How Do Hybrid Cars Work

The Orlando Toyota hybrid cars at our dealership use Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive System technology. If you take a peek at the drivetrain, you'll see both an electric motor and a gasoline engine plus a special hybrid battery. The electric motor and gas engine work together to use less gasoline, which means better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Orlando Toyota hybrids like the new Toyota  Prius can sense how much power you need, and will seamlessly switch back and forth between the electric motor, gasoline engine, and a combination of the two to get you where you need to be in the most fuel-efficient way.

We also have hybrid i-FORCE MAX powertrains in our lineup - you'll find them on models like the new Toyota Tundra, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Sequoia, and more. These powerful drivetrains harness hybrid power to produce maximum horsepower and torque. In fact, they get even more horsepower and torque than their gas counterparts. While they offer slightly improved fuel efficiency, their main focus is instantaneous power for towing, hauling, and off-roading. 

Another perk of Toyota hybrid cars is that you get a smooth, quiet ride, especially at low speeds. And the best news yet? Because that gasoline engine is still under the hood, you never have to plug a hybrid in to charge it. Instead, these Orlando Toyotas use regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the electric motor. No cords - no fuss! 

How Do Hybrid Cars Work? A Detailed Explanation 

To better understand how a hybrid car works, let's take a closer look at the renowned and iconic Toyota Prius.

• The Toyota Prius is a parallel hybrid; this means it has a gasoline engine and electric motor that are separate from one another.
• They can both power your Toyota on their own. Toyota designed the Prius so that it would use electric power (which it stores in the hybrid battery) instead of gasoline power whenever possible.
• When you're at low speeds - like pulling out of the driveway or sitting in heavy traffic - you'll be running on the electric motor.
• Once you start accelerating,  hybrid cars require more energy, so the electric motor alone won't cut it.
  • During light acceleration, this car will use both the electric motor and gasoline engine together to power your car.
  • When you put the pedal to the metal - otherwise known as full acceleration - you'll use the gasoline engine.
• Meanwhile, the hybrid battery is working overtime to supply drive power to the electric motor. When you start to brake or slow down, the gasoline engine cuts off to save fuel; since you're still moving and producing momentum, the electric motor converts it into power to save for later in the hybrid battery.
• When you come to a stop, your gasoline engine is still not in use, and you're running off of electric power alone... then the process starts again with the green light.