Electric Motor

• The engine in hybrid cars is assisted by an electric motor the helps the car accelerate. This feature, also referred to as "power assist," allows the engine to be smaller and more economical. It also significantly reduces the demands on the gasoline engine.
  
  

Low Speed Driving

• In some cases, the electric motor, along with the battery pack, can provide low speed driving to conserve the energy and fuel of the gasoline engine. The engine is only used when it is the most efficient, such as driving at high speeds.
  
  

Automatic Shut-Off

• Another feature of a hybrid engine is the automatic shut-off, which stops the engine of the vehicle as soon as it shuts off, preventing it from wasting energy. The engine will also restart when the accelerator is pressed.