Function

• Before you can understand the benefits of a hybrid car, you need to understand how a hybrid car functions. A hybrid car can be one of two different types, series hybrid or parallel hybrids. Series hybrids use a gas engine to create electricity for the electric motor. This motor is the only thing that powers the car. In parallel hybrids, the gasoline engine is primarily used, with the electric motor getting occasionally used for performance purposes.
  
  

Benefits

• One of the main benefits of using a hybrid car is the gas mileage offered by it. Average new cars can offer a gas mileage of 30 through 35 miles per gallon for compacts, but a hybrid car like the Honda Insight has 60 miles per gallon. This can make a huge difference at the gas pump, saving you more than 50% in some cases.
  
  

Features

• Even though hybrids are half electric cars, they do not need to be plugged in because the main power source is still gasoline. This will help save electricity that a full electric car would cost. Braking in a hybrid is also known as regenerative braking because when you use the brakes, the electric engine turns a generator and stores extra power that the car uses instead of gas.
  
  

Potential

• The hybrid car also has many benefits for new mechanics. As the popularity of hybrids grows, mechanics can become experts in the field and open up hybrid only repair shops. This can make great business for a select group of customers because most hybrid repair takes place at dealerships.
  
  

Size

• Hybrids only make up a small percentage of cars driven today, but as the need for a more fuel efficient and environmentally safe car arises, the hybrids will expand. Newer technology will come out, making them more fuel efficient and allowing consumers to buy the least amount of gas possible while driving a car.