Hybrid Car FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

With consumer interest shifting towards eco-friendly vehicles, the automobile industry has also transformed drastically over the last few years. The general interest and focus is increasing in vehicles that don’t completely rely on conventional fuel. In this regard, hybrid cars emerged as a promising solution. If you want to know more about what hybrid cars are, what are their advantages, disadvantages, types and more, read on with our list of some of the most important hybrid car FAQs. 

Government initiatives such as Green Auto Loans is also encouraging motorists to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles. Almost every known manufacturer has introduced a hybrid vehicle. There are different types of hybrids, and the technology and performance vary for every vehicle. Read on and find more about it.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hybrid Cars

A hybrid vehicle is made up of two different types of energy – a combustion engine and an electric motor. Here are some of the hybrid car FAQs you might be looking for. 

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is powered by two engines – an internal combustion engine and one (up to two) electric motor. With this configuration, a hybrid car can take advantage of both sources to obtain energy. Both engines can act independently or jointly depending on the type of hybrid. 

What are the common types of hybrid cars?

There are three main types of hybrid cars:

• Mild hybrid 
• Fully hybrid
• Plug-in hybrid

How do hybrid cars work?

Hybrid cars are a combination of electric motors and a combustion engine, hence, they both will need fuel to operate. For instance, an electric motor in fully hybrid cars obtains power from the built-in battery pack, whereas the combustion engine draws power from the fuel. 

The electric motor also generates electricity by converting kinetic energy with the regenerative braking system. However, without the petrol or diesel engine, the hybrid’s battery cannot be recharged to power the electric motor or activate some of the vehicle’s main functions. 

What is a mild hybrid?

The electric motor and combustion engine work together in mild hybrid cars. These cars can not run on just electric or combustion engine mode. The engine and a motor always work in parallel. 

• Example of a mild hybrid: Honda Accord Hybrid is a mild hybrid car. You can browse through the listings of a used Honda Accord for sale in the UAE. 

What is a full hybrid car?

Fully hybrid cars can run just on the electric engine, combustion engine or a combination of both. Full hybrid cars are not plugged into recharge since it charges the battery by running the combustion engine. 

• Example of fully hybrid: Toyota Prius is one of the common examples of fully hybrid cars. Check out the listings of used Toyota Prius for sale in the UAE.

What are plug-in hybrid cars?

Plug-in hybrid requires plugging in on electric charges to fully recharge its battery. PHEVs can also run some km in just electric mode. Similar to an electric car, plug-in hybrids use a 110-volt electrical outlet to charge their battery.

• Example of a plug-in hybrid: Mitsubishi Outlander is a plug-in hybrid car. You can buy a used Mitsubishi Outlander for sale in the UAE from here.

What are the components of a hybrid car?

There are components in hybrid cars. See the list below:

• Auxiliary battery: The low-voltage auxiliary battery offers electricity to start the vehicle and other accessories before the traction battery is activated.
• DC converter: It converts high-voltage dc power from the traction to low-voltage dc. It is required to power the car’s accessories and recharge the battery.
• Electric generator: It generates electricity while braking and transfers the energy back to the traction battery.
• Electric traction motor: Drives the car’s wheels by using power from the traction battery.
• Exhaust system: It channels gasses through the exhaust system. A three-way catalyst is part of its internal composition to reduce the emission of pollutants.
• Thermal system: The system maintains a suitable temperature for the operation of systems and motors in hybrid cars.

Can hybrid cars run on electricity only?

No, hybrid cars cannot run only on electricity. However, hybrid vehicles can operate in electric-only mode when it has fuel in the tank. The cars aren’t designed to run without petrol. On the other hand, plug-in hybrid cars may run 20 to 100 km using only electricity before they start using petrol.

What are the benefits of a hybrid car?

Motorists can enjoy several benefits of hybrid cars in the UAE. Some of them include:

1. Green Auto Loan Facility: The UAE government offers Green Auto Loan Facility to hybrid vehicle buyers. The auto loan offers a discount of 0.5% on the interest rate along with a 50% cashback on the processing fees.
2. Less CO2 emission: Hybrids help to reduce the impact on the environment, as they pollute less than traditional vehicles due to low CO2 emissions. 
3. Regenerative braking system: Hybrid vehicles recharge their energy when you apply the brake. Hence, the energy released when the brakes are applied is captured by an internal mechanism. Then it is used to recharge the battery. This is why you don’t need to stop to recharge the battery when you’re on long journeys.

Read how heat affects the hybrid car battery to protect them in scorching summers.

From where I can take Green Auto Loan in Dubai?

Here is the list of banks that offer Green Auto Loan facilities:

• Emirates NBD (ENBD)
• National Bank of Fujairah (NBF)
• HSBC UAE
• Emirates Islamic 

However, you can only avail the Green Auto Loan if you are buying a hybrid or electric car from the registered dealers.

Where can I charge my plug-in hybrid car in Dubai?

You can find several ways for hybrid or electric car charging in Dubai. For instance:

• You can charge the electric battery of the hybrid car at home by installing electric car chargers.
•  DEWA Green Charges such as wall-box, fast charger, ultra-fast charger and public charger are also available across the Emirate.

With this, we complete our listings of the hybrid car FAQs. You can also find several upcoming 2022 hybrid cars in the UAE. The popular options may include: 

• Buy used BMW i3 for sale in the UAE
• Used Toyota Camry for sale in the UAE
• Buy used Kia Optima cars in the UAE 

If you are interested in knowing more about hybrid cars with futuristic features, then check out this guide. Besides, potential buyers wanting to buy a hybrid as well as a conventional used car for sale in the UAE can browse through the listings. 

For more information on hybrid cars and the latest technology, stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog.