The hybrid car engine holds the key to its being an environment-friendly vehicle. They are a combination of a gas engine and an electric motor that assists a car as it accelerates, slows down and even when it stops. Throughout all these basic actions, the hybrid car engine plays a major role so that the least amount of gas is used and cleaner emissions achieved.

Ever since the release of the hybrid car in 2001 by Toyota (their first model being the Prius that was up for sale in Japan 3 years prior to that in their own country), different technologies on hybrid electric cars have been developed by different car manufacturers. Of course, the concept is the same in all cars; they each run on fuel and some kind of electric motor. The difference lies in the design of those engines. The 2007 hybrid car is now more improved than any car before it. And each manufacturer aims to make the hybrid even better in the future. Here’s a look at current models on the market.

Ford is one of the major car companies that bring the technology closer to home. More known for manufacturing some of the best and most trusted cars and SUVs in the United States, it was only a matter of time that the company also began the production of the Ford hybrid car.