How does a self-charging hybrid car work?
In terms of how you use it, a self-charging hybrid car works just like a conventional car - there is no need to plug in - simply fill up with petrol at the pumps, and off you go! So what does hybrid mean? It’s pretty simple, along with a petrol or diesel engine, hybrid cars also have an electric motor that is powered by a small battery. The aim of the electric motor is to assist the engine and occasionally drive very short distances on battery power - as opposed to driving long distances on battery power alone as a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric vehicle would.
The battery is charged by recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted - when slowing down for example. The battery then feeds this energy to the electric motor to help with acceleration or to drive the car at low speeds. This means lower emissions, better fuel economy and more money to spend on the things you enjoy. Great!
What are the benefits of a self-charging hybrid car?
There are several benefits to owning a self-charging hybrid car.
Lower emissions
Because the electric motor can assist with acceleration, there is less strain on the engine. This results in lower emissions. The electric motor can also take over at low speeds - in stop-start traffic in town centres for example. That means the engine doesn’t have to be running for as long, which results in cleaner air for everybody.
Reduced running cost
Using less fuel is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for your finances! Improved fuel economy means less money spent on fuel, and less time wasted at the pumps. The lower emissions also mean a reduced VED rate and lower BIK tax.
Doesn’t require you to make any changes
If you aren’t quite ready to switch to a plug-in vehicle, or don’t have the option of a home charge point, hybrid cars might be the solution you’re looking for. A hybrid car doesn’t require you to do anything different than you would do in a conventional car. The car’s clever electronics take care of how the energy is recovered and used. All you have to worry about is keeping it topped up with petrol.
Relaxing drive
The assistance from the electric motor means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard and that makes for a quieter journey. The added torque also means effortless acceleration for a more relaxing driving experience.
What is it like to drive a self-charging hybrid car?
Very similar to driving a conventional car, but with a few bonuses. The best part is that the car’s clever systems decide how to use the battery and electric motor in the most efficient way possible. You just need to drive as you normally would, while enjoying improved fuel economy and lower emissions.
If you want to have more of a say, you can change driving modes to encourage the car to focus on economy, or if you want a more dynamic drive, you can switch Sport mode. You will also notice that the car is quieter, particularly around town, thanks to the assistance from the electric motor.
How does a plug-in hybrid car work?
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) works in a similar way to a self-charging hybrid– there is a petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a battery. In a plug-in hybrid, the battery is much larger than in a self-charging hybrid. This means the car is able to travel around 30 miles on battery power alone - more than enough for the UK average daily commute - but it can also call on the petrol engine for longer trips.
Like a self-charging hybrid, the battery can be charged whilst driving, but for the full benefit, you will need to plug in. Charging a PHEV should take less than three hours. Put this all together and you can enjoy miles of low-cost, all-electric driving while still having a petrol engine for those rare long distance trips. Perfect.
What are the benefits of a plug-in hybrid?
There are plenty of benefits to owning a plug-in hybrid car, here are some of our favourites
Flexibility
If you aren’t quite ready to go fully electric, a plug-in hybrid is the perfect compromise. You get around 30-miles of electric driving, which should be more than enough for most journeys, but you always have the petrol engine to fall back on if you’re planning a longer trip.
Zero emissions driving
Most of your driving will be on battery power, which is particularly helpful for improving air quality in urban areas.
When running on battery power, PHEVs are incredibly quiet inside, making for a relaxed atmosphere. Driving is easy, too, because electric motors produce maximum torque at all revs, so acceleration is instant.
Cheap to run
Electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, so when running on battery power, your journey may cost less than a third of what it would in a combustion-engined car. There are tax incentives, too. VED is lower for PHEV drivers, and for company car drivers BIK tax is also reduced. There’s even an OLEV grant available that puts £350 towards your home charger.
Vehicle eligibility and grant figure correct as at June 2020. UK sales only (excludes Channels Islands and Isle of Man). Grant scheme may be withdrawn and eligibility/amounts may change at any time without prior notice.
Charge at home
Home charging is a major perk. Imagine waking up every day knowing you have 30 miles of electric range. Even if you’re low on fuel, you know you’ll have plenty of range to get to a filling station. You can get a £350 OLEV grant to help you pay for the home charger, too. Just plug in when you get home, and your car takes care of the rest.
Vehicle eligibility and grant figure correct as at June 2020. UK sales only (excludes Channels Islands and Isle of Man). Grant scheme may be withdrawn and eligibility/amounts may change at any time without prior notice.
What’s it like to drive a PHEV?
Relaxing and rather fun, actually. When running on battery power, PHEVs are very responsive, because unlike combustion engines, electric motors produce maximum torque at any rpm. Acceleration is instant.
Most charging in the UK is done at home, but If you want to top up on the go, there are more than 7,000 public charging locations in the UK. Or, you can simply let the petrol engine take over when you run out of charge.
All you have to worry about is driving as you normally would, while reaping the benefits of improved fuel economy and lower emissions.
How does a mild hybrid car work?
A mild hybrid car works in a very similar way to a self-charging hybrid car, but it has a smaller battery. Because the battery is smaller, a mild hybrid cannot drive on battery power alone – unlike a self-charging hybrid in which the motor can take over at low speed or when cruising.
Instead, the petrol or diesel engine does the majority of the work and the electric motor is there to provide assistance. This means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, which means lower emissions and increased fuel economy. The battery is charged by recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted – when slowing down for example. There is no need to plug-in a mild hybrid, simply keep it topped up with petrol or diesel as you would with a conventional car.
What are the benefits of a mild hybrid car?
There are many substantial benefits to owning a mild hybrid car. Here are just few reasons to Stop Wondering. Start Driving.
Lower emissions
Because the electric motor can assist with acceleration, there is less strain on the engine. It also allows the engine to switch off more regularly – when coasting for example. This means lower emissions and cleaner air for everybody.
Reduced running cost
Using less fuel is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your finances, too! Improved fuel economy means less money spent on fuel, and less time wasted at the pumps. The lower emissions could also mean a reduced VED rate and lower BIK tax.
Doesn’t require you to make any changes
If you aren’t quite ready to switch to a plug-in vehicle, mild-hybrid cars might be the solution for you. A mild-hybrid car doesn’t require you to do anything different than you would do in a conventional car. The car’s clever electronics take care of how the energy is recovered and used. All you have to worry about is keeping it topped up with petrol or diesel.
Lower initial cost
While a mild hybrid doesn’t offer the same level of benefits as a full self-charging hybrid, the mild hybrid’s smaller battery means the initial purchase cost is lower.
What is it like to drive a mild hybrid car?
Almost exactly the same as a conventional car. You will notice that the engine stops more often thanks to the assistance from the electric motor. Acceleration is more immediate thanks to the added torque from the electric motor, and fuel economy is improved.
Eco Range Brochure
Find out more about various Eco powertrains within the Kia range, including both Niro and Ceed family, the Sportage Mild-Hybrid and many more.
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