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Cat A, B, S and N Explained
If you’re new to it, then the world of electric and hybrid cars can be a little confusing. With a slew of different electrified options to choose from, each with its own benefits and drawbacks to weigh up, these cars are bound to confuse the unfamiliar.
More and more motorists are making the move away from traditional fuel types, but some are hesitant to go ‘fully electric’ quite yet – which makes the hybrid an attractive proposition. However, even within the world of hybrid cars, there are a few different engine types with distinct features that need considering.
Below, we’ll guide you through the different types of hybrid cars, how they’re different from each other, and their pros and cons to help you decide which you could be driving in the near future.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) use electricity that’s stored in a battery pack to power an electric motor and turn the wheels. Once the battery has been depleted, they’re recharged using grid electricity, either from a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. Since they run entirely on electricity, they’re considered “all-electric” vehicles.
Much like other electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, BEVs minimise wasted energy by turning the car off when stopped. This is known as “idle-off”, providing energy for the car’s air conditioning and any accessories while the vehicle is idle at a red light or in traffic.
They also employ “regenerative braking”. Whereas the kinetic energy is wasted when conventional cars slow down, regenerative braking captures some of this energy, turning it into electricity and storing it in the battery to power the motor.
There are 2 main types of hybrid vehicles: plug-in and self-charging. As the names suggest, a plug-in hybrid needs you to plug it into a charging socket like you would with a fully electric car. A self-charging hybrid, on the other hand, will use power from the engine as well as regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the motor. Usually, these hybrids can rely solely on electric power for short journeys.
Mild hybrids are self-charging hybrids that can’t run solely on electric power, instead, they use an electric motor to bridge power gaps during gear changes or provide some extra oomph during hard acceleration.
There are various ways that hybrid cars improve the fuel efficiency of cars, smoothly combining the power of combustion and electric power. Many of these benefits are so seamless that you wouldn’t even know the electric motor had kicked in.
Another benefit of hybrid cars is their greater efficiency during city driving. The electric motor powers the car, drawing on the battery for its power, making light work of stops and starts. Up to 15mph, the vehicle uses only the electric motor for power.
The hybrid's normal petrol engine is at its most efficient. The engine also powers the generator while cruising, producing electricity and storing it in the vehicle’s batteries for later use.
When this occurs, both the conventional engine and electric motors work together to increase power to the wheels. At the same time, the petrol engine also powers the generator and the electric motor uses electricity from the battery and generator as needed.
As we mentioned earlier, this is where regenerative braking comes in. As the car no longer needs to apply power to the wheels, it allows the spinning wheels to power the vehicle’s generator, which produces electricity and stores it in the battery for later use.
Both the conventional engine and electric motor turn off and the car switches to battery power to run the things it needs to, such as radio, air con and lights.
Also known as a parallel hybrid, full hybrids use both a combustion engine and an electric motor to drive, either at the same time or independently.
Although they’re the most common type of hybrid vehicle, their battery size means they only hold small amounts of electric charge. This means they can only drive for short distances, typically up to a mile, on electric power alone. And while this is handy for shorter urban journeys, it’s only going to get you so far.
When the combustion engine kicks in, however, full hybrids have enough power to go the distance, with the same total driving range as regular petrol or diesel vehicles. And for the motorist who’s used to putting plenty of miles on the clock, this makes full hybrids the best option for long-distance driver.
What are the pros of full hybrid cars?
The range of full hybrid cars is steadily growing, with most brands offering a good choice of full hybrids. However, search for some of the best hybrids and you’ll see some of the same names pop up.
The Honda Civic e:HEV brings together full hybrid performance with self-charging power and classic design. In its 11th generation, the new Civic offers three modes including EV drive mode, hybrid drive mode and engine drive, complete with regenerative braking. What’s more, it can drive up to 521 miles and achieve CO2 emissions as low as 89g/km. An ideal family car with spacious cabin, the electric Honda Civic is a strong choice if you’re looking for a full hybrid.
Utilising these driving modes will allow you to achieve up to 521 miles while still reaching 60mph in around 8 seconds, while reducing the emissions compared to a traditional combustion-engine car.
An ideal family car with spacious cabin, the electric Honda Civic is a strong choice if you’re looking for a full hybrid.
The Kia Niro is a hero compact SUV, offering a roomy and refined interior that’s also nice to drive. Here you have the chance to take advantage of Kia’s great value along with impactful design and an intuitive driving experience.
It’s not just incredible design that has led to so many Kias on the road, they also deliver great performance and efficiency. On a single charge, a Kia Nero hybrid will achieve a combined MPG of 53 and a total range of almost 600 miles.
There’s a reason Kia models are so popular, with the Niro now available in full hybrid as well as plug-in and full electric, the choice is all yours.
The Hyundai Tucson has a progressive design and offers highly evolved features. It’s a great family SUV, driving with finesse and offering ample comfort for longer trips. What’s more, you get a generous amount of standard kit included with premium levels of comfort from the base model.
Alongside the premium level of comfort, Hyundai has also delivered premium performance with 226 horsepower, and an impressive 258nm of torque so that you’ll have no issues getting up to motorway speed.
Full hybrids make a lot of sense for those doing lower mileage, or urban drivers. Having a full hybrid means you can save on fuel without having to go full electric – or worrying about plugging it in to recharge. In this way, you get the best of both worlds to an eco-friendlier way of driving, with familiarity behind the wheel. As it charges through running the engine and regenerative braking, you don’t have to change a thing about your driving habits or style.
Like full hybrids, mild hybrids use an electric motor alongside a combustion engine. But unlike full hybrids, they can’t run on electric power alone. Instead, their small electric motor is attached directly to an engine or transmission, which gives the car a boost when accelerating.
Like full hybrids, mild hybrids can make use of regenerative braking, using kinetic energy to allow for smoother performance when coasting, decelerating and making repeated stop-starts.
Mild hybrids are an interesting first foray into the world of alternative power, and there’s some great choices out there. One of the most popular models that regularly rear their heads is the Kia Sportage.
The Kia Sportage is a competent all-rounder, and winner of What Car’s Best Family SUV 2023. You’ve no doubt seen plenty of these on the road, and for good reason. They may not be the most exciting of models but it caters effortlessly for all, while delivering incredibly good value.
The addition of a small electric motor adds an additional 5% to the theoretical miles per gallon, as well as lowering emissions to achieve it. At low speeds, this motor will also kick in to provide a much-needed boost of torque, so that you can reach appropriate speeds in no time.
A mild hybrid offers a small but worthwhile step towards going electric, for those who aren’t quite ready to jump in with both feet just yet. It’s great for those who want to retain that familiarity and simplicity, but it is important to remember that there’s no EV range with a mild hybrid, so you’ll still be relying purely on fuel.
However, a mild hybrid can offer the reduction in emissions and increase in fuel economy that many drivers are starting to look more towards, resulting in a more efficient drive every time.
A plug-in hybrid is like a full hybrid evolved. With a bigger battery than their full hybrid counterparts, plug-in hybrid cars can travel much further on electric power alone – between 15 and 50 miles depending on the model. What’s more, the larger battery means they are usually more powerful than their self-charging counterparts, delivering smooth and fast acceleration with the help of the electric motor.
Perhaps the plug-in hybrid’s biggest difference is that it can be charged from an external power source. Depending on the distances you drive, you may be able to eliminate the need to visit the petrol station entirely.
But if not, a plug-in hybrid’s combustion engine will do the heavy lifting should its battery run out of juice while on the road. That means there’s no need to fret over “range anxiety”, something that full electric drivers can sometimes experience.
There’s a growing rang of plug-in hybrids that are quickly becoming more popular, whether you’re looking for something at the higher end or just need an everyday run-around. Here are just a couple of the most popular plug-in hybrid cars that are worth a look at.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the few plug-in hybrids that can carry 7 people, making it the ultimate plug-in family car. Its rugged appearance and smart interior are the perfect match for its efficiency and power, and it can run for 36 miles before it needs to switch to burning fuel. This model offers incredible value for money too, with a lot of equipment included as standard.
The Volvo XC60 Recharge is a classy vehicle, one that’s great for driving to and from social occasions. Its electric range sits at 47 miles before it needs to fall back on fuel, which is impressive for a mid-size SUV.
The impressiveness of the electric range is matched by the sports car-rivalling 0-60 time of just 4.9 seconds. Combine this with a staggering mpg of 282.5mpg and it’s clear to see why the XC60 is so beloved by owners and motoring enthusiasts.
Lane assist, speed limiter, fatigue detection and warning system is all included as standard, combining practicality with power.
A plug-in hybrid car is an ideal choice if you’re not quite ready to go full electric just yet, but want to understand a little more about how it all works. A plug-in gives you the ability to drive long distances with no need to stop for time-consuming charges, as the vehicle can fall back on its fuel reserves for the last of your journey.
Choosing whether to go hybrid or full electric can depend hugely on your circumstances and driving requirements, so it’s worth doing your homework! There are a number of pros to going full electric, like low running costs, savings on tax and of course helping the environment. However, some areas are still underserved when it comes to the public charging network, and there is typically a higher upfront cost for electric cars, which is something to bear in mind.
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