hybrid car

Also known as: hybrid electric automobile

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses two power sources: an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor. This combination aims to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Hybrid cars can switch between or blend these power systems based on driving conditions. At lower speeds, the electric motor often powers the car, providing quiet and efficient operation, especially in city traffic. For more power, such as during acceleration or uphill driving, the gasoline engine engages. An onboard computer manages these systems to optimize performance and minimize fuel consumption.

A key feature is regenerative braking, where braking energy is captured and stored in a battery to power the electric motor. This system, along with the engine using a generator, recharges the battery, eliminating the need to plug in standard hybrids. Plug-in hybrids have larger batteries that can be charged externally for longer electric-only driving ranges. Hybrids offer a practical step toward cleaner transportation by achieving better mileage and producing fewer emissions than conventional vehicles.1

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automobile
Electric and hybrid vehicles
Modern electric cars and trucks have been manufactured in small numbers in Europe, Japan, and the United States since the 1980s. However, electric propulsion is only possible for relatively short-range vehicles, using power from batteries or fuel cells. In a typical system, a…
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Modern electric cars and trucks have been manufactured in small numbers in Europe, Japan, and the United States since the 1980s. However, electric propulsion is only possible for relatively short-range vehicles, using power from batteries or fuel cells. In a typical system, a…
Read More

automobile
Electric-gasoline hybrids
In 1997 Toyota introduced its four-passenger Prius hybrid to the Japanese market. Combining a small gasoline engine and an electric motor through a sophisticated control system, the Prius uses gasoline power only when necessary to supplement electric propulsion or to recharge its batteries. (That…
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In 1997 Toyota introduced its four-passenger Prius hybrid to the Japanese market. Combining a small gasoline engine and an electric motor through a sophisticated control system, the Prius uses gasoline power only when necessary to supplement electric propulsion or to recharge its batteries. (That…
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How Does a Hybrid Car Work?
…that rely solely on gasoline, hybrids seamlessly switch between, or blend, both systems depending on driving conditions.
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…that rely solely on gasoline, hybrids seamlessly switch between, or blend, both systems depending on driving conditions.
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Toyota Motor Corporation
… (1989), and the first mass-produced hybrid-powered vehicle in the world, the Prius (1997). In 1999 Toyota was listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The company continued to expand to new markets—specifically targeting younger buyers with the launch of its Scion brand (2003) and…
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… (1989), and the first mass-produced hybrid-powered vehicle in the world, the Prius (1997). In 1999 Toyota was listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The company continued to expand to new markets—specifically targeting younger buyers with the launch of its Scion brand (2003) and…
Read More