YES! Absolutely. Not all hybrids are made equal, let me explain…
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How do hybrid cars work?
Hybrid cars work by using two power sources – an internal combustion engine and an electric motor(s). The engine is primarily intended to be used for high-speed driving, while the electric motor is used for low-speed, city driving. The two power sources work together to provide a smooth, efficient driving experience.
In addition to this low / high speed operation, if the hybrid traction battery is very depleted, the engine is used to recharge the battery by allowing the electric motor to act as a generator. To understand how this complicated system allows drivers to save fuel, check out this post: Why is a Hybrid Car More Efficient than a ‘Normal’ Car
Types of hybrid cars
There are several different types of hybrid cars, including mild hybrids, full hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders.
Mild hybrids use the electric motor to assist the gasoline engine, while full hybrids can run on either power source alone.
Plug-in hybrids (eg. BMW 330e) and range extenders (eg. Chevrolet Volt) have larger batteries and can be charged from an external power source. By charging at home you can fill the battery without using the engine, further increasing their efficiency and cost of running
Charging a hybrid car – Myth vs Reality
There is a common myth that you cannot charge a hybrid car, but this is not entirely true. While most hybrid cars cannot be charged from an external source, some plug-in hybrids can be. Charging a hybrid car can help to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy, but it is not always necessary or even possible, depending on the type of hybrid you have.
The first hybrids (eg. Toyota Prius) had relatively small batteries and were not possible to charge. As manufacturers are transitioning to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the size of the battery is growing and the necessary onboard charger is being added to facilitate domestic and public charging with mains AC.
Advantages and disadvantages of charging a hybrid car
Charging a hybrid car has several advantages, including reduced emissions, increased fuel economy, and lower fuel costs. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider, such as the cost of installing a charging station, the time it takes to charge the battery, and the limited range of some hybrid vehicles. It is important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to charge a hybrid car.
How to charge a hybrid car – step by step guide
If you have a plug-in hybrid, charging is as simple as plugging the car into an external power source. However, the process can vary depending on the make and model of your hybrid. In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to help you charge your hybrid car correctly and safely.
If you are looking to purchase a plugin hybrid (PHEV) it’s worth checking to see that the charge cable is provided with the car. These cables are not cheap so insist that you have yours with the car.
If you don’t have a home A/C plug it is possible to buy a new one as the charging plugs are standardised. They are not all the same, make sure you get the correct plug for your car. There are only 2 types to choose from, type 1 or type 2.
Type 1 to type 2 adapters look like this this is a slightly older design and is used on my Mitsubishi Outlander.
Type 2 to type 2 adapters look like this and are the current design.
These plugs are the AC to DC type. AC goes into the car and let the car’s on board charger charge the car. The fast chargers like CCS and CHAdeMO put DC directly into the car’s battery, bypassing the relatively slow onboard charger.
For more info check out this post I wrote: How Much Does it Cost to Charge a Plug in Hybrid
Best practices for charging a hybrid car
You can’t really go wrong here. Charging your hybrid is far easier than filling up at a gas station. With electric charging you don’t run the risk of putting diesel in your petrol for example!
I think the most important thing to note is that you use the charge timer fitted to your car in order to specify the cheap charging hours. On my Mitsubishi Outlander, there is a (rather terrible) phone app, that makes configuring the off peak charging hours easier than doing it in the car’s menu.
Before You Go
Have you checked out these other great posts written by Carbant.
