Hybrid vehicles combine two sources of energy, the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with a battery and electric motor. The battery in a hybrid is recharged either from the engine or from energy captured while braking, or both.

Common features boosting fuel economy:

• Motor Assist: The electric motor assists the internal combustion engine, allowing for a smaller, more efficient engine. They also work together to reduce fuel consumption during acceleration.
• Engine-off Drive-EV mode: The electric motor can work independently and provide power to operate the vehicle at low speeds.
• Idle-off: The internal combustion engine is turned off when the vehicle is stopped. This avoids wasting fuel when the car is idling.
• Regenerative braking: During deceleration and braking, the braking system captures energy generated by friction to restore the batteries.

Not all hybrids have all of these components and may have different combinations of these features.