Many applications require a high step-down ratio in DC-DC converters. Hybrid structures, using switched-capacitors and/or switched-inductors, have been reported as an alternative to high frequency transformer converters. The object of this paper is a comparative study of a switched-capacitor hybrid buck DC-DC converter (HBDC) and a classical buck DC-DC converter (BDC) for automotive applications. The hybrid converter uses a bank of switched capacitors in order to halve the input voltage available to the regular buck converter. Analytical aspects and digital simulations, validated through experimental results obtained from a full scale, 1kW rated power prototype, are presented for this purpose.