It’s easy to assume that all hybrid cars work in the same way, by using a battery and an electric motor to help out the engine and reduce your fuel usage. This is broadly true, but there are actually four main types of hybrid vehicle – and understanding the differences, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each, will be key to what your next car might be. The picture is sometimes made even more complex by the terminology used by manufacturers. Some refer to hybrids as “self- charging ”, while others claim enormous efficiency figures – like hundreds of miles per gallon – without quite making it clear how such a feat is achieved. Plugging in often and using the engine sparingly is the answer, but we’ll come back to that later. For now, here’s a brief explanation of what each of the four types of hybrid car is, how they work – and, crucially, what that means for you.…