The trendiest vehicles on the road today are hybrids, cars and trucks powered by drive-trains that use both internal combustion engines and electric motors for propulsion.

The two current strategies are “full hybrids“, which can operate under internal combustion power only, electric power only, or a combination of the two, and “light hybrids“, which use an electric motor to aid the internal combustion engine when necessary.

Toyota has the best-known full hybrid system, used in its Prius, Camry and Highlander Hybrids, and the Lexus RX400h and GS 400h, and licensed to several other manufacturers.

Honda has gone for a simpler light hybrid system for its Insight, Civic and Accord Hybrid models, although it is moving toward full hybrids. Other manufacturers are working on their own systems.