How Does a Hybrid Car Work?
Are you in the market for a new car? Want a car that reduces your environmental impact? Then it’s time to claim the Toyota hybrid car that most closely matches your needs. But what is a hybrid car and how does a hybrid car work? To help our friends near Amherst, Manchester, and Derry, NH, we at Ira Toyota of Manchester have created this helpful guide.
Keep reading to learn about all hybrid cars or skip to browsing our hybrid inventory here.
What Is a Hybrid Car?
A hybrid car is a type of car that uses both conventional energy sources—gas—and electrical energy to power your commutes. Since hybrids use gas to power commutes, it has all the same components of a traditional car, including the fuel tank, engine, transmission, and more.
There are many benefits to driving a hybrid car, some of which include:
- Increased fuel efficiency
- Potential to spend less on gas per month
- Zero tailpipe emissions when driving in electric-only mode
- Reduced need to import fossil fuels
Many Toyota hybrid models, like the Toyota RAV4 hybrid, come standard with EV Mode. When enabled, this driving mode lets you travel using just the stored electrical energy. This is perfect for shorter, local commutes around town.
How Does a Hybrid Car Work?
Hybrid cars work similarly to conventional cars. They still rely on internal combustion to start the engine and begin your commute unless you drive in electric-only mode. In this case, your car will pull the electric energy stored to power your commute.
Depending on which type of hybrid car you drive—traditional hybrid vs. plug-in hybrid—your car stores the electrical energy different:
- Hybrid: Hybrid cars use a process known as regenerative braking to store electric energy. Regenerative braking is when the energy created when you brake is captured and stored in a battery pack. This captured energy is later used to power your hybrid and/or electric-only commutes.
- Plug-in Hybrid: Plug-in hybrid cars, on the other hand, do not use regenerative braking. Instead, they are plugged into an outlet to recharge the battery pack. If you’re headed on a long commute, you can keep your Toyota fully charged and ready to go by visiting any of the 26,000 charging stations nationwide.
As you can see, hybrid cars work similarly to traditional cars with the addition of a battery pack, electric motor, and charging port found on plug-in hybrid cars only.
Toyota Hybrid Models
When you choose to drive a hybrid Toyota, you have lots of options among several body styles:
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Hybrid Sedans |
Hybrid SUVs |
Other Hybrid Models |
Plug-in Hybrid Models |
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Thanks to this wide selection of hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in three different body styles, you’re sure to find the model that most closely matches your specific driving needs.
Which Toyota Hybrid Will You Choose?
When it comes to getting behind the wheel of a Toyota hybrid, the choice is easy thanks to the variety of offered models, but which will you choose? To decide, head to Ira Toyota of Manchester to get an up-close look at each model.
In no time at all, you’ll be cruising near Amherst, Manchester, and Derry, New Hampshire, from behind the wheel of a greener car. Contact or visit our dealership today to choose your hybrid Toyota!
