What exactly does a hybrid car do that makes it a hybrid?

Question

What exactly does a hybrid car do that makes it a hybrid?

Answer 1

Batteries, Electric.......learn more here:

http://www.hybirdcarzone.info

Answer 2

They add large batteries and electric motors.

The ENGINE + MOTOR make them a hybrid.

Good Luck...

Answer 3

it dosent use gas or diesel to power its engine. However it either uses electricity which comes primarily from burning coal. Or it emits water vapor which many environmentalists fail to realize is also a greenhouse gas.

Answer 4

Its a hybrid because it is made up of both combustion and battery powered engines.

Answer 5

true hybrids like the Toyota Prius have the ability to be propelled by a battery powered electric motor and/or a gasoline engine, thus they are a hybrid between a conventional car and an electric one.

Make sense?

EDIT - some of the answers have wrong information. The Prius doesn't have a severe disadvantage at speed, because while they do have some extra weight, the engine frequently shuts off while going down hills, which more than makes up for the weight. In addition, the gas engine is smaller and less powerful than most, but still performs OK because the electric motor will also provide extra power combined with the engine when needed.  I rented one for a week and got 45 MPG on the highway (70 mph with AC on), I don't know of any gas powered car on the market that does that.

Answer 6

i think that it has a battery that charges itself whenever the car stops. Therefore ther car is part fuel and part electricity, so it saves fuel. This is also why its much quieter.

Answer 7

A hybrid car is a car with a battery and runs on gasoline.  When the care is going slower than 30 mph, the car runs on its battery rather then gas, but when it is going faster than 30 mph, it switches to gas power.

Answer 8

It has two forms of propulsion.  For example a Pirus has a gasoline engine and batteries for an electric motor.  Both the engine and motor can provide power to the wheels.

Note: hybrids are good for stop and go, but steady speed, they are at severe disadvantage due to hauling around heavy batteries and motor(s).

Answer 9

Two Type of engines = Hybrid and it changes from gasoline to electric.