How to Charge a Hybrid Car

Switching to a hybrid vehicle, like the Honda Insight, for example, to save gas on your Westbrook commute can be a wise choice. But if you’re thinking about making the switch, you’re probably curious about charging a hybrid car battery. Does every hybrid vehicle need to be plugged in? How long does it take to charge one? We’re happy to answer your questions, so we’ve put together the guide below on how to charge a hybrid car battery.

Is Charging a Hybrid Car Battery Always Necessary?

First things first – not all hybrid vehicles are the same. We find that many of our New London customers are not aware that this type of electric vehicle comes in two varieties: hybrid and plug-in hybrid. As their names suggest, plug-in hybrids require being plugged into an outlet to charge the battery; hybrid vehicles do not. That’s because the battery in a hybrid vehicle is charged by the gas engine, which is always running at the same time as the electric motor. Plug-in hybrids, however, have bigger battery packs and can run solely on the electric motor for short periods of time.

How to Charge a Hybrid Car Battery

So, what if your car is a plug-in hybrid? How does charging a hybrid car battery work, then? There are three different methods of charging, each taking a different length of time to complete a charge.

How to Charge a Hybrid Car Battery

• Level 1 Home AC Charging (120V) – The cord that comes with the car is plugged into a wall outlet. Full charge in about 24 hours.
• Level 2 Home AC Charging (240V) – This uses a charging unit that needs to be professionally installed. Full charge in about 4-5 hours.
• Fast Public DC Charging – Requires a public charging station. More and more of these will crop up in the Branford area as time goes on. They offer up tp to 80% charge in about 30 minutes.

Check Out the Hybrid Cars at Westbrook Honda

The new hybrid cars available at Westbrook Honda, like theAccord Hybrid andCR-V Hybrid, do not need to be plugged in and get incredible gas mileage. Come down and take them for a test drive. And, if you’d like to learn more, check out our othermodel research. We’re just down the road from Middletown. So, drop by or contact us today!