Mild hybrid

A car whose small 48-volt electric motor only assists the engine and does not drive the car on its own.

Explained in

eMobility and EV basics · Stop 01What makes a car electric?Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, fuel cell: what each one carries on board, and how often each was registered in the EU in 2025.

A mild hybrid only assists the engine, a full hybrid drives short distances on electricity and charges only while driving, a plug-in hybrid can also be charged from the grid.

From “One word, several technologies”, stop 01
  1. Plug-in hybridA hybrid with a socket and a larger battery, so everyday distances can run on grid electricity and longer trips on fuel.
  2. Full hybridA car with engine and electric motor that drives short distances on electricity, with all energy coming from fuel.
  3. Battery electric carA car that takes all of its energy from the grid, with no engine and no fuel tank.
  1. ADAC: Hybridantrieb oder Plug-in-Hybrid? Das sind die Unterschiede: mild, full and plug-in hybrids compared. https://www.adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/alternative-antriebe/hybridantrieb/. Checked 13 Oct 2026.