Do cars have both engine and motor?

Yes—some cars have both, some have only an engine, and others have only an electric motor. Traditional gasoline and diesel cars use an engine (and a small electric starter motor), hybrids combine an engine with one or more electric traction motors, and battery‑electric cars rely solely on electric motors. Here’s how the terms and technologies differ and where they overlap.

What “engine” and “motor” actually mean

In everyday conversation, people often use “engine” and “motor” interchangeably, but in automotive engineering they refer to different kinds of machines that convert energy into motion.

• Engine: Converts chemical energy (fuel) into mechanical energy via combustion. Examples: gasoline and diesel engines.
• Motor: Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Examples: the traction motors in electric and hybrid cars.

This distinction matters because it clarifies what powers the wheels: a combustion engine, an electric motor, or both working together in a hybrid layout.

Which cars have what

Modern vehicles fall into several categories, each with a specific combination of engines and/or motors for propulsion.

• Internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles: Have a combustion engine that drives the wheels. They also include a small electric starter motor (and often other small electric motors for accessories), but these do not propel the car.
• Mild hybrids (48‑volt systems): Still engine‑driven, but add an integrated starter‑generator that enables stop/start and torque assist. The electric unit is not usually a primary propulsion source.
• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug‑in hybrids (PHEVs): Have both a combustion engine and one or more electric traction motors. The motors can move the car on their own at low speeds or assist the engine, depending on design.
• Series hybrids / range extenders: Use an engine only as a generator to make electricity; the wheels are driven exclusively by the electric motor(s). The engine never mechanically drives the wheels.
• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs): Have only electric motor(s) and no combustion engine at all. Energy comes from a battery.
• Fuel‑cell electric vehicles (FCEVs): Have electric motor(s) powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack and a buffer battery; no combustion engine is present.

The takeaway: “Both” applies primarily to hybrids, while ICE cars are engine‑driven (with a non‑propulsion starter motor) and EVs are motor‑only.

How the combinations work

ICE vehicles with a starter motor

Conventional cars use an electric starter motor briefly to crank the engine at startup. Once running, the engine alone propels the vehicle. Stop/start systems turn the engine off at stops and restart it with a beefed‑up starter or starter‑generator to save fuel.

Parallel and power‑split hybrids (HEV/PHEV)

These use both engine and electric motor to drive the wheels. Power‑split systems (like Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive) blend engine and motor output through a planetary gearset, enabling electric‑only motion at low speeds and efficient engine use on highways. PHEVs add a larger battery for meaningful electric‑only range.

Series hybrids and range extenders

The engine acts as an onboard generator, producing electricity for the battery and motor. Propulsion is always electric. This simplifies the drivetrain and keeps the engine in efficient operating zones.

Battery electric and fuel‑cell electric

BEVs store energy in a battery and drive the wheels with one or more electric motors. FCEVs generate electricity onboard from hydrogen and also drive solely with electric motors. Neither has a combustion engine.

Why the terminology causes confusion

Drivers hear “engine” and “motor” used loosely by marketers, mechanics, and media. Three factors amplify the mix‑ups:

• Colloquial language: “Motor” has long been a generic word for any vehicle power unit, regardless of fuel.
• Hidden components: ICE cars do have electric motors (starter, pumps, fans), but these aren’t propulsion motors.
• Hybrid variety: Different hybrid types (mild, parallel, series, plug‑in) combine engines and motors in different ways, blurring simple labels.

Keeping propulsion in focus—what actually turns the wheels—helps clarify whether a car has an engine, a motor, or both for driving.

Real‑world examples

These familiar models illustrate how the engine/motor mix shows up on the road.

• Engine only for propulsion: Ford Mustang 5.0 (starter motor present but not for driving).
• Mild hybrid assist: Mercedes‑Benz inline‑6 with 48‑V ISG (engine drives; electric unit assists and restarts).
• Full hybrid (HEV): Toyota Prius (engine plus electric motors, capable of limited electric‑only driving).
• Plug‑in hybrid (PHEV): Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota RAV4 Prime (meaningful EV range plus engine for long trips).
• Series hybrid / range extender: Nissan e‑POWER models; BMW i3 REx (engine generates electricity; wheels driven by motors).
• Battery electric (BEV): Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevrolet Bolt (electric motors only).
• Fuel‑cell electric (FCEV): Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo (electric motors only; hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity).

Together, these examples show that “both engine and motor” is typical of hybrids, while pure ICE and pure electric vehicles sit at either end of the spectrum.

What it means for ownership

The presence or absence of an engine and/or motor affects maintenance, efficiency, and driving feel.

• Maintenance: Engines need oil, filters, and more moving‑part upkeep; motors require less routine service. Hybrids sit in between.
• Efficiency: Electric motors are highly efficient and recover energy via regenerative braking; engines are less efficient but quick to refuel.
• Driving experience: Electric torque is immediate and quiet; engines provide familiar sound and feel. Hybrids blend traits.
• Use case fit: Short, urban trips favor electrified drivetrains; long, remote drives may favor ICE or PHEV flexibility.

Understanding the power sources helps match a vehicle to your driving patterns and maintenance preferences.

Summary

Cars may have an engine, a motor, or both—depending on the drivetrain. Conventional ICE models use an engine (with a small non‑propulsion starter motor), hybrids combine a combustion engine with electric traction motors, and EVs use only electric motors. If you’re asking whether cars can have both: yes, hybrids do, while standard gas cars are engine‑driven and battery electrics are motor‑only.

Is a car engine and motor the same thing?

No, a car engine and motor are not exactly the same thing, though the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday language. An engine is a device that converts fuel into mechanical energy through combustion, while an electric motor transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy. Therefore, a traditional gasoline car has an engine, while an electric car has a motor, and hybrid cars have both. 
Engine (Combustion) 

• Definition: Converts one form of energy (like chemical energy from fuel) into mechanical motion. 
• How it works: An engine typically burns fuel (like gasoline or diesel) to generate heat, which is then converted into mechanical energy. 
• In a car: The primary power unit in a gasoline or diesel vehicle is an engine. 

Motor (Electric)

• Definition: Converts electrical energy into mechanical motion. 
• In a car: An electric motor is the power unit for an electric vehicle. 
• Other uses: Power windows and other accessories in gasoline cars use smaller electric motors. 

Hybrids and the Gray Area

• Hybrids: Have both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to provide power. 
• Interchangeable use: While the distinction is important for understanding how cars work, particularly with the rise of hybrids and electric vehicles, people often use the terms interchangeably in casual conversation. 
• Context matters: The meaning is usually clear from the context; a “motor” for your car’s power windows is obviously an electric motor, not a miniature fuel-burning engine. 

Do cars have both engines and motors?

Hybrid cars use two different power sources, typically a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. Hybrid cars use one or both power sources for motivation, often using the electric motor at lower speeds and the engine at higher ones (or both).

Is there a motor in a car engine?

They can have either, by the definition of what such are. Electric cars have motors. anything which burns fuel to heat and expand air has an engine. But, cars with engines also have motors in them, and the engine connected to a output shaft is also a motor.

Can a car be called a motor?

A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that can operate on rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such as airplanes or helicopters), does not float on water (such as boats or ships), and is used for …