Hybrid Cars & Vehicles

Hybrid vehicle is defined as such when it has a combination of propulsion systems to provide motive power. Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles are the most common combination of hybrid cars. The internal combustion engine, also known as ICE, uses petrol (gasoline) as fuel and electric batteries to power electric motor.

What differs one type of hybrid car to another is the method that is used for power division between the electric and the petrol-based motor in the aspect of the timing that each system is in operation. The two major hybrid technologies of hybrid cars are parallel hybrid and series hybrid.

In hybrid parallel systems the ICE system and the electric system are connected to the mechanical transmission. Nowadays, hybrid parallel systems are the most common hybrid method used. There are some sub methods that included in parallel system like full hybrid which relate to a vehicle that can run on just the electric engine (batteries) or just the gasoline-based engine or a combination of both. Ford escape hybrid and Toyota prius hybrids are examples for hybrid parallel systems.

In hybrid series systems the ICE system is not connected to the mechanical transmission of the vehicle directly but to an electrical generator. The power generated is not stored in batteries for a later use but being consumed when generated. Honda insight is an example for a series hybrid system.

There are some more methods to power hybrid cars but they are less common.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Ford Escape Hybrid

Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid

Lexus RX400h Hybrid