How Do Hybrid Cars Work: Everything You Need To Know About This Vehicle

Hybrid vehicles have become one of the most sought-after alternative-fuel vehicles on the roads of San Marcos today!

While many drivers are considering switching to hybrid vehicles, many don’t know exactly what they are. At our Austin dealership, many of our customers ask, “What is a hybrid car and how does it work?” 

Hybrid cars and vehicles are powered with both an electric battery and a gasoline-powered engine. You can switch back and forth between the electric battery and the engine. If you want to know more about how do hybrid cars work, use this guide brought to you by the specialists at First Texas Honda today. Also, if you’re set on a hybrid car, apply for financing with our finance center to start the car buying process!

How Hybrid Cars Work: Parallel vs. Series Hybrid Cars

If you’re researching what is a hybrid car and how does it work, you should know there are two common hybrid car configurations: Parallel and Series hybrid cars.

Although they’re both hybrid cars, each one works differently than the other, which will give you a different experience on the roads of Round Rock. Check out how do hybrid cars work and how their inner engineering works below:

Parallel Hybrid

Most hybrids on the market 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 work 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.

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars: How Do Hybrid Cars Stack Up?

Now, many of our Cedar Park customers often ask, “How do hybrid cars compare vs. electric vehicles?”

The main difference between the two is that electric vehicles (EVs) can be plugged in to recharge, while you’ll still have to fill up the gas tank with a hybrid car. But newer model hybrid cars are now blurring the line between these two by making plug-in hybrid and other elements, such as:

• With their increased battery packs, plug-in hybrids can go further on electric power alone. 
• For short distances around San Marcos, 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, hybrid plug-in vehicles take between 1 and 4 hours to fully charge.

Test Drive Our Hybrid Cars at First Texas Honda 

Now that you know more about how hybrid cars work, visit us at our Austin dealership for a test drive of our hybrid cars today. Contact us for more information!