Passing, Braking and Stopping a Full Hybrid

Passing

During heavy accelerating or when additional power is needed, the gasoline engine and electric motor are both used to propel the vehicle.

Additional electricity from the battery may be used to power the electric motor.

Braking

Regenerative braking converts otherwise wasted energy from braking into electricity and stores it in the battery.

In regenerative braking, the electric motor is reversed so that, instead of using electricity to turn the wheels, the rotating wheels turn the motor and create electricity. Using energy from the wheels to turn the motor slows the vehicle down.

If additional stopping power is needed, conventional friction brakes (e.g., disc brakes) are also applied automatically.

Stopping

When the vehicle is stopped, such as at a red light, the gasoline engine and electric motor shut off automatically so that energy is not wasted in idling.

All other systems, including the electric air conditioning, continue to run.