A friend recently told me they were thinking about replacing their current car with a hybrid. When I asked which type of hybrid they were considering, they realised they didn’t actually know that there are several different types.
I gave them a quick explanation, and it occurred to me that many people browsing hybrids in the UK may not realise the differences either. So here’s my simple guide to the three main types of hybrid you’re likely to encounter.
What is and isn’t a hybrid?
Let’s just clear that up first of all. A hybrid vehicle is one that uses a combination of multiple energy sources. The most common answer is a combination of an internal combustion engine (petrol or sometimes diesel) and an electric motor powered by a battery.
A car that runs only on an engine (for example a 2005 Ford Focus) is not a hybrid.
Likewise, a car that runs entirely on electricity, such as the Nissan Leaf, is also not a hybrid - it’s a fully electric vehicle.
Self Charging (Full) Hybrid - HEV
I start with this version as it’s the one that many people think of when they think of a hybrid vehicle. Do you remember the original Toyota Prius? That was a self charging hybrid. The self charging hybrid behaves as the name suggests - you don’t do anything to charge the battery, it manages it all automatically. Through a combination of a motor generator and innovations such as regenerative braking the car will charge the battery this way. The car will also decide when to power itself with the electric motors, the internal combustion engine or a combination of both. With a self charging hybrid you could be driving along as normal and the engine will shut off and come back on when needed. Some may let you run on EV mode only, but often at lower speed and with limited range.
Mild Hybrid - MHEV
On the surface a mild hybrid may seem very similar to a self charging hybrid and people often get these mixed up. The key difference between the self charging, and mild hybrid is that a mild hybrid cannot run on the electric motor alone. The electric motor only provides additional power to the engine to lighten it’s load rather than run as a “part time” electric vehicle. People do report fuel savings and others have reported they’ve experienced the benefit of the electric motor on more performance hybrids but it’s the less efficient than the other two options, yet often much lower cost.
Plugin Hybrid - PHEV
Plugin hybrids have come on a lot in recent years, they operate similar to a self charging hybrid (and will self charge too) but often have more powerful electric motors and larger batteries. These cars have both a fuel tank flap and also a charging flap - you can plug it into an EV charger and it’ll charge the battery. On many newer plugin hybrids, you’re able to run these like electric vehicles and the engine will come on when needed for additional power or to run the car when the battery is depleted.
Conclusion
Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll be taking a step forward towards reducing fuel emmissions in some way or another. But as you can see above there is a substantial difference between a mild hybrid and plugin hybrid vehicle as the latter can be used essentially like an electric vehicle where the former cannot.
Comparison Table
| Type | Can drive electric only? | Needs to be plugged in? | Electric Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild Hybrid | No | No | None |
| Self Charging Hybrid | Yes | No | Limited |
| Plugin Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Variable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are self-charging hybrids really self charging? The term “self-charging hybrid” is mostly marketing. The battery charges automatically through regenerative braking and the petrol engine, rather than being plugged in.
Do plug-in hybrids need to be charged? They don’t have to be charged to work, but charging them regularly is what allows you to benefit from their electric driving capability.
Are hybrids cheaper to run than petrol cars? In many cases yes, particularly for city driving where regenerative braking and electric power can reduce fuel consumption.
Was this post written by AI? It was not, but the header image was generated using an AI tool. (I didn’t tell AI that it’s modelled the Mild Hybrid on a Toyota Corolla E210 which is a self charging hybrid!)