How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

What is a hybrid car and how does it work? Well, hybrid technology is elevating the automotive market one vehicle at a time. These vehicles have become more affordable for Chandler drivers, and our wide variety of hybrid and hybrid-electric vehicles at Berge Toyota makes them easily accessible for all. You might be curious to know how hybrid cars work if you’ve never had one before. Below, we answer the question, “How do hybrid cars work?”, and explore the difference in hybrid types.

Parallel Hybrid vs. Series Hybrid Vehicles

Whether you’re cruising in a hybrid Venza or hybrid Highlander, hybrids offer exceptional fuel economy ratings. But what is a hybrid car and how does it work? A hybrid vehicle uses two power sources, a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric battery. The two work together to minimize fuel consumption. To give you a better idea of how hybrid cars work, let’s compare parallel vs. series hybrid configurations:

Parallel Hybrid

Many hybrids you see throughout Chandler are parallel hybrids. These vehicles have an electric motor and gasoline engine connected to the transmission, regardless if it’s an automatic, CVT, or manual. They work together to blend the power sources.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids also use an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but only the electric motor is directly paired with the transmission. The electric motor is the sole source of power, and the gasoline engine is a generator for the electric motor. 

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

Since we’ve answered, “How do hybrid cars work?” above, you might still be wondering about the difference between the hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles you may see in Scottsdale. The biggest difference is that hybrid vehicles run on a gasoline engine and electric battery, while EVs only run on electric power. Here are a few added benefits of plug-in hybrids:

• They have increased battery packs so they can travel longer on electric power. 
• For short runs in Mesa, the plug-in hybrid is perfect when you want to use 100% electric power alone. 
• For longer driving distances, this vehicle allows you to fill up on gasoline too, so you don’t have to worry about your battery dying during travel. 
• They only take 1 to 4 hours to fully charge. 

Explore Hybrid Vehicles at Berge Toyota! 

Now that we’ve covered how hybrid cars work and the benefits of driving them, it’s time to explore our electrified vehicles at Berge Toyota. Contact us today or drop by our Mesa showroom to get set up with a test drive!