What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car, also known as a full hybrid or a parallel hybrid, is a vehicle that uses more than one type of energy. This could be combining a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor.
What is a mild hybrid car?
Mild Hybrid cars have a small electric generator instead of a traditional engine, along with a lithium-ion battery and an alternator.
What is a petrol hybrid car?
A petrol-hybrid car uses both a petrol engine and an electric motor, powered by a battery that recharges while you are driving.
What is a plug-in hybrid car?
Plug-in Hybrid, also known as PHEV, cars are vehicles that can be plugged into the mains to recharge the battery. They are also powered by a petrol or diesel engine.
Are all hybrid cars automatic?
All Toyota hybrids are automatic, so you can enjoy the benefits of a smooth drive and forget the hassle of constantly changing gears during traffic.
Why isn’t the all new Toyota Yaris electric?
Demand for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) is still relatively low – 4.7% of UK car sales last year were BEVs, according to the SMMT. Whilst they do have a place in the future of zero emissions mobility, most people are still buying traditional diesel and petrol vehicles. Hybrids are perfect for those who want to reduce their emissions, but aren’t ready/able to make the switch to plug-in vehicles.
Take a look at real hybrid test drive data to see how well they perform on the road, and how much time they can spend in electric mode:
Discover Toyota Hybrid
Toyota have sold over 15,000,000 hybrids, and last year, over 60% of Toyota sales in the UK were hybrids. Clearly, there is demand for them.
Toyota have even revealed our electrification strategy in 2017, which includes BEVs, PHEVs, HEVs and FCEVs:
Read all about it
Why don’t you do petrol?
Some models are available with a traditional petrol engine, like Aygo, Supra and the recently discontinued GT86. Over 60% of the cars we sold in the UK last year were hybrids, though. We are seeing demand for them increase year on year. Our hybrid technology has been proven over many years and forms a key part of our journey to zero emissions, and the benefits for driver enjoyment and air quality are clear:
Why is a hybrid more expensive than petrol?
Our hybrids, like Corolla, Prius, RAV4, C-HR and All New Yaris are fitted with the latest, fourth generation hybrid technology, enabling the driver to get better fuel economy over a petrol equivalent, and run in EV mode at speeds of up to 70mph (for the All New Yaris). Our hybrids also come as standard with an automatic (CVT) transmission, as well as Toyota Safety Sense, which are usually costly options on other vehicles.
Do you have to charge a hybrid car?
Yes, all hybrids have a battery that you will need to charge. You can do this at public charging points or at home with your wall charger or a normal 3-pin power port source.
How to choose an EV charging station?
Choosing an EV charging station depends on your personal situation. As EV cars become more popular, charging points are becoming more accessible. You can find charging points at local supermarkets, outside your local gym or fast food places or even at your workplace. There will be a fast charger or a rapid charger, so you can choose which one to use depending on your time scale or how much charge you have left. Read our electric charging page to find out more about the difference between each charging option.
How to easily find charging stations for your electric vehicles?
There are multiple websites and apps that you can use to find your nearest charging stations. These include ChargeFinder, CarWow, and Zap-Map.
How long do hybrid car batteries last?
When you visit us at Snows Toyota for a Toyota Hybrid Service, we will check your vehicle's hybrid system, and the hybrid battery will be checked by our technicians to ensure it's functioning correctly. This means we will be able to track the condition of your battery and decide sooner if it needs any maintenance.
Are hybrid cars more expensive to insure?
Hybrid cars may be a little more expensive to insure compared to petrol or diesel cars, as they have specialist parts and need specialist repairs. It's best to use insurance comparison websites to check the specific model.
Can you jump start hybrid car?
Yes, you can jump start a hybrid car; however, it isn't the same as jump starting a conventional car. Hybrid cars have a higher-voltage battery, so you will need to be extra cautious if you are jump starting it yourself. You should always refer to your vehicle's manual, ensure the jumper cables are connected correctly and follow the correct safety precautions before attempting to jump start it. If in doubt, feel free to contact our team, and we can help find a solution.
How to choose between an electric and a hybrid car?
Choosing between an electric and a hybrid car depends on your personal preference and lifestyle. You should consider your driving habits, how easy it is to access charging and what you need from a car.
