A plug-in hybrid vehicle uses a dual power combination of standard petrol or diesel and electric. The electric motor uses a high-quality battery which needs to be recharged via an external electrical source.
It is possible to charge your electric car at home or at a public charge station. Specially installed charge points and public charge stations often offer rapid charging, which considerably reduces the time required to recharge.
Running an electric car varies, but it is currently estimated to cost around 4p per mile to charge.
The process of regenerative braking extracts the naturally occurring energy from the braking process, stores it and reuses it.
Used hybrids represent excellent value for money and there are many makes and models to choose from. The Toyota Prius was one of the original hybrids that are now available as pre-owned cars. Now, luxury cars like the BMW i8 are giving car buyers even more options. Be sure to think about what you want and what you need, and try to test drive before you buy.