Hybrid cars may not be the green machines they seem

Research has questioned some of the environmental claims being made about hybrid electric vehicles. ((AAP Image/Toyota, Bob Seary))

Hybrid electric vehicles might not be the green machines consumers think they are, with research finding major car brands are making potentially misleading claims about the technology.

Questionable marketing tactics included calling plug-in hybrid vehicles "the best of both words" and calling hybrids "self-charging cars" despite both vehicle types relying on petrol, the report found.