What Is The Difference Between Hybrid And Electric Cars. See all the key ways these vehicles are different from one another. However, the electric car draws power from a single source of the electric motor (s) to propel the vehicle.
Get clear definitions of what is a hybrid car, what is an electric car, and what is a plug-in hybrid from the Edmunds experts. Electric cars totally depend on electricity, which means they are cent per cent electric. On the other hand, a true electric car gets all of its power from electrical sources, and thereby is a completely non-polluting zero-emission vehicle (ZEV).
EVs do not generate tailpipe emissions (some exceptions exist), while hybrid vehicles do generate tailpipe emissions when their fuel is being combusted.
A plug-in hybrid, also known by the acronym "PHEV," has the same powertrain components as a traditional hybrid vehicle: a gasoline engine, an electric motor, and a battery.
Owning a hybrid has certain benefits over an all-electric vehicle, and vice versa. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of a standard internal combustion engine and a battery for power, while electric cars only use a battery. Electric models also receive the highest tax incentives and need to be charged, while hybrid models passively regenerate their battery.