But How Do Hybrid Cars Work?They look cool, they save gas, they don't pollute as much, but how do hybrid cars work? Basically, the engine runs off of gasoline, like a regular car, but there is the addition of an electric motor, which runs off of a battery pack. The battery self-charges itself in two ways: the gas engine, as it drives, and by regenerative braking. Whenever the car comes to a stop, the gas engine automatically shuts off, so there's no wasteful emissions or excess fuel burning. Various models use the electric motor/gas engine combination in defferent ways. For instance, the Toyota Prius runs on the electric motor at low speeds, as in city driving. Also, the electric motor can give the gasoline engine extra oomph when going up a hill or accelerating quickly. On the other hand, the Honda Civic Hybrid only uses the electric motor for sudden bursts of power, as when going uphill or accelerating quickly.
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