How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

Hybrid cars and EVs have taken several important steps forward in the past few years. Just five years ago, you’d be lucky to see five automotive brands with hybrid cars or EVs on the road in Rye. Now, almost every automaker in the United States has some kind of electrified vehicle transiting American roads and highways. 

How hybrid cars work is that they combine an electric battery and an internal combustion engine to seamlessly go back and forth between both motors. In our more detailed guide here, we’ll answer, “What is a hybrid car and how does it work?” Read on if you want to know more!

How Hybrid Cars Work: Parallel Hybrid vs. Series Hybrid Vehicles

Whether you’re driving an S-Class hybrid or a GLE hybrid SUV, either is a great choice for improving your power on Stamford drives with mild hybrid technology. Just what is a hybrid car, and how does it work to produce forward motion? 

A hybrid vehicle blends two power sources: a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric battery. The battery is much larger than your standard 12-volt cell that powers your vehicle’s accessories. A hybrid battery typically runs around 100 volts. Read how hybrid cars work in their two most common configurations: parallel and series.

Parallel Hybrid

Most hybrids you can buy today are parallel hybrids. In these vehicles, both the electric motor and the gasoline engine are connected to the transmission, whether it’s an automatic, manual, or CVT system. They automatically shift between the two sources of power, and you won’t even notice.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids also use an electric motor paired with a gasoline engine. However, the difference here is that only the electric motor is mated to the transmission. In these types of hybrids, the electric motor offers the sole source of power. The gasoline engine acts as a generator for the electric motor to recharge it while you drive.

How Do Hybrid Cars Work Compared to Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs)?

We just covered how hybrid cars work. Keep in mind that hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) are in two distinct categories. Some brands now offer plug-in hybrids to go along with more traditional hybrid car concepts. PHEVs combine aspects of full EVs and traditional hybrids, giving you a chance to go fully electric on short drives.

• With their increased battery packs, plug-in hybrids can go further on electric power alone, often 20 to even 50 miles in some vehicles.
• For short distances around New Canaan, you can use a plug-in hybrid much like you’d drive an EV. You can rely completely on electric power all day while recharging at night. You won’t use a drop of gasoline with short commutes.
• If you’ll be heading out on a longer trip that exceeds the electric driving range on a PHEV battery, you can fill up on gasoline like you would with a conventional engine to make up the difference once the PHEV battery runs out.
• Because they don’t rely solely on electricity, PHEVs take between 1 and 4 hours to fully charge.

Mercedes-Benz & Mild Hybrid Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz offers several vehicles as mild hybrids. They use a 48-volt battery in the back undercarriage of the vehicle to give a boost of horsepower when needed.

Test Drive a Milde Hybrid Vehicle at Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich

Ready to get a closer look at how a mild hybrid vehicle works in a Mercedes-Benz? Contact us, call (877) 634-4150, or schedule a test drive with our team in Greenwich. We’re happy to help in any way we can!