Hybrid Cars
Alongside pure electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are an important part of this shift towards greener vehicles.
OVL Group has seen more customers leasing hybrid cars this year – this article covers everything you need to know about hybrid cars.
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car is a vehicle that combines a conventional engine (usually petrol-powered) with an electric motor.
The petrol engine charges the car’s batteries, with the electric motor usually kicking in when extra power is needed, such as during acceleration.
Cars use the most fuel when you’ve got your foot on the floor increasing speed, so using an electric motor to help the combustion engine makes cars more efficient.
On most models, the batteries are recharged by collecting wasted energy from elsewhere.
For example, many hybrids use something called regenerative braking, which is where the kinetic energy released during braking is captured and used to charge the batteries.
The engine also shuts down automatically when this occurs, saving fuel and cutting emissions.
What are self charging hybrid cars?
“Self-charging hybrid” is often used as another term for non-plug-in hybrid cars, which use one (or more) electric motors to improve the performance of the car’s combustion engine.
Unlike a PHEV (click here for more information about PHEVs), these hybrids cannot be plugged in to charge them up. Instead, energy is generated through the vehicle’s engine or brakes - they charge while you drive.
Are there any tax benefits?
Yes! Hybrid vehicles tend to emit less CO2 and are subject to lower tax bands.
Please contact us for expert advice about the tax benefits of ultra low emission vehicles.
Hybrid Car Deals