Look it up now! Plug-in hybrid vehicles - or PHEVs - are becoming increasingly popular on our roads - here's what you need to know before buying one Many of the newest cars are being labeled as a "hybrid" car. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is quite simply a hybrid car you can 'plug in', meaning the battery can be charged from an electric outlet such as a public charge point or even a three-pin socket in your garage. Hybrid car definition: a car which uses electrical power to enhance the efficiency of the engine | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Hybrid car definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Learn more. If you are not sure what a hybrid means or advantages that comes with then you just need to look at the facts to get a better understanding of what you are getting into. Most hybrids are worth the value, but some merely use the name for an advantage. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) system with an electric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain).The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle or better performance. hybrid definition: 1. a plant or animal that has been produced from two different types of plant or animal, especially…. Mild-hybrid technology is generally employed to improve the potency of a car’s stop-start system, meaning it can cut in sooner to switch the engine off, thereby further reducing engine emissions.