www.fueleconomy.gov buttonbanner graphic: orange to gray bar
Hybrid button hilighted Full Hybrid button Stop/Start buttonbanner graphic: blue bar
subbanner graphic: gray barOverview button highlightedStarting ButtonCruising ButtonPassing ButtonBraking ButtonStopped Buttonsubbanner graphic: gray bar

OVERVIEW

Hybrid-electric vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors to provide improved fuel economy.

The engine provides most of the vehicle's power, and the electric motor provides additional power when needed, such as for accelerating and passing. This allows a smaller, more-efficient engine to be used.

The electric power for the motor is generated from regenerative braking and from the gasoline engine, so hybrids don't have to be "plugged in" to an electrical outlet to recharge.
stage graphic: vertical blue rule
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Battery: The battery stores energy generated from the gasoline engine or, during regenerative braking, from the electric motor. Since the battery helps power the vehicle, it is larger and holds much more energy than batteries used to start conventional vehicles.Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Gasoline engine: The gasoline engine in a hybrid is much like those in conventional vehicles, except that it is usually much smaller and more efficient.
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Electric Motor: The electric motor assists the gasoline engine when additional power is needed. It also acts as a generator, converting energy from the engine or from regenerative braking into electricity and stores it in the battery. It also starts the gasoline engine instantly when needed.Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor visible. The car is stopped at an intersection.
Rollover area: Rollover the hybrid components to get more information
Footer area: Logos for the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency