How Do Hybrid Vehicles Work?

What is a hybrid vehicle and how does it work? You might be asking yourself this question if you’re curious about how hybrid cars work or you’re interested in driving one around Owosso. Hybrid vehicles have become more popular in the last several years, with people enjoying the benefits of an electrified model without having to change their driving habits entirely. So how do hybrid cars work? Find out below with Slingerland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT!

Parallel Hybrid vs. Series Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrids are known as an excellent option for St. Johns and Flushing car shoppers who want something efficient. But what is a hybrid car, and how does it work under the hood? While a gas-powered vehicle has one power source, a hybrid has two power sources: a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric battery. In hybrid systems, the two work together to minimize fuel consumption. Here’s how hybrid cars work in their two most common configurations, parallel and series:

Parallel Hybrid

In parallel hybrid vehicles, both the electric motor and the gasoline engine are connected to the transmission, whether it’s an automatic, manual, or CVT system. How these hybrid cars work is by blending both power sources together.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids also use an electric motor paired with a gasoline engine, but only the electric motor is paired with the transmission. In these vehicles, the electric motor is the sole source of power and the gasoline engine acts as a generator for the electric motor.

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

So now you know what a hybrid car is and how it works. If you’re wondering how hybrid vehicles compare to plug-in models, you should know that they are two different types of electric cars. While hybrid models run on the combined power of a gasoline engine and electric battery, plug-in hybrids are the in-between of gas-powered cars and fully electric vehicles. Here’s how they operate:

• With their increased battery packs, plug-in hybrids can go further on electric power alone.
• For short distances, you can use a plug-in hybrid much like you’d drive an EV — relying on 100% electric power all day and recharging at night.
• If you’ll be heading out on a longer trip that exceeds the electric driving range, you can fill up on gasoline like you would with a conventional powertrain.
• Because they don’t rely solely on electricity, plug-in hybrid vehicles take between 1 and 4 hours to fully charge.

You can find a few plug-in hybrid models in the Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge lineups, like the Chrysler Pacific plug-in hybrid, Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid, and the Jeep 4xes. We have these models for sale in our Corunna lot!

Learn More with Slingerland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT

Interested in learning more about electrified models? Discover the benefits you can enjoy with an electric car and reach out to our team for more information!