A hybrid car is a vehicle which uses two different fuel sources in order to run. The most common hybrid on the market is one which uses a combination of petrol and electricity but there is a model which combines diesel and electric currently in development. As a result of the two fuel sources hybrid cars have double the efficiency, yet produce half the emissions of a regular car. Hybrid cars are therefore greener and friendlier to the environment and as a result many celebrities and important figures own hybrid cars. Examples of hybrid cars include the Toyoto Prius and the Honda Insight.

Hybrid cars are cheap to run with many producing between 50-60 miles to the gallon in cities and 45-55 miles to the gallon on motorways and open roads. The hybrid car works by the petrol engine being supplemented by the electric motor which takes over when the car is idling. Drivers do not need to learn anything new or do anything different to drive a hybrid car as the engine automatically switches between the two fuel sources. Unlike the myths surrounding hybrid cars, you do not need to plug your car into anything at night in order to recharge the electric battery, the battery instead recharges itself through a system known as regenerative breaking – again, no action needs to be taken by the driver, this happens automatically.

Studies show that hybrid cars reduce smoke pollution by 90% when compared to normal petrol fuelled models. It has also been seen that hybrid cars emit 97% less toxins than regular vehicles and less than half as much carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming. As a result, hybrid cars are popular with governments and people who drive hybrids in the UK will benefit from reduced tax discs. Hybrid cars are seen as a stepping stone to the ultimate green car, a car fuelled by a hydrogen fuel cell which will produce zero emissions.