Hybrid-Electric Vehicle

A vehicle using petrol (gasoline or diesel) to power internal-combustion engines and electric batteries to power electric motors. Hybrids are low-polluting and low-petroleum consuming cars. Modern mass-produced hybrid cars recharge their batteries by capturing kinetic energy via regenerative braking. When cruising or in other situations where just light thrust is needed, "full" hybrids can use the combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning a generator (often a second electric motor) to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle. This contrasts with all-electric vehicles which use batteries charged by an external source such as the grid, or a range extending trailer.

With the recent sharp rise in oil prices, hybrid vehicles is gaining more and more attention.