Charging a Hybrid Car Battery – Is It Possible?

Although electric vehicles are becoming more common on the Normal streets, we know that not everyone is ready to fully commit to an EV. Fortunately, hybrid vehicles are here to bridge the gap between standard gas-powered vehicles and fully electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of a regular combustion engine and electric motors to help you save fuel as you drive around town.

Although electric vehicles need to be charged, is it possible to charge a hybrid vehicle? The short answer is yes. Hybrid vehicle batteries do charge, but it’s not in the traditional way that you may think. Today, the experts from Sam Leman Toyota Bloomington will help you discover how to charge a hybrid car battery! Then, be sure to check out the new Toyota hybrid vehicles in our inventory when you’re ready to save fuel on your drives.

Types of Hybrid Vehicles

Before we go over how to charge a hybrid car, it’s important that you understand the types of hybrid vehicles available. When you’re shopping for a new Toyota hybrid, the two main hybrid configurations you’ll have to choose from is a standard hybrid vehicle and a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle. But, how do these compare? Discover the types of hybrid vehicles below:

Standard Hybrid Vehicles

Toyota is considered one of the leaders in the hybrid industry thanks to the introduction of the Toyota Prius. The Toyota Prius provided hybrid vehicle technology that is still being used today! Standard hybrid vehicles have an electric motor with a battery that is powered by a gasoline combustion engine. Some popular hybrid vehicles that Morton shoppers love include the new Toyota Prius and even the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles operate similarly to conventional hybrid vehicles. They have electric motors with a battery that is powered by a combustion engine. However, what makes them different is they offer a larger battery pack that can solely power your vehicle. That means you can drive on pure electric power in a plug-in hybrid vehicle with the backup of an internal combustion engine when the battery runs out of power. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include the new Toyota Prius Prime and the new Toyota RAV4 Prime.

How to Charge a Hybrid Car

When you’re learning how to charge a hybrid car battery, it’s important that you understand the kind of hybrid vehicle that you’re driving. Fortunately, charging a hybrid car battery whether you’ve got a conventional or plug-in hybrid is simple for both options. Best of all, unlike an EV, you won’t have to worry about finding the nearest charging station as you drive around Springfield since both hybrid vehicles can fill up at a regular gas station. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to charge a hybrid car battery:

• Conventional Hybrid Vehicles: Conventional hybrid vehicles use a combination of regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine to charge the battery and power the electric motors. That means to charge your hybrid vehicle, all you have to do is drive normally around town, and your vehicle will take care of the rest.
• Plug-In Electric Hybrid Vehicles: Plug-in electric vehicles also will not need to be plugged in to charge as the internal combustion engine will take care of charging as you drive. However, you also have the added versatility of being able to charge the batteries using a wall outlet or a charging station. Plugging in your plug-in electric hybrid vehicle allows you to ensure you have the maximum electric driving range before you head out on adventures. 

Drive the Latest Toyota Hybrid Vehicles Today!

Since both conventional and plug-in hybrid vehicles from Toyota offer the ability to drive around Bloomington without the worry of range anxiety, they make a great choice as a daily driver. Head to Sam Leman Toyota Bloomington today, and find the perfect new Toyota hybrid vehicle for your adventures! If you have any questions, please let us know how we can help!