How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

There are a variety of hybrid and electric cars for sale at Triangle Toyota de San Juan, from the Toyota Corolla Hybrid to the Toyota Prius. Before you begin shopping for a hybrid car, though, it’s important to understand what a hybrid car is and how it works. That way, you can hit San Juan roads with confidence. Learn how hybrid cars work with Triangle Toyota de San Juan, and then visit our dealership near San Juan to explore our new Toyota inventory and your favorite hybrid model.

What is a Hybrid Car, and How Does It Work?

Let’s start with the basics — what is a hybrid car, and how does it work? A hybrid car uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. While hybrid models do use gasoline, they consume less of it than traditional gas-powered vehicles, resulting in greater fuel economy returns.

How do hybrid cars work, then? The internal combustion engine and the electric motor (powered by a battery) work together for propulsion. Depending on the setup of the motor and internal combustion engine, your hybrid car will function differently.

Parallel Hybrid

Parallel hybrids are the most common type of hybrid currently available. Vehicles with this setup selectively use the gasoline engine or the electric motor to drive the car, or they can engage both components at once. On Toyota models, there are two electric motors arranged to work as a continuously variable transmission for the engine.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids are less common, but more automotive manufacturers are adopting this setup. Like parallel hybrids, series hybrids use an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. At low speeds, series hybrid vehicles engage the electric motor, and once speeds climb, the engine begins to work. When this happens, a second dedicated generator turns gasoline power into electricity to keep the battery running.

Plug-in Hybrid

Plug-in hybrid vehicles run just like hybrids. However, they have a larger battery pack, which allows them to drive farther on electric power alone. What’s more, you plug in your vehicle to recharge the battery, rather than relying on regenerative braking and other methods to keep the battery charged, like on typical hybrid cars.

Learn More About How Hybrid Cars Work With Triangle Toyota de San Juan

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Triangle Toyota de San Juan if you have any questions about how hybrid cars work. From there, we can introduce you to the Toyota hybrid and electric car lineup and help you find the model that best fits your San Juan lifestyle. We look forward to working with you as you choose to optimize your San Juan drives.