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They use two engines to give the overall power of one, for example Toyota Prius has a gasoline engine which produces 106 hp (horse power) with a 67 hp electric engine(motor) to produce a total of 173 hp car. The electric motor is responsible for get the car moving, or in some hybrid cars it is active all the way up to about 50 km/h.
Then the gasoline engine takes over as the economy speed for gasoline engines is around 100 km/h. As the car runs on petrol(as well as when it brakes), the movement of the wheels charge the battery, for future use. In addition when the car is at rest, for example on a traffic light, the car shift to electric mode, the gasoline engine shuts down, saving fuel and hence increasing the car's average !
This allows for a more efficient car, for example an average hybrid car drives in at 20 km/Lr, where as an average sedan (gasoline) like Honda Civic gives around 10 km/Lr. That's TWICE as efficient !!!
Advantages of Hybrids :* it has electric regenerative brakes that means that one has to change the brake pads after 160,000 km
* the simple transmissions is chap to maintain, no fluid change till about 100.000 km
* in addition, the companies (or even certain countries) provide a 10 year battery warranty(or more) which means that it can be replaced free in that 10 year period !!
* it is mechanically simpler and more reliable than a regular car* Hybrids are very fuel-efficient.
Disadvantages
* it cost relatively more than an average comparable car . . . like Civic
Picture : http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/images/2008/01/07/porsche_panamera_hybrid_graphic_7.jpg
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