How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

If you want to reinvigorate your Henderson travels, you might be interested in buying an eco-friendly car. With electric vehicles and hybrids galore, it can be hard to understand what each offers. So, what is a hybrid car, and how does it work exactly? Hybrid cars utilize both gas and battery power to transport you on the Las Vegas streets. Below, you can learn how hybrid cars work with our expert automotive team!

Parallel Hybrid vs. Series Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles are a great choice if you’re looking to boost your fuel economy without sacrificing the security of a gas-powered engine. So, how do hybrid cars work? A hybrid vehicle has two power sources under the hood: a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric battery. These two sources combine their strengths to produce a satisfying driving experience without wasting fuel. Review how hybrid cars work up close here:

Parallel Hybrid

When asking, “What is a hybrid car, and how does it work?”, you’re likely picturing a parallel hybrid. In this type of hybrid, both the electric motor and gas engine are connected to the transmission. They work together at the same time to prompt better fuel economy. 

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids also rely on an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but only the electric motor is connected to the transmission. In this configuration, the electric motor is the sole power source, and the gas engine acts like a generator. 

How Do Hybrid Cars Work Compared to Plug-In Electric Vehicles?

We discussed how hybrid cars work above, but there are also plug-in electric cars to consider. While similar, they fall into two distinct categories. So, how do hybrids and EVs differ? While hybrids work off of a system that uses both electric and gas power, EVs operate on battery power alone. Plug-in hybrids are a third option that combines the best of both worlds from hybrids and EVs and offer the following perks:

• Since plug-in hybrids have increased battery packs, enabling them to drive further. 
• When driving shorter distances around town, you can rely on 100% electric power. 
• If you take on a longer drive, you can drive on pure EV power until the range is exhausted, then your vehicle will use the gasoline engine to travel in a conventional manner. 
• Since they aren’t purely reliant on electricity, plug-in hybrid vehicles generally take between 1 and 4 hours to charge. 

Learn More With Genesis of Las Vegas 

Now that you can answer the question, “What is a hybrid car, and how does it work?”, you can begin to explore the world of eco-friendly driving. You can find hybrids in our pre-owned inventory, or you can make the leap to an ultra-efficient brand-new Genesis EV like the new GV60. Looking for more car-buying tips? Explore EV tax incentives offered here in Nevada! When you shop with Genesis of Las Vegas, you can easily transform every commute from North Las Vegas to Paradise into a joy ride!