What is a Hybrid-Electric?

There are several car manufacturers who are currently offering hybrid vehicles in their line-up. A hybrid-electric vehicle uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to propel itself along. There are two types of hybrid vehicles. One is called the Parallel Hybrid and the other is the Series Hybrid. In a parallel hybrid, both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine propel the vehicle. In a series hybrid vehicle, the internal combustion engine does not thrust the vehicle. Instead, it turns a generator over to provide electricity to the electric motor. It is the electric motor that propels the vehicle along.

There are three major benefits of a hybrid-electric car. Firstly, much lower fossil fuel consumption rates are experienced. There is reduced wear on the gasoline engine. And thirdly, the adverse environmental impact is greatly lessened by running hybrid-electric cars.

Only in the last decade have we seen such great leaps and bounds in the development of hybrid-electric cars. Yes, the technology has been around for along time, but with the cost of fuel rising and the end of fossil fuel resources in sight, this has been the catalyst that has driven hybrid-electric car production into reality. The 2000s has seen the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which can be recharged from the electrical power grid and do not require conventional fuel for short trips. The Renault Kangoo was the first production model of this design, released in France in 2003. Some of these plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have become quite impressive, with at least one sports car version on the market – with a very high price tag. The Toyota Prius is one of the best known hybrid electric vehicles on the market today.We hope that helps answer the question ‘What is What is a Hybrid-Electric?’!

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