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Hybrid trucks. Hybrid cars: review of models. Travel and save - it's possible

The word hybrid has long been known to people. It means - mixing incompatible. There are hybrid plants, animals and many other organisms and things on the planet. Recently, this term has begun to be used in the production of cars with an unusual power unit design.

Hybrid vehicles began to appear in the automotive industry market. The reason for their occurrence was the unstable situation in the fuel market and, probably, more significantly - the increase in environmental requirements for the power units of cars around the world.

Some facts from the history of hybrids

AT late XIX centuries, the first vehicles with a hybrid power plant appeared on the roads of Europe. The increase in demand for new items forced the authors of these cars to start producing their offspring in small batches.

Attention! The innovators of the production of the first hybrid cars were designers from France.

In the auto repair shop of the French company Parisienne des Voitures Electrigues in 1897, the first car was built and produced, on which a hybrid engine was installed. It was then mass-produced.

Following the French, on the American continent, three years later, a car comes off the General Electric assembly line, also equipped with a hybrid power plant, which was based on a 4-cylinder Gas engine. And the Walker Vechicle Company of Chicago produced trucks equipped with hybrid engines until 1940.

Over time, humanity began to forget about hybrid cars. But fuel crises, emerging all over the world, are pushing automakers to produce cars that are equipped with hybrid powertrains.

Hybrid car: what is it?

If we translate from Latin the word hybrid, then literally it means a mixture of various forms. Automakers adopted this term when producing cars that use two types of engines as a power plant - these are serial internal combustion engines and electric ones (there are also models with pneumatic motors that run on compressed air). In modern hybrid cars, the on-board computer monitors the operation of the units. This factor allows the driver to fully focus on the road. Hybrid cars have two types of powertrains:


Diagrams of hybrid power plants

Manufacturers of hybrid cars have designed several schemes for the operation of power units.

Consistent operation of engines. Has relatively simple design power plants. Carburetor or diesel engines rotate the generator through the drive. electrical voltage, produced by the generator, goes to the batteries, and from them to the drive motors located in the wheel mechanisms.

Parallel setup. It provides for the operation of the internal combustion engine as the main one when the car is moving. The electric motor, which has a sufficiently large power reserve, plays a secondary role. It is activated during braking or during acceleration of the car. At the same time, it performs a regenerative function, that is, it generates electricity, which is then transferred to the batteries. The on-board computer manages the stable operation of both power plants.

Mixed type of engine operation. In this design of a hybrid car, the above-described schemes for the operation of power units are combined. The start of the car is provided by an electric motor powered by batteries, and the internal combustion engine at this time works on an electric generator. When accelerating, the internal combustion engine switches to drive the drive wheels. All these processes are helped by a planetary mechanism installed on the car.

The principle of operation of hybrid units

As already described, the start of the car is provided by an electric motor that receives electricity from batteries. Thanks to this, the car moves away smoothly and silently. When picking up speed, reaching a certain point, the on-board computer is included in the operation of the internal combustion engine. The operation of the internal combustion engine rotates the generator, which replenishes the electricity in the batteries spent during the movement of the car. When the machine is moving in general mode, only its front-wheel drive is activated, and at increased loads, the full drive is turned on.

When accelerating the car, the internal combustion engine transmits its torque to the wheel drives, while the electric motors supplement it, and if necessary, they increase the power of the power unit.

Hybrid cars have a very interesting braking system. All processes in it are controlled by an on-board computer, it independently decides how and when to use a stationary braking system, or apply regenerative braking, in most cases it prefers the latter. At the moment the driver presses the brake pedal, the electric motors switch to generator mode. At the same time, the load on the wheel drive increases sharply and the car slows down smoothly. The energy generated from the electric motors goes into the batteries. On conventional cars, such indicators are simply impossible to achieve.

Attention! Regenerative braking is effective when driving a car in urban areas.

Advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars

A driver who sits behind the wheel of a hybrid car for the first time experiences an unforgettable experience from a car that combines the circuits of an electric car and a car with an internal combustion engine. The electric drive gives the machine quiet operation and smooth running, while at the same time allowing significant savings on conventional fuel.

The advantages of hybrids include the following parameters:


The main disadvantages of hybrid cars are:

  • due to the use of high-capacity batteries and electric motors, the mass of the car has increased significantly;
  • the hybrid powertrains used and their auxiliary components and parts have significantly increased the cost of these vehicles;
  • high cost of maintenance and repair of hybrid cars, and when batteries fail, problems arise with their recovery;

The most popular hybrid cars in Russia

  1. TOYOTA Prius - has the most reasonable price for buyers in Russia. Among the sales of cars in its class is the best-selling model in the world. The cost of this hybrid starts from 1,189,000 rubles. It has the following characteristics:

  1. LEXUS CT 200 h - this car model has a great resemblance to the Prius, but the errors and defects from the previous brand have actually been completely corrected. It is the most affordable model in the series, all produced by Lexus, even with the classic internal combustion engine. Its cost varies from 1,236,000 rubles. It has the following characteristics:
  1. LEXUS GS 50 h - belongs to the category of hybrid business sedans. The cost of this car is 2,693,000 rubles. Main characteristics:

  1. AUDI Q5 Hibrid is one of the first developments of Audi's hybrid car. The gasoline engine model installed on this car model has a very high performance, but the electric motor increased the cost of this hybrid by almost one million rubles. Total - the total cost of Q5 Hibrid is - 2,565,000 rubles. It has the following characteristics:

Every year the popularity of hybrid cars is growing, because the economic indicators, as well as the energy-dynamic qualities of these cars, satisfy virtually all consumers.

You can learn more about how a hybrid car works in the following video:

Hybrid propulsion vehicles have come a long way. There were times when such cars were considered innovative curiosities, and now they have become an integral part of the development of the automotive industry.

Hybrid propulsion vehicles have come a long way. There were times when such cars were considered innovative curiosities, and now they have become an integral part of the development of the automotive industry.

Today, manufacturers offer customers units with an impressive package of features. Hybridization has reached the point where customers don't have to give up comfort, speed, or practicality for fuel economy. It makes no sense to buy a good hybrid car when you can buy a very good and high-quality unit.

Just for an easy choice decent car Here is a selection of the best hybrid cars. Our rating is a list of profitable offers, which included the top ten most interesting and high-quality representatives of hybrid vehicles. Each model is curious in its own way, in a different price range and with different characteristics. The main selection criteria were practicality, high environmental friendliness.

Gasoline prices are steadily rising, so motorists are increasingly thinking about ways to save money. Machines with a hybrid power plant have become the best option when you can still go fast, but reduce fuel costs. The environmental aspect also plays an important role, since such vehicles produce much less carbon dioxide emissions than conventional cars with internal combustion engines. If you are thinking about which hybrid car is better to buy, then pay attention to the top ten coolest hybrids. Go!

Toyota Prius HybridToyota Prius Prime 2017

The unit is the pioneer of all mass-produced hybrid machines. Most of the following participants in our ranking appeared thanks to this model. Toyota Prius Hybrid is a popular hybrid car with low fuel consumption (less than 4 liters per 100 km). In Ukraine and Russia it is a success.

Most of the Ukrainian police fleet are hybrids of the Japanese brand. The car has only two small nuances - expensive components and a peculiar design that is not suitable for everyone. However, drivers appreciate this car for its reliability and practicality.

Chevrolet Volt

Powerful and fast plug-in hybrid from America. According to the declared characteristics, only 1.2 liters of gasoline are consumed per 100 km - the most economical hybrid car on our list. However, these figures are true when the battery pack is 100% charged. Most often, fuel consumption is at the usual level for a hatchback.

Compact car with extended range up to 500 km. One full battery charge is enough for almost 60 km. High aerodynamic performance is achieved thanks to a sophisticated and sophisticated design.

In the salon is modern equipment: 7-inch LCD display, multimedia system with navigation, automatic climate control and remote engine start option. The model is one of the most streamlined cars in the history of the Chevrolet brand.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The world's first crossover. One of the few representatives of its class, each generation of which is considered the best. The Japanese were obliged to release a hybrid modification of one of the coolest SUVs in the world.

External and internal design, the overall dimensions of the car are identical to the fuel counterparts of the model. But the power plant added speed, and also reduced fuel consumption to 5 liters per 100 km. Otherwise, there is not much difference between the standard and hybrid versions. In addition, the maintenance of the innovative motor will be more expensive. However, the most important advantage of the model is the reduced amount of harmful emissions.

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

A “fresh” hybrid on the Russian market and the first vehicle with a mixed mechanism in the model range of a manufacturer from South Korea. The model is distinguished by fuel efficiency - only 3.4 liters per 100 km, and high environmental performance. Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is one of the best hybrids with an intriguing appearance and rich technical “stuffing”. Undoubted advantages are also indicators of dynamics, excellent handling and stability on the road. Great car for everyday travel.

Kia Niro Hybrid

Another hybrid novelty from Korea, which immediately fell in love with domestic drivers. The crossover captivates with its practicality, excellent technical performance, good handling and low fuel consumption. The Kia Niro is the perfect example of a modern hybrid car for everyday use. An economical and compact model with a spacious interior is what you need for the city and a large family. In addition, the hybrid consumes 3.8 liters of gasoline per 100 km, has good acceleration and decent speed.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Aggressive, sporty and charismatic vehicle with revolutionary design and original design. The cabin has an unusual panel and a center console with a bunch of ultra-modern “gadgets” and a package of security systems. It is based on a proprietary modular TNGA chassis, which was first used to create another cool hybrid - Toyota Prius. Under the hood is a new 2.5-liter gasoline engine from the Dynamic Force Engine line of components and an 8-position Direct Shift-8AT automatic transmission. A real sports sedan with driving ambitions is what you need for a lover to drive.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Another great crossover with a plug-in hybrid setup, which has recently entered the international market. Representative of hybrid transport, which is used in government agencies. The machine has excellent technical specifications: fuel consumption - 1.9 liters per 100 km, the battery is charged from 30 minutes to 5 hours, maximum speed 160 km / h, acceleration to 100 km in 11 s, all-wheel drive.

These are decent figures for a large crossover, but it is worth noting that the indicated consumption is possible with a fully charged battery. Otherwise, the car spends the usual rate of gasoline.

Lexus RX450h Hybrid

A luxury crossover that is considered the best hybrid version of its class. The model has the speed and dynamics of a regular Lexus RX, and in addition received a premium interior and great quality assemblies. The car is economical, since the declared average consumption reaches 3.5 liters per 100 km. In addition, the level of harmful emissions is reduced to a minimum level with such parameters. The cost is reasonable, so the Lexus RX450h Hybrid is a viable option to buy.

Honda Accord Hybrid

With a fuel consumption of 4.9 liters per 100 km on a combined cycle, the model is the most economical mid-size sedan to date. The car is almost as efficient as the Toyota Prius, despite the fact that the model does not have the aerodynamic characteristics inherent in model range Japanese brand.

A 2-liter engine is installed under the hood of the Honda Accord Hybrid, which uses electricity more often while driving. The wheels are driven by an electric motor, and a conventional internal combustion engine works as a generator. The total power of the installation is 212 hp. - an indicator that turns this model into one of the best hybrid cars. If you tried to drive the standard version of the Accord, then there will be no problems with the hybrid version.

Kia Optima Hybrid

Korean mixed-gear sedan built on the platform of the third generation model. Under the hood, a 30 kW electric motor with a torque of 208 Nm and a 2.4 liter GDI gasoline engine are installed.

The total power of the unit is 209 hp. and 265 Nm of torque. In the presence of a battery pack and a motor-generator of 8.5 kW. The declared characteristics allow the car to overcome the first hundred kilometers in 9.2 s.

The top speed reaches 195 km/h. The Kia Optima Hybrid is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, an additional oil pump to improve the operation of the motor-generator. The car consumes more than 6 liters of fuel per 100 km with a combined cycle.

A drop in the sea

And in the end, it should be noted that this is only a small part of the excellent hybrids and plug-in hybrids that are great for daily use. The global fleet of eco-cars is constantly expanding, so new cool car models will appear soon, which we will definitely write about. The rating is not final, but will be updated with trends. Hybridization is gradually growing, so the field of mechanical engineering will still present topics for discussion to the public.published If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project.

Fuel consumption, according to the manufacturer, will be 2 liters per 100 km. Therefore, if the new Byd gets to Russia, it will become here not only the cheapest, but also the most economical hybrid car. Let's see how things are in other countries, and which hybrids are the cheapest in the world.

Citroen DS5 DSign Hybrid4 200 is the most expensive of the cheapest. A single hybrid from Citroen's luxury sub-brand will cost around 32,800 euros.

A hybrid version of the Peugeot 3008 costs a little less. An economical crossover costs about 32,000 euros and consumes 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers.

An extended version of the world's most popular hybrid, the Toyota Prius+, is available globally for an average price of 31,200 euros. Fuel consumption - 4.1 liters in the combined cycle.

The hybrid Lexus CT200h is also on sale with us. Naturally, the Russian price tag is slightly higher than the average European one: 1,318,000 rubles against 28,300 euros.

Toyota Prius is the second and last car from our list, which is available to our customers. At official dealers, the price starts from 1,217,000 rubles, abroad - an average of 25,500 euros.

Toyota Auris Hybrid costs 24,500 euros. Gasoline consumption in the combined cycle is 74.3 liters per hundred.

The Honda Insight, planned as a Prius killer, might actually seem like a better deal at €23,250.

Hybrid hothatch Honda CR-Z (21,500 euros) is so far the only one of its kind. Although, competitors have already made themselves felt: in Frankfurt, Toyota presented a charged Yaris (Hybrid-R).

Honda Jazz Hybrid HE is the second cheapest hybrid car with an average price tag of 19,400 euros.

Finally, the cheapest hybrid on the market today is the Toyota Yaris. Its average initial cost is 17,800 euros. Fuel consumption is also the lowest compared to other cars on the list - 3.5 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle.

The increase in the number of vehicles in the world and a number of environmental problems that mankind has faced in the last couple of decades has led to major changes in the automotive industry.

They are dictated, first of all, by the significantly tightened environmental standards and the increased price of fuel, in connection with which automakers are forced to look for ways to reduce the amount of toxic emissions and overall fuel consumption in cars.

At the same time, despite the emergence of electric vehicles, the development of vehicles with fuel cells, the only in an efficient way today it turned out to be the creation of cars with hybrid engines - the easiest way to "fit" into the economy and offer the consumer a product that is easy to use.

We will try to tell about what the market for “hybrid” cars is today in this material, because today many potential buyers have no idea what a hybrid car means and what advantages it offers.

Hybrid cars - what is it?

The principle of a vehicle built on a hybrid scheme is quite simple. It is based on the principle of a conventional gas generator, when the power unit of the vehicle rotates the generator and charges the traction battery.

Video - how a hybrid car works:

In turn, the energy of the battery allows the car to move for some time exclusively on electric traction with “zero” emissions. After the energy in the batteries runs out, the gasoline engine is turned on again, which allows you to continue moving and at the same time replenishes the charge in the batteries.

I must say that along with this scheme, there is another, called the plug-in hybrid. In it, the battery is charged not only from the motor, but also from a conventional household electrical outlet, and its capacity is sufficient for trips over short distances (usually about 30-40 kilometers). In fact, this means that you can get to work and back without using a gasoline engine at all (and, accordingly, without wasting fuel).

Benefits of hybrid vehicles

Surely many will ask themselves the question, why bother to “fence the garden” with batteries, electric motors, batteries and an internal combustion engine? What does the hybrid scheme of the power plant give?

Before answering this question, it is worth remembering when a "traditional" car consumes the largest number fuel. It is known that the maximum consumption (and, accordingly, the toxicity of emissions) occurs at the stage of acceleration to cruising speed, as well as in urban driving with frequent acceleration and deceleration.

Video - how you can improve a hybrid car:

Thus, the electric drive in machines with a hybrid power plant comes into action in these modes. With a fully charged battery, the “hybrid” starts moving on electric traction, and when a certain speed threshold is reached (depending on the model, it ranges from 20 to 40 kilometers per hour), the internal combustion engine comes into action.

At the same time, the widest range of "hybrids" from Toyota is presented directly in Japan and the USA. On the intra-Japanese market, cars are sold under the Toyota brand, and in America, Lexus is traditionally the most popular (in Russia, it must be said, most of the hybrid cars are also sold under this brand).

In terms of the number of hybrid cars from Toyota, the Japanese market should rightfully be considered the most saturated. The company displays everything on it latest models, on which technologies are “run in”, which should go into series on “global” models.

In particular, flagship models such as the Toyota Avalon and others already today offer a number of technical innovations related to the increase in the reliability of hybrids, as well as a large power reserve on a single battery charge.


This tiny electric car will cost you a fairly small amount to drive 100 kilometers, which can buy 2.1 liters of gasoline. The torque in the car is produced by a magnetic electric motor with a capacity of 66 hp. The power unit is powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is enough for 100 kilometers.

5) Nissan Leaf


Better efficiency is offered to everyone by the new one, which for 100 kilometers will require you to have even less Money than you would have spent on the previous car, they are enough to buy 2.06 liters of fuel. The machine is powered by a 80kW 107hp electric motor powered by a 24kW battery.


The maximum travel range on a full charge is 135 kilometers. Naturally, the mileage of the car will depend directly only on your driving style and road conditions. When driving in a traffic jam, you will not be able to drive even such a mileage.

The main problem of the Leaf car and its other electric competitors is a fairly decent weight, which is 1496 kg, which, you will agree with us, is too much for such parameters of the car.

4) Fiat 500e


Introducing our next car, which, judging by the characteristics, spends less of your money than the same car Nissan Leaf. This is an electric car. A 24kWh lithium-ion battery sits under the polycom to lower the car's center of gravity for a more dynamic ride.


The battery feeds the 111th strong electric motor.

In order to drive 100 kilometers on this car, you will need to spend money on electricity (to charge the battery), which is enough to purchase (buy) 2.03 liters of gasoline.

It is a pity that this car model is not sold in all countries of the world. This figure in terms of money for a powerful electric car is just an excellent result.

3) Honda Fit EV


The best of the above machines in terms of economy is. This hatchback, in terms of gas consumption, consumes only 1.99 liters per 100 km.


That is, for 100 kilometers you will spend on electricity to charge the battery, money that is enough to buy 2 liters of gasoline.

The electric motor of the car has a power of 132 hp, which is powered by a 30 kW battery. In economy mode (ECON), the power of the machine is naturally reduced. The average range on a full charge is 130 kilometers.

2) Chevrolet Spark EV


This car is equipped with an electric motor with a capacity of 140 hp. But it is not the power that surprises, but something else, its torque, which is 443 Nm. These are just crazy numbers for such a small car.


The car model is equipped with an 18 kW lithium-ion battery, which allows the car to drive up to 130 km. To drive these 100 kilometers, you need, as you all know, to charge the battery. As a result, you will have to spend a certain amount of money on electricity, which would be enough to buy (purchase) 1.98 liters of fuel. In the traditional sense of the economy of a car, this would mean that the car has a fuel consumption of about 2.0 liters per 100 kilometers. The handling of this car is one of the best among all the cars in our rating. The power of the i3 car is 170 hp. Maximum torque 250 Nm. This is quite enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in just 7.2 seconds.

It should be noted right away that this car model is also available for purchase as such in a hybrid version, where, in addition to the electric motor, a two-cylinder gasoline power unit is also installed.

Out of rating - hybrids, competitorsToyotaPrius

All cars presented by us above, according to the selected one, are fully electric. Therefore, many other hybrid and no less popular cars were not included in our rating. But not all consumers are completely satisfied with electric vehicles, as many of us often drive long and decent distances, which is impossible to do on these electric vehicles.


Our Internet publication considered it right, outside the main rating, to highlight several good hybrid cars that can be useful to many of our motorists.

For example, a -car consumes almost as much fuel (on a combined cycle) as a Toyota Prius hybrid car. The Accord model car consumes only 5 liters of fuel per 100 km in combined mode.


, which in its combined cycle consumes only 5.23 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers.


And finally, one more, the last car that we would like to mention here. This is a Jetta Hybrid car, in the combined cycle it consumes, like a Honda Civic car, only 5.23 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

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