is much larger than in a Hybrid and it is rechargeable from an external outlet. This means the car is able to travel around 30-40 miles (depending on the model) on battery power alone – more than enough for the average daily commute – but it can also call on the petrol engine for longer trips. Like a Hybrid, the battery can be charged whilst driving, but for the full benefit, you will need to plug in. Charging PHEV cars should take less than three hours. Put this all together and you can enjoy miles of low-cost, all-electric driving while still having a petrol engine for those rare long distance trips. Perfect.

What's it like to drive a Plug-In Hybrid car?

Relaxing and rather fun, actually. When running on battery power, PHEVs are very responsive, because unlike combustion engines, electric motors produce maximum torque at any rpm. Acceleration is brisk. We expect most charging to be done at home or at work but If you want to top up on the go, there is a vast and fast-expanding number of stations accessible across the UK. When the battery level is too low to propel the car in electric-only mode, the combustion engine kicks in and works with the battery as a supporting element - just like a regular, self-charging hybrid.

What's the difference between Hybrid vs Plug-In Hybrid car?

The main difference between hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars is that plug-in hybrids have a larger batteries than hybrids and that this battery is rechargeable from an external outlet. This enables plug-in hybrid cars to run on electric power alone for much longer distances than hybrids.

What's the difference between MHEV vs PHEV?

A Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) uses a 48V battery and electric motor to increase the efficiency of its internal combustion engine (ICE). Unlike a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), an MHEV cannot run solely on electric power, although its combustion engine shuts off during braking, coasting and stopping.

What is a Plug-In Hybrid SUV?

A Plug-In Hybrid SUV is a passenger car with increased ground clearance. It uses a hybrid system, which battery is rechargeable from an external source. Our Plug-In Hybrid SUV range includes popular models like Niro PHEV and Sportage PHEV.