Leasing a modern hybrid could be the perfect bridge between a enjoying a traditionally-fuelled car and a fully electric vehicle.
But how many types of hybrids are there? And what is the difference between types of hybrid vehicles?
If you're one of the many motorists still not sure about what a 'HEV' or a 'PHEV' really means, read on for a easy-to-understand guide to all things hybrid.
Mild hybrid (MHEV)
A mild hybrid is arguably the most common hybrid vehicle. And it adds a modest amount of electrified power to a traditional petrol or diesel engine.
With a traditional petrol or diesel car, you have a starter motor and an alternator. It's the alternator that keeps the car’s 12 volt battery charged.
With a mild hybrid, though, the starter motor and alternator are replaced with an electric generator and a small lithium-ion battery. This battery never needs to be plugged, as it's automatically recharged via regenerative braking.
Is it worth buying or leasing a mild hybrid car?
The advantage of any mild hybrid system is that mild hybrid battery and generator take the lead in charging the electrical system. It means the combustion engine is doing slightly less work, and therefore you see better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. The mild hybrid system can also provide an acceleration boost.
The only thing you need to remember is that because the mild hybrid system is modest, it can't drive the wheels, and you get no 'electric range'.
Some affordable mild hybrid lease vehicles include the Suzuki Ignis (above), Mazda 2 (below), and the Fiat 500.
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Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
You might see different terminology for these types of cars - but they're most commonly known as a ‘full hybrid’ or ‘self charging hybrid’.
Unlike a mild hybrid, a full hybrid can deliver power directly to the wheels, thanks to a powertrain that uses both a traditional combustion engine, a battery, and one or more electric motors.
With a full hybrid, the engine and battery can run independently of each other, or seamlessly together.
And like a mild hybrid, a full hybrid never needs to be plugged in, as it charges itself as you drive down the road.
Unlike a plug-in hybrid (see below) a full hybrid is only able to travel for a relatively short distance - typically somewhere between 1 and 5 miles - using electricity alone.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
A PHEV has both a petrol or diesel engine and a medium-sized battery.
And some plug in hybrids really can go the distance. How far can a hybrid car go on a full charge? The Range Rover P440e (below) boasts a range of up to 70 miles using electricity alone.
You also get exceptional fuel economy with a PHEV - it's why this type of hybrid is good for long distance driving.
The plug in hybrid BMW 3 Series 330e, for example, can return around 140 miles to the gallon.
When the energy in the electric battery of a PHEV is depleted, the traditional engine takes over.
As the name suggests, a plug in hybrid needs to be recharged - unlike a mild hybrid or full hybrid - and to really make the most of a PHEV it’s recommended you install a dedicated charging point at home.
Charging times for PHEVs range from around 2-3 hours. The Toyota RAV4 (below) plug in hybrid, for example, has a charge time of just 2.5 hours.
Parallel Hybrids
A parallel hybrid is a type of full hybrid vehicle (see above) where both the electric motor and internal combustion engine are connected to the transmission and can simultaneously provide power to the wheels.
In a parallel hybrid, both the electric motor and the engine can work together to power the vehicle, or only one of the power sources can be used, depending on driving conditions.
Parallel hybrids are known for their ability to provide better acceleration and overall performance compared to other types of hybrid vehicles.
As such, parallel hybrids are common in powerful sports cars - like the McLaren P1 - because an electric motor can offer a boost of torque while the traditional engine’s turbos spool up.
Range Extender Hybrid (REH)
What is difference between a parallel hybrid, and a range extender, or 'series', hybrid?
A range-extender powertrain is a technology that uses a combustion engine to help the battery in an electric vehicle go further. It acts like a generator, providing power to a battery, which in turn supplies an electric motor which drives the wheels.
The new Nissan Qashqai e-Power (above) is a great example of a range-extender hybrid.
Here a 1.5 litre petrol engine feeds power to an electric motor, which in turn drives the wheels. It gives the feel of driving a fully electric vehicle without you ever needing to charge it up. And with the ePower system you can expect fuel economy of around 53 mpg.
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