A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) uses both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine or microturbine to propel the vehicle.  A hybrid is designed to capture energy that is normally lost through braking and coasting to recharge the batteries (regenerative braking), which in turn powers the electric motor.

A 'parallel' HEV uses the electric motor and/or the internal combustion engine or microturbine to propel the vehicle.  A 'series' HEV uses the electric motor to provide added power to the internal combustion engine or microturbine. Hybrid electric vehicles have the potential to use electricity to power onboard accessories or to provide outlets to plug in appliances or tools.  All have the potential to achieve greater fuel economy than conventional gasoline-engine vehicles.

Advantages of HEVs:

• Reduced fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions
• Optimized fuel efficiency and performance
• Lower fueling costs
• Recovered energy from regenerative braking
• Uses existing gas station infrastructure

Check our list of vehicles to see which models are available now, or will be available in the future, for this technology.

See Also

  >> Battery electric vehicles
  >> Extended-Range electric vehicles
  >> Fuel Cell electric vehicles
  >> Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles
  >> Medium/Heavy duty vehicles
  >> Neighborhood electric vehicles