Difference between a standard and hybrid vehicle

No longer is buying a new vehicle limited to buying either a gas or diesel engine, now buyers have the option to buy hybrid or regular cars. The difference between hybrid and regular cars lies in the power train and varies by technology.

The real definition of the word Hybrid means a mixed origin or composition, in the case of hybrid cars were are making reference to the composition of the engine. A hybrid engine has two different components that make similar types of power; typically the different components are gasoline and electric. The actual technology used within hybrid motors can vary but essentially a hybrid engine is a composition of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

Because of the addition of an electric motor to the internal combustion engine for a primary power source, the engine is now considered a hybrid. A traditional car will not have an electrical motor to assist the engine make power or supplement power during low load times. Because of the assistance of an electrical motor, hybrid cars are more fuel efficient, and produce fewer emissions.