September 2022

How do hybrid cars work?

Hybrid cars work by combining the power of a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. The two then work together to power the car, making them more environmentally friendly than old-school cars, due to the fact they burn through less fuel and emit less CO2.

Sometimes the electric motor does all the work, sometimes the combustion engine does all the work, and sometimes they work together.

Hybrids use energy from the internal combustion engine to charge and maintain the electric battery, storing energy from deceleration and braking.

What is the difference between hybrid and electric cars?

The main difference between hybrids and electric cars is that hybrids combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine, while electric vehicles rely solely on the power of electricity.

Electric cars also produce zero emissions from the tailpipe, while hybrids do produce some due to the presence of a petrol or diesel engine.

All fully electric vehicles also have to be plugged in to be charged, while some hybrids can recharge their batteries while on the go, thanks to regenerative braking.

What types of hybrid cars are there?

There are three main types of hybrid cars available on the market, with each having its own benefits.

1. Full Hybrid (FHEV)

Full hybrids can run on just the petrol or diesel combustion engine, on just the electric motor, or a combination of both.

FHEVs are not plugged in to be recharged, and instead, the battery is recharged by running the combustion engine.

2. Mild Hybrid (MHEV)

Mild hybrids have both a combustion engine and an electric motor which always work together. Mild hybrids are unable to run on just electric or just combustion engine mode.

The electric motor is there to assist the combustion engine at various points and is not strong enough on its own to power the car. Its main purpose is to take some of the load off the combustion engine, thus reducing fuel consumption.

3. Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

Plug-in hybrids need to be plugged into the mains to fully recharge their battery. PHEVs can be run using just electric power.

They tend to have a larger battery capacity than a full hybrid, which means the range they can drive in all-electric mode is higher than the average FHEV.

These plug-in hybrid cars can be charged in various ways, including installing a charger at home or work, or finding a public charging point, of which there are an estimated 34,000 and counting in the UK, according to ZapMap.

Components of a hybrid car

The exact components of individual hybrid cars will vary, but most include the following parts:

●        Petrol or diesel engine: Acting as the main power source of the vehicle.

●        Electric motor: This can accelerate the vehicle by taking power from the battery, while also giving power back to the battery through regenerative braking.

●        Fuel tank: Stores petrol or diesel fuel.

●        Transmission: Transfers mechanical power from the engine and/or electric motor to drive the wheels.

●        Batteries: These power the electric motor and can also take power back from the electric motor too.

●        Generator: Powered by the engine, this can generate power for the electric motor and help recharge the battery.

What are the benefits of driving a hybrid car?

Hybrid options have a range of advantages when directly compared to more traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including:

1.    More environmentally friendly

Hybrids have lower fuel consumption than conventional cars, which means fewer emissions. When driven efficiently, this makes hybrid cars cleaner and better for the environment than standard petrol and diesel cars.

2.    Cheaper to run

Petrol hybrid cars get an average of 53.2 miles per gallon, compared to 41.9 for petrol and 46.8 for diesel, meaning hybrid owners will tend to spend less money on fuel over time.

On average, hybrids tend to have fewer faults and breakdowns too, meaning owners often spend less on maintenance work.

3.    Recharge as you drive

Conventional hybrids have regenerative braking abilities, meaning the battery can recharge while you’re driving along. This can mean no stops to charge the car on longer trips, which may be necessary with a fully electric car.

4.    Tax benefits

Hybrid cars tend to be cheaper to tax than petrol or diesel models, which can save owners money on their road tax each year.

What are the best hybrid cars?

Of the hybrid cars for sale, there are some remarkable standouts in the Citroën range.

Citroën C5 X

The excellent C5 X Plug-In Hybrid offers technological and modern electric mobility, combining the elegance of a saloon with the versatility of an estate and the commanding road presence of an SUV.

This exceptional plug-in hybrid has a full electric range of 31 miles (WLTP) and has four driving modes: Electric, Hybrid, Comfort and Sport.

With cutting-edge technology such as semi-autonomous driving and a communication interface with voice recognition, the C5 X Plug-In hybrid stands out from the crowd.

Citroën C5 Aircross

Our C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid has a full electric range of up to 34 miles (WLTP) with three available driving modes: Electric, Hybrid and Sport.

A key selling point for this car is the three fully independent rear seats which makes fitting all the family in much easier and much more comfortable for everyone.

There’s plenty of room in the boot too, extending to 600 litres when the rear seats are pushed forward.