Video:How to Effectively Drive a Hybrid

Transcript:How to Effectively Drive a Hybrid

Hi I'm Nick Jaynes for About.com and today I'm going to talk about how to effectively drive a hybrid.

Basics for Effectively Driving a Hybrid

Hybrids are designed to utilize both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to propel the vehicle forward. Using a lithium ion battery pack as its main source of energy, a hybrid is most efficient during inner city stop and go traffic, unlike standard gasoline only cars.

Facts About Effectively Driving a Hybrid

A hybrid's drive train is different than most cars and the way you should drive it is a little different, too. You see, in normal, non-hybrid cars, applying the brake pedal initiates a friction braking system. Hybrids have these, too. But they also have what is known as regenerative braking. This means, when you hit the brake pedal, the vehicle uses the electric motor to slow the car, effectively charging the batteries. This works by spinning the electric motor in reverse. It spins one way to move the vehicle forward, spending energy. And it spins in the opposite, slowing the vehicle thereby generating electricity, which is sent to the battery pack.

More Facts About Effectively Driving a Hybrid

So in order to be most fuel efficient in a standard car, if you see a red light ahead of you, you get off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to coast. Coasting in a hybrid is wasteful. So when you see a red light ahead of you, you'll want to get on the brake as soon as possible and send that forward momentum energy into your vehicles battery packs.

Hybrids and Driving

Also, in hybrids, the vehicle tries to keep the gas engine off as much as possible and rely solely on battery electric power to propel the vehicle forward. So that means, you'll want to be as ginger with the gas pedal as possible. Always try to avoid hammering the accelerator pedal. If you can slowly ease the accelerator in, your hybrid drive will be much more effective and therefore much more efficient.

Hopefully you now know how to effectively drive a hybrid vehicle. Thanks for watching. If you'd like to learn more, please find us on the web at About.com.