An Introduction To The Different Types Of Hybrid Cars | Motorpoint

An Introduction To The Different Types Of Hybrid Cars | Motorpoint

Hybrids now account for a third of all new cars sold in Britain, so we thought we’d share an easy guide about the three main hybrids you can buy:
• Mild Hybrid
• Hybrid
• Plug-in Hybrid

We’ll be looking around the Lexus RX450h, Mini Countryman and Ford Puma to highlight the differences.

Hybrid – Lexus RX450H
Lexus is part of Toyota’s luxury car making division. Did you know it was Toyota who first brought hybrid technology to the masses with the Prius in 1997. The technology has been massively been updated.

You’ll find a decent 3.5L V6 petrol engine under the bonnet, and a small battery that feeds power to two electric motors, which also drive the wheels. You don’t plug in this type of hybrid, but the electric motors are charged by the engine when it’s running and when you decelerate, so you get short periods of pure electric running at low speeds. When you accelerate harder, the combustion engine and electric motor team up, which is better for fuel economy and gives you a useful performance boost.

Plug-in Hybrid – Mini Countryman
The technology for plug-in hybrids works much the same as a regular hybrid, but the plug-in moves a step further towards being a pure electric vehicle. If you plug it in, you can do about 30 miles of pure electric running, so if you’re using it for shorter trips like commuting or your weekly shop, you can use it as a pure EV. The other benefit is that you can charge it on a domestic socket, so no need for a charging port to be installed in your home.

Mild Hybrid – Ford Puma
Finally we come to the mild hybrid, illustrated by this Ford Puma. The mild hybrid is the latest edition to the hybrid family. This is the hybrid technology that is going main stream at the moment. You never plug it in, and you never run it on pure electric power alone. The electric power helps the engine pull away and the engine to coast, but your driving experience won’t feel any different. Overall the economy gains are smaller (but still worthwhile) than other hybrids but mild hybrids are typically lighter and more affordable.

Watch the full video and take a closer look at the three types of hybrid cars.

Subscribe for more videos from Motorpoint: https://www.youtube.com/c/motorpoint

Click the notifications button to ensure you’re the first to see any new videos!

Motorpoint is the UK’s largest independent car retailer selling nearly new cars. Most vehicles come with a warranty and are available to drive away the same day using our Reserve and Collect service

Motorpoint: https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motorpointcars
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorpoint
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorpoint