How to drive a hybrid car: tips to get the most out of it and save fuel

The first thing to know about a hybrid car is that it drives like a car with an automatic gearbox. I say this to completely eliminate the fear that those who are unfamiliar with this technology may still have.

But if you’re buying a hybrid car it’s because you care about consumption, because you need the ECO label from the DGT associated with this technology, or for both reasons. And here’s the important part. The tricks or efficient driving tips that can be applied to any car also work for a hybrid. But because of the characteristics of this type of car, there are some things you can do to get the most out of them and take full advantage of the efficiency they can achieve.

How does a hybrid car work?

Remember that basically, the propulsion system of a conventional hybrid car combines a combustion engine –which can be petrol or diesel– with an electric motor and batteries. The battery is recharged on the move by recovering energy during coasting or braking (here the electric motor works as a generator) and supplies electricity to the electric motor when needed. The latter can work by adding its power to the combustion engine, or on its own to move the car at low speed or to get it moving.

As for plug-in hybrids, they use larger-capacity batteries that can be recharged from the mains, and more powerful electric motors. They can usually run in fully electric mode with performance –here the electric motor is more than just support for the combustion engine– and a range –between 20 and 50 km depending on the model– that a non-plug-in hybrid cannot match. That’s also why they are much more expensive.

Once you understand the basic operating principles of a hybrid car, you’ll better understand the tricks and tips that can be applied to achieve maximum efficiency. It all comes down to making the most of the energy that costs you nothing, that is, the energy recovered while driving and stored in the batteries. And everything we’re going to cover can be summed up in one sentence: anticipation pays off.

1. Get to know your hybrid car

The first tip may sound a bit obvious, but believe me when I say that many hybrid owners don’t know what some of the buttons in their car are for, or how the gearbox works, for example. Not all hybrids have the same functions.

For example, there are hybrid cars that have a “B” mode in addition to “D” on the automatic gear selector. And since the engine is noisier in this mode, some people think it’s for downshifting to overtake more quickly, for example. Wrong: it’s actually a position in which the engine provides more braking when you lift off the accelerator, which helps reduce speed while recovering more energy, without having to touch the brakes. However, in other hybrid cars, such as the Kia Niro, they have a conventional automatic gearbox in which what you select with the gear lever in manual mode are fixed gears.

Similarly, some hybrid cars have a “power” button to activate a maximum power mode in which the electric motor assists the combustion engine with all the energy available and the throttle response becomes quicker. And it’s also common to have an “EV” mode in which you’re telling your car you want it to use battery energy to move in electric mode.

Let’s assume you asked the dealer when they handed you the vehicle, and that you read the manual thoroughly. You now know your hybrid car inside out. How do you get the most out of it?

2. Driving modes of a hybrid car

It’s not the same in every car, but most hybrid cars have several driving modes. These are usually the following, and you should use them in the situations I explain.

• “Normal” mode: this is the default mode when you start the car; the system automatically combines the electric motor and the combustion engine depending on how you drive. It’s the one you can use for almost everything.
• “EV” mode: if you press the “EV” button you’re telling the car to run in electric mode. Imagine you’re driving around the city, for example looking for a parking space. Or you’ve entered the housing estate where you live and have a short distance left to “wind your way” home. If you have enough charge in the batteries and press “EV” mode, you’ll move without using a single drop of fuel. Note that on non-plug-in hybrids this mode requires driving at very low speed. If you press the accelerator too hard, “normal” mode will kick in.
• “ECO” mode: prioritises fuel economy. To do this, in addition to adjusting throttle response and prioritising the use of battery energy, it also usually modifies how the climate control system works. This mode is ideal for short trips or interurban journeys, although you could also use it on the motorway.
• “Power” mode: on some cars it’s also called “Sport” mode. It’s recommended when driving on a two-way road where you need to overtake, or when climbing a mountain pass, for example. Here power delivery and throttle response take priority over fuel economy. But remember: for an overtaking manoeuvre, for example, you don’t need to press the corresponding button: you’re driving an automatic, so when you floor the accelerator you’ll get maximum performance until you lift off again, even if you have “normal” mode selected.

3. Anticipation to recover energy

I’ve already said it, and I’ll repeat it several more times. Anticipation is the key to using little fuel in a hybrid car, whether you’re driving on country roads or motorways or in the city. Think about how the system works. In any car, every time you lift off the accelerator and coast, you’re covering distance without consuming fuel. In a hybrid car, you’re also recovering energy that goes into the battery, which you can later use to burn less fuel.

Anticipation pays off when you drive a hybrid: recovered energy is used to power the electric motor, helping you save fuel.

How do you anticipate? Anything goes here. Once you’ve adopted this mindset, it will come naturally. For example, you’ll leave more following distance on the motorway so that the car simply loses speed on its own – you’re already recovering energy – if you see vehicles ahead slowing down. And if you eventually do have to brake, bear in mind that more energy is recovered if you start braking early and gently and progressively, rather than waiting until the last moment and braking hard.

4. Driving a hybrid in the city

The city is where a hybrid car has the greatest saving potential, because it’s where it can use the electric motor for the longest time. And anticipation is also key here. If you’re in “normal” mode, it’s better to switch to “ECO” mode.

If you see a traffic light and know you’ll have to stop – the same goes for approaching a zebra crossing, a junction, etc. – lift off the accelerator in good time and let the car coast, losing speed while recovering energy. And if you have to brake, do it very gently. You’ll keep recovering energy… and saving brake pads, because remember, during the first phase of pedal travel the pads don’t rub against the discs. When you set off again after stopping, do it very smoothly so the car covers the first few metres on the electric motor. And in case of a traffic jam or very congested traffic, if you have enough energy in the batteries you can use the “EV” mode.

5. What do I do on hills or mountain passes?

Another typical situation where you can take advantage of a hybrid car depending on how you drive. You can choose to maintain the speed you want – using cruise control or by how much you press the accelerator – and let the system take care of the rest. If the descent is steep, when you lift off the accelerator the car will start recovering energy.

If it’s so steep that you keep gaining speed, you can brake very gently… or better still use “B” mode on the gearbox –downshift if your hybrid has a fixed-gear transmission– to apply more retardation. This is very useful if you’ve reached the slope with the battery low, as it will recharge faster. Also, anything that reduces the car’s speed by recovering energy not only adds to what you can later use to cover distance burning less fuel, but also “saves” on brake wear.

If the road goes uphill instead of downhill, remember that the best option is to use “Power” or Sport mode.

6. Use the energy monitor, that’s what it’s there for

Another thing you should do when driving a hybrid car is make use of the information from the power and charge indicator on the instrument cluster, as well as the energy gauge. Of course, only as long as it doesn’t mean losing focus on what’s happening on the road.

When braking, for example, a measure of how smoothly you’re applying the brakes is given by the “Charge” needle. Bear in mind that in a hybrid car, the first part of the brake pedal travel makes the electric motor work as a generator, and the car loses speed while recovering energy, without the hydraulic braking system coming into play. That’s why the pedal feels unusual at first, when you’ve never driven a hybrid before. Once you reach the maximum on the “Charge” indicator, the pads and discs take over the braking.

Monitoring the energy flow when you have doubts will make it clear whether the car is moving purely on electric power, with the combustion engine, or recovering energy, which will gradually help you get to know how your hybrid car works. You can also occasionally check the average consumption figure and the energy recovered on each completed journey. In the end, almost without meaning to, you’ll find that efficient driving in a hybrid car almost becomes a game.