14 Years ago the Toyota Prius burst on to the scene with its hybrid engine offering an innovative method of car travel. However, despite all its promise of a new future, and its popularity, hybrid cars are yet to capture the market for little more than an environmentally conscious few.
 
So, what is a hybrid?
 
The term ‘hybrid’ most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.

The hybrid technology is now looking like it may be defeated by pure battery powered vehicles. With governments starting to invest heavily in charging points for pure electric cars, are we about to wave goodbye to the hybrid car?

A number of vehicle sectors have already gone beyond hybrids – for example, golf buggies, forklifts and most mobility vehicles are generally powered purely by battery electric only. However, as battery cars are starting to emerge, their limitations in terms of range will prove a problem until the planned investment in a charging infrastructure comes to fruition. Until then, consumers are likely to turn to hybrids in increasing numbers as a safe intermediary vehicle until the next generation of electric cars is available.

Technology naturally moves on over time as advancements and improvements are made. In the case of hybrid cars, it appears that the traditional hybrid systems we associated with vehicles are on their way out – but that a new wave of hybrid systems in the form of range extenders, plug-in and fuel cell systems mean the future is still bright.

Range-extended vehicles have batteries that store more energy and have more plug-in capacity meaning they provide the all-electric range that is craved by users – but because they have an internal combustion engine too, there are no fears regarding the distance they are able to travel.

Range extenders are effectively the second generation of hybrid systems and have had great success.