What is a mild hybrid?

A mild hybrid uses a small electric motor and battery, often on a 48-volt system, to assist the gas engine, power smoother start-stop and recapture some braking energy. Unlike a full hybrid, it generally cannot drive the car on electric power alone, so fuel savings are usually more modest. Mild hybrids never need to be plugged in. To compare real efficiency between models, look up EPA ratings at fueleconomy.gov rather than relying on the hybrid label alone.