The paper describes a new class of a hybrid vehicle that uses piezoelectric devices for powering an electric motor while still using conventional fuels, such as gas, diesel, or oil. The installed piezoelectric devices can transform the mechanical energy of the moving pistons or crankshafts into electrical energy, which can be stored in the capacitor or the battery charger. Consequently, the stored electrical energy powers an electric motor, which can supplement the conventional gasoline or diesel engine or work independently. The solution to the problem can significantly reduce the consumption of the conventional fuel, diversify transportation fuel supply, and reduce the air pollution. Use of piezoelectric devices for powering a supplemental electric motor will lead to the development of a new generation of hybrid vehicles, where the mechanical energy of the existing conventional gasoline engine will be converted to electrical energy without significant changes in the design of the existing automobile engine and generator. Using piezoelectric elements for powering the motor can significantly increase the cost-effectiveness of the hybrid vehicles and simplify the currently used charging system of the electric vehicles. The principle of operation is based on the unique properties of piezoelectric materials, which are able to generate an electrical voltage when they are mechanically stressed. The preliminary experimental results demonstrate that a single piezoelectric element under transient dynamic mechanical load can generate a pulse of an electrical voltage in the range of tens or even hundreds of kilovolts. Keywords: power harvesting, piezoelectricity, hybrid vehicles
