How does a hybrid work?

A hybrid car runs on two power sources:

• A regular petrol or diesel engine (you know this one), and

• An electric motor with a battery

They work together to use less fuel, make fewer emissions, and feel a bit quieter and smoother than your average car.

At low speeds (like creeping through traffic or finding a car park), the electric motor does the work. When you need more grunt, like overtaking or merging, the petrol engine kicks in. You don’t have to do anything. The car switches between the two like a multitasking queen.

Do I need to plug it in?

That depends. There are two kinds of hybrids:

1. Hybrid - No plug

• Charges itself while you drive or brake

• Just fill it with petrol and go about your day

• e.g. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda HR-V Hybrid

2. Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) - Yes plug

• Yes, you plug it in to charge.

• Has a bigger battery, so you can drive around 40–100km on electricity only

• Uses the battery and fuel like group project members to all pull their weight, making it super economical

• e.g. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Mazda CX-60 PHEV

Why should I care?

• You’ll use less fuel

• It’s quieter, especially in traffic

• You feel slightly better about the planet

• You don’t have to learn anything about EV chargers (unless you go plug-in)

What’s the catch?

• More expensive to buy

• Not amazing on long highway drives, the electric bits don’t help as much at 100km/h

• Plug-in hybrids only save money if you actually plug them in (a shock, I know)

A hybrid is for you if:

• You do a lot of city driving

• You want to use less petrol

• You like the idea of electric power but don’t want to change your entire lifestyle

A plug-in hybrid is for you if:

• You drive short distances

• You can charge at home or work

• You want to look environmentally conscious and still have a petrol backup when you forget