Hybrid types explained
There are five main kinds of hybrid. Mild hybrids give the engine a small electric boost. Full hybrids can drive short distances on electricity and recharge themselves. Series hybrids use the engine only as a generator. Plug-in hybrids have a big battery you charge at home, and range-extender EVs are electric cars with a petrol generator for long trips. All of them recover energy when you slow down.
The differences at a glance
| Type | Plug in? | Electric-only driving | Engine drives the wheels? | Recovers braking energy? | Fuel saved vs petrol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild hybrid | No | No | Yes | A little | 5–15% |
| Full hybrid | No | Short distances | Yes | Yes | 30–40% in town |
| Series hybrid | No | Short distances | No (mostly) | Yes | 30–40% in town |
| Plug-in hybrid | Yes | 50–150 km | Yes | Yes | Most, if plugged in |
| Range-extender EV | Yes | 150–250+ km | No | Yes | Most, if plugged in |
| Electric car | Yes | All of it | No engine | Yes | All |
Fuel and engine power Electric power Energy recovered when slowing or coasting
Mild hybrid (MHEV)
A small 12- or 48-volt battery and a starter-generator bolted to the engine. When you lift off the accelerator or brake, the starter-generator recovers a little energy into the battery, then uses it to help the engine pull away and to restart it smoothly at traffic lights. It can't drive the car on electricity alone and never plugs in.
What it means for you: Saves about 5–15% fuel. Feels just like a normal petrol or diesel car.
Examples: Suzuki Swift Hybrid, Mazda CX-60 G40e, Toyota HiLux, LandCruiser Prado.
Full hybrid (HEV)
A bigger battery and an electric motor that can drive the wheels on its own at low speeds, alongside a petrol engine. The car switches between electric, petrol or both automatically. Braking and coasting recharge the battery through the motor, so it never needs plugging in. Toyota's system blends both power sources through a special gearbox.
What it means for you: Saves 30–40% fuel in town, less on the highway. Typically 4–5.5 L/100 km.
Examples: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Honda CR-V e:HEV.
Series hybrid (engine as a generator)
The petrol engine never drives the wheels. It only spins a generator that makes electricity, and an electric motor does all the driving, so it feels like an EV: smooth and quiet with instant response. Nissan calls this e-Power. Honda's e:HEV works this way most of the time, and connects the engine directly to the wheels only at steady highway speeds.
What it means for you: Most efficient in stop-start traffic; less of an advantage on long highway runs.
Examples: Nissan X-Trail e-Power, Honda CR-V e:HEV.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
A much larger battery you charge from a power point, good for roughly 50–150 km on electricity alone, plus a petrol engine for longer trips. Many newer plug-ins, like BYD's DM-i system, drive mostly as a series hybrid in town and let the engine drive the wheels directly at highway speeds, using whichever is more efficient.
What it means for you: Very cheap to run if you plug in most nights; a heavy petrol car if you don't.
Examples: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BYD Sealion 6, BYD Shark 6 ute.
Range-extender EV (EREV or REEV)
Essentially an electric car with a small petrol engine on board that only ever acts as a generator. You plug it in like an EV and drive on electricity for 150–250+ km; on longer trips the engine starts up to top the battery up, so you never run flat. BMW's i3 REx (sold until 2022) was an early example; Chinese brands have brought the idea back.
What it means for you: Drives like an EV every day, with petrol as a safety net for long trips.
Examples: Leapmotor C10 REEV, Xpeng L03 Power-X.
Battery electric car (EV), for comparison
No engine at all. A large battery feeds the motor, you charge at home or at public chargers, and braking and coasting recover energy back into the battery.
What it means for you: Cheapest to run if you can charge at home. Zero fuel.
Examples: BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model Y.
How cars recharge themselves: regenerative braking
In a normal car, the brakes turn your speed into heat, and that energy is lost. Any car with an electric motor can run the motor backwards as a generator when you lift off or brake. That slows the car and sends electricity back into the battery (the green dotted line in the diagrams). It's why hybrids save most fuel in stop-start city traffic.
- Coasting: lift off the accelerator and the car gently recovers energy. Many EVs and plug-ins let you choose how strong this is.
- Braking: light braking is done mostly by the motor; the normal brakes only take over for hard stops. Brake pads often last much longer as a result.
- One-pedal driving: on many EVs, strong regeneration slows the car almost to a stop when you lift off, so you rarely touch the brake.
- Mild hybrids recover far less, because their battery and starter-generator are small.
- No hybrid makes "free" energy: everything ultimately comes from fuel or the power point. Regeneration just wastes less of it.
Which suits you?
- Can't charge at home: a full or series hybrid gives the biggest saving without plugging in.
- Can charge at home, but do regular long country trips: a plug-in hybrid or range-extender EV.
- Want a ute or 4x4 that feels familiar: a mild-hybrid diesel saves a little; a plug-in ute like the Shark 6 saves far more if you plug in.
- Can charge at home and mostly drive locally: an electric car is usually cheapest of all.
Compare real costs on the hybrids and plug-ins page or in EV vs hybrid costs.
Common questions
What is the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid?
A regular hybrid has a small battery that recharges itself from the engine and braking, and never plugs in. A plug-in hybrid has a much larger battery you charge at home, good for about 50–150 km of electric driving before the engine takes over.
What is a mild hybrid?
A petrol or diesel car with a small 12- or 48-volt battery and starter-generator that recovers energy when slowing down and gives the engine a little help. It can't drive on electricity alone and saves about 5–15% fuel.
What is a range-extender EV?
An electric car with a small petrol engine that only works as a generator. You plug it in and drive on electricity, and the engine starts up on long trips to recharge the battery. Examples include the Leapmotor C10 REEV.
Do hybrids charge themselves?
Regular and mild hybrids do: they recharge from the engine and from regenerative braking when you slow down. Plug-in hybrids also do this, but get most of their electricity from being plugged in.
More guides
More in Choosing a car
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How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at October 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.