Do they actually plug in?

[writersblock]

I am new to this hybrid stuff, so here is my question....may be stupid, but just wondering....does the hybrid car actually plug into the outlet?
Or does the gas somehow charge it?

If it plugs in, is it a regualar plug or do you need a special outlet?

[Agent Fred]

I don't think any of the currently existing models actually "plug in," but instead use other methods to recharge (friction in the brakes, etc.). There are plug in models in development, though.

[Simplyme]

I wondered that same thing for the longest time. And it was not until recently that I personally was able to find any really good information on that topic. So thanks for the post Agent Fred as I am sure there are many more people like me looking for that information.

[LuckyCars]

Some electric cars really are plugged to recharge. In hybrids, the electric motor battery is recharged thru regenerative braking, that is, when the car is going downhill, the battery charges because of the engine brake. And also, as conventional cars have done to its batterries, it is charged when the engine is turned on.

[KrisNY]

Luckycars--- thank you for sharing that! I did not know that at all. I would never have thought of that. SO does the battery charge the whole time the car is running like with the cars we drive now? What if you don't go down many hills as the area you live is particularly flat? I would think the battery would charge the entire time the vehicle was on?

[writersblock]

Well fist off, I am so glad that I wasnt' the only one who didn't know the answer to this.

It makes sense~ could you imagine if it did have to charge by plugging in. What would happen if on a long trip~ you'd have to stop and plug in to recharge

[Agent Fred]

Writersblock, that sort of lack of infrastructure is one of the things currently holding back electric car technology.

[tom]

Electric cars are the ones that need to be plugged in since all the power comes from the batteries.

This seems to be the main disadvantage of electric cars.

[writersblock]

You are so right Agent Fred.

Tom~ I can see that would be a huge disadvantage of having an electric car.

[Uguis]

Originally Posted by tom

Electric cars are the ones that need to be plugged in since all the power comes from the batteries.

This seems to be the main disadvantage of electric cars.

This is where hybrids have the greatest advantage over the electric cars. You don't need to plug the hybrids becuase the electric motor is automatically recharged when the engine is on.