How does a hybrid automobile work?

Hybrid automobiles blend two or more technologies, and in the case of HEVs, it's the merging of gasoline power with electric power. Today's hybrid cars pair an internal combustion (IC) engines or gas-powered with an electric motor powered by a nickel hydride battery. The electric motor assists the gas engine in starting up and accelerating. Up to 15 mpg and when idling, your car is on electric power alone. This decreases the use of gas and reduces toxic emissions from the IC engine. What makes this technology successful over previous attempts is the development of a braking system that recharges the battery every time you hit the brakes so you never need to recharge the battery.