Auto Knight

What Is A Hybrid Car?

by Darren

Today we seek to answer the question: “What is a hybrid car?”

The term “hybrid car” is bandied about so much these days that’s important to take a look at the meaning. Conventional cars run on gasoline engines. Hybrid vehicles have both a conventional gas engine combined with an electric engine. Hybrid vehicles have gotten a bad rap in recent years due to generally shoddy design and smaller bodies. This appears to be changing as more hybrid vehicles hit the market.

The basics behind how hybrid vehicles work are relatively simple. At certain points when driving (for example on long highway segments) the electric engine kicks in and the conventional engine is given a rest. This means you’ll spend less for gas as you’re using electric. Plus, the miles where you aren’t burning fossil fuels are much cleaner for the environment.

The advantages of hybrid vehicles are less cost for gas in a year, and a much lower carbon footprint, which is good for the environment. Hybrid cars are a huge part of all major auto maker’s plans in the next few years as climate change and fuel efficiency have become pressing issues to most drivers.