Demand for hybrid cars took off in 2024 as consumers turned away from pure electric vehicles.Hendrik Schmidt/dpa/Getty ImagesAs demand for EVs cooled, hybrid cars took off in 2024.Companies that placed early bets on hybrids reaped the rewards.Hybrids will likely play a big role in the electric transition.Hybrid cars had a huge comeback in 2024.These cars, which use a mix of battery-electric and gas power, emerged as the winner in a year when demand for EVs hit a plateau.A new group of green-car shoppers flooded the market in 2024, and unlike their wealthy early adopter counterparts, these new consumers are much more practical.