By contrast, a series hybrid employs a similar layout, though only the electric motor powers the car.
Unlike plug-in hybrids and battery electrics, a hybrid never needs to be recharged using a plug and outlet.īecause the gas engine and electric motors work together to power the vehicle, the Prius is what’s known as a parallel hybrid. Energy is fed back to the battery by the car’s regenerative braking system. The Prius can drive purely on electric power for short periods of time, though only at low speeds. Keep in mind, this is the same basic engineering blueprint used in a plug-in hybrid vehicle, though we’ll touch more on PHEVs in a moment.įor example, the 2023 Prius's 150-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder is paired with two electric motors, and these three power sources are combined in a way that creates a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which metes out power to the front wheels.
A hybrid’s powertrain consists of an internal-combustion engine paired with at least one electric motor and a battery pack. The most popular example of the breed, the fuel-sipping Toyota Prius, has been on sale for more than two decades. Hybrids are the most common electrified cars. Let’s look at their similarities and differences, along with the pros and cons of each type. That’s why it doesn’t make the cut in this list of four electric car categories.
While this technology helps save fuel or add extra power as needed, this type of hybrid-assist system cannot power a vehicle without the use of the gasoline-fed engine. An example is the Ram 1500 full-size pickup, which comes standard with the brand's eTorque hybrid-assist system fitted to its 3.6-liter V-6. You might have heard the term “mild-hybrid,” too. When automakers promise to “fully electrify” their lineup of vehicles, they’re typically talking about offering a combination of vehicles that fall under one of the four aforementioned categories.
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