What is a Hybrid Car? A hybrid car is a vehicle with at least one electric motor paired with a gasoline engine. Because it has two power sources, a hybrid car can choose which one is more efficient in a given driving condition. When you’re driving slow, most hybrid cars are programmed to use the electric motor to move the car. At higher speeds, the regular engine is arguably the better choice. But how does a vehicle run using electricity? A hybrid car comes with a high-voltage battery separate from the car’s conventional battery. Power is generated by capturing energy from the deceleration usually lost to the heat generated by the brakes—a process known as regenerative braking. A hybrid car also uses its gasoline engine to charge and maintain the power of the battery. You can choose to drive solely using the electric motor, and then just switch to the gasoline engine when the battery is low. This can go the other way around as well. Ran out of fuel? Switch to the electric motor before you reach the next gas station. From there, you can probably deduce the advantages of owning a hybrid car. Types of Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid cars also have subcategories that offer various advantages and disadvantages.[2] It’s best to familiarize yourself with these types, so you can better sift through the long list of hybrid cars in the Philippines. Parallel hybrids are the most common vehicles you’ll find. In a parallel hybrid, the electric motor and the gasoline engine are connected to the transmission, effectively blending the two power sources. Series hybrids are the opposites of parallels, as the electric motor is the one doing the legwork, and there’s no physical connection between the engine and the wheels. The gasoline engine is simply there to recharge the electric motor. A series hybrid operates like an electric vehicle, only with a gasoline engine. Plug-in hybrids have a larger battery pack compared to other hybrids, and they must be fully recharged using an external electricity source. If you run out of battery, this vehicle will revert to a conventional parallel hybrid. Mild hybrids can’t run on electricity alone, but their electric motor still assists the gasoline engine. This results in reduced fuel consumption, although not as efficient as their hybrid counterparts. What is the Difference Between Hybrid Cars vs Electric Vehicles?