How does a hybrid engine work?
A hybrid engine is powered by both a combustion engine and an electric motor. They can either work separately or together.
What are the different types of hybrid?
There are three main types of hybrid engines
1. Mild hybrid (MHEV)
Mild hybrid engines are self-charging, the petrol engine always powers the vehicle but this is assisted by a powerful electric battery. The extra boost from the battery works to reduce the workload of the engine.
Mild hybrids self-charge by using energy which is otherwise lost during braking or driving.
They are the simplest form of hybrid and their fuel economy and exhaust emissions are generally inferior to the other hybrid engines available.
2. Full hybrid (FHEV)
Full hybrid engines are also self-charging, however, they can also run on full electric power over short distances, which lowers fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
As with the mild hybrids, the battery is charged by energy which would otherwise be lost during braking and driving.
3. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Plug-in hybrids can self-charge, but they can also be recharged from an external electricity supply. They have larger batteries so often have a longer electric range than the other options, although this tends to result in higher initial outlays.
What is a self-charging hybrid?
A self-charging hybrid charges during normal driving by using energy created by the combustion energy often during braking. This process is called regenerative braking.
This means they do not require plugging in, so finding a charging station isn’t required.
What is regenerative braking?
Regenerative braking uses waste energy released under braking to replenish a hybrid’s battery.
During braking the brake discs use friction to slow the wheels, this, in turn, generates kinetic energy. The kinetic energy can be converted into electrical energy and stored in the battery for future use.
What’s the difference between a hybrid and petrol or diesel car?
A hybrid car has an electric motor to either boost the combustion engine, or power the engine for short distances. This generally leads to better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
What’s the difference between hybrid and electric cars?
Electric cars are powered only by an electric engine, no combustion engine. They all require a mains electricity supply and charger. They do not produce emissions, however, generating the electricity does still create emissions into the environment.
Are hybrid cars manual or automatic?
In order for the electric motor and petrol engine to work seamlessly together, most hybrids are automatic.
How long does the battery last?
A hybrid battery should last the full lifespan of the car, so it is very unlikely that the battery will need replacing in new or good-quality used cars.
What are the benefits of a hybrid?
The main benefits of a hybrid car are better fuel economy and lower emissions.
As the car uses mainly electric power on shorter journeys and generally runs with both power sources it uses less fuel than traditional petrol or diesel car.
A hybrid car is partially powered by electricity which is generated by the car’s normal actions, mainly using regenerative braking, this means that it will produce less emissions than a petrol or diesel car.
Another benefit of a hybrid car is that they don’t always need to be plugged in, unless you choose a plug-in hybrid you won’t need to factor in finding a charging station on your journeys.
What is the residual value of a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars retain their value better than petrol or diesel alternatives. This is mainly due to their reliability, lower running costs and the fact that there are currently fewer hybrid models on the market.
Are hybrid cars reliable?
As electric power is used when available and the battery is charged with regenerative braking there is less wear and tear on both the engine and brakes in hybrid cars, making them more reliable than the petrol or diesel alternatives.
How affordable are hybrids to maintain?
Hybrid cars run on both the electric power and combustion engine, this means the wear and tear on the engine is reduced when compared with petrol and diesel cars.
The brakes are used during regenerative braking to produce kinetic energy to replenish the battery. Due to this, they do not need to work as hard to slow the car down, so they need to be replaced less often, keeping service costs down.
Still not sure if a Honda hybrid e:HEV is right for you?
If you still have questions about whether a Honda hybrid e:HEV is right for you, please contact our specialist Honda team and we will be able to help you further.