There are 3 categories of hybrid vehicles: full hybrid, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid. They all have a combustion engine and at least one electric motor, as well as a traction battery. But the traction, the type of transmission, the charging method, their fuel consumption and their environmental impact differ.
A mild hybrid operates with the combustion engine always running, with the electric motor supporting it occasionally. Mild hybrid engines consume up to 10% (mild hybrid) or up to 20% (mild hybrid advanced) less fuel than an equivalent combustion-powered vehicle. The transmission can be manual or automatic.
Full hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles systematically start in electric and can drive fully electric. They both switch intelligently between the electric and combustion powertrains.
The difference between them lies in the capacity of their battery and the charging method.
With full hybrid E-Tech technology, you do not need to plug your vehicle into a socket to get power. You recover energy during driving phases through regenerative braking. This means that you can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 40% and drive electric up to 80% of the time in town.
With E-Tech plug-in hybrid technology, to optimise your consumption, it is important to charge your vehicle daily using a standard socket or at a charging point. With a greater driving range, you can spend most of your everyday journeys driving 100% electric. The technology therefore saves up to 75% fuel (in WLTP cycle).