Purchasing a hybrid vehicle is not a simple process. It’s difficult to understand what “hybrid” actually means. The average owner may know that hybrid means the car partially runs on electricity, but that isn’t enough justification for purchasing one.
Prospective buyers might be looking into Audi hybrid vehicles but don’t have the time of day to research them. Knowing the benefits of hybrid vehicles is equally as important as understanding them. That’s why we’ve compiled the benefits of choosing Audi hybrid vehicles, making your life simpler.
Hybrid cars take the best qualities of fully gasoline-powered cars and mix them with the best characteristics of fully electric-powered vehicles. By combining conventional combustion engines with electric motors, hybrids make up an environmentally safer, fuel-efficient machine. Hybrids are becoming popular with time as a more significant number of car manufacturers design hybrids.
2 types exist today: traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The difference between these two, while minor, is how the two store and charge power in their batteries.
Traditional hybrids run as a standard gasoline-powered car would. Drivers fill up every so often after their car has depleted the fuel tank. However, the car battery, which is usually located underneath the tail end of the vehicle, charges with the use of your vehicle.
From the regular operation of your combustion engine, the electric motor converts the kinetic energy into electric energy stored in your battery. Also, when braking, the kinetic energy your wheels create is converted into electric power, which also gets stored in your battery. Known as “regenerative braking,” this is why hybrid engines get more mileage than a standard petrol-powered car.
Your Engine Control Unit (ECU) determines when there is enough electrical energy to power the entire car and then uses the energy created by regenerative braking. When running on electric power, the combustion engine shuts off, saving you some gasoline. These cars are highly efficient in stop-and-go traffic because of how energy is efficiently stored and spent.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) do much of the same as traditional hybrid cars; however, the battery can also charge through a plug-in. Plug-in hybrids allow more power for the battery to store and greater output from the electric motor. These cars have more fuel efficiency than traditional hybrids and can run for longer solely using the stored electric power.
Now that you understand the basics of hybrid engines, you have a general idea of the benefits that come with them. Hybrid Audis get many of these benefits and more. We’ll quickly discuss why buying a hybrid from Audi is the best choice when switching to a hybrid vehicle.
After buying your new Audi hybrid, you’ll need a professional mechanic with experience repairing hybrid cars. Masters European & Japanese Auto Repair offers dealership hybrid car repairs at a fraction of the price. At Masters European & Japanese Auto Repair, our mechanics are ASE-certified and ready to take on any problems your Audi hybrid has. With over 50 years of experience, your satisfaction and happiness are our number one priority. Call today to schedule a service for your European or Japanese import!
* Audi A3 Sportback e-tron image credit goes to: Lobro78.