Ah, the age-old question; Should you invest in a trusty hybrid vehicle or go for a sleek electric car? Your decision is about to become so much easier after this 5-minute read.
Before we move forward though, we want to remind you about the benefits of getting a dealer invoice report. This free report will be sent to your email in minutes. You can choose any make and model and see how much the manufacturer paid to own the vehicle (MSRP), the financing options, exclusive incentives, comparable cars and more.
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Let’s dive in. Below, we highlight the pros of hybrid and electric vehicles, and help you figure out which suits your lifestyle.
HYBRID CARS
Let’s start with the basics. A hybrid car relies on one of many propulsion methods. This essentially means that these cars combine conventional gasoline engines with an electric motor.
There are 3 kinds of hybrid cars in the market;
Parallel Hybrid Cars
The vehicle’s wheels are powered in one of 3 ways; by the engine, the electrified motor or a combination of the two. It is a very affordable option for traffic-laden city drives that call for a lot of stopping and starting.
Range Extender Hybrid Cars
These vehicles leverage their conventional engine to create the electricity that charges the battery. Basically, the car is not driven by the engine; this only exists to power the electric motor.
Plug-in Hybrid Cars
Self-explanatory. This vehicle is plugged into an electric point to amp the batteries. Plug-in hybrids lie somewhere between conventional hybrids and fully electric cars. These can accommodate longer drives (up to 50 km in some cases) as the batteries tend to be larger than those seen in regular hybrids.
Benefits of a Hybrid Car
- The stop-start system is fuel-efficient
- Light in weight when compared to electric vehicles
- Offers a great combination of efficiency, usability and cost
- Higher resale value than conventional gasoline cars
- The gasoline-powered internal combustion engine delivers a longer range and longer journey
ELECTRIC CARS
All-electric vehicles have picked up immense traction recently because they are cost-efficient and now, increasingly affordable. EVs utilize an electric motor in lieu of an internal combustion engine.
Seeing as it runs completely on electricity, there are zero tailpipe emissions, making it an environment-friendly alternative to conventional and even hybrid vehicles in some cases.
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Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are the least complicated of all vehicles seeing as even the simplest of internal combustion engines have a myriad of moving parts. An EV only has its motor.
And with innovations from Tesla, Nissan and BMW, there are so many affordable options hitting the market for the budget-savvy shopper!
Benefits of an Electric Car
- Provides mechanical simplicity, meaning it will need less maintenance than internal combustion vehicles
- Offers plenty of instant torque
- Enjoy near-silent performances
- Zero tailpipe emissions and no emission testing
- Better vehicle handling because of the lower centre of gravity
THE BOTTOM LINE
A hybrid is a great buy depending on your driving habits and lifestyle. Remember that these have a smaller battery than full EVs, hence they can only accommodate limited distances.
The biggest factor that separates hybrids and electric cars is the fuel type. While both are energy-efficient, electric cars offer greater fuel flexibility. Moreover, hybrids typically run the owner into all the regular maintenance costs than are seen in conventional internal combustion vehicles; engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, belt replacements and so on.
EVs avoid these extra costs, however they naturally still have all the universal expenses like insurance, tyre changes, structural fixes and so on.
When making your final decision, it’s important to consider your commute, long-term ownership costs, and driving habits.
Unsure about electric or hybrid?
It’s time to get a dealer invoice report. You can get a report for any make and model and compare costs; MSRP, financing options, factory incentives, and more. This will make your buying decision much easier.