The decision to buy a hybrid or electric car depends on many factors. Electric cars are cheaper to recharge than refuel, but what if you don’t have access to a charger? Read on and see if a Hybrid is a good first step towards going electric.
An electric car is powered by electric motors that draw charge from a stack of rechargeable batteries. The three types of electric cars are Battery Electric vehicles (BEV), Fuel Cell Electric vehicles (FCEV), and Hydrogen cars. A hybrid car combines internal combustion power with electric assistance, with two types being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a “self-charging” hybrid (HEV).
Pros of an electric car include lower cost to recharge, zero emissions, and government grants. However, they can be more expensive, have a limited range, and require access to a charger. Pros of a hybrid car include some electric-only driving, fuel efficiency, and no need to charge with access to a fuel station. However, they offer limited electric-only driving, take a long time to charge, and have no government grants.
Hybrid vs. PHEV vs. Electric Cars
With the emergence of hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), the decision to switch to a fully electric car can become a little complicated.
Electric Cars
Electric cars, or EVs, are powered entirely by an electric motor and a battery pack. They do not rely on gasoline, making them zero-emissions vehicles that have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional ICE cars. EVs have a limited range, typically between 100 and 300 miles, depending on the model, but advancements in battery technology are gradually increasing that range. They must be charged regularly, either at home or at public charging stations, and this can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day. Some popular EV models include the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet Bolt.
EVs may seem expensive upfront, but their ultra-low running costs and smooth, near-silent driving experience make them worth the investment. However, charging an EV requires dragging a cable to a charger, whether that’s at home or a public charging station. But with EV ranges increasing with each new model, some drivers only need to charge once or twice a week. If your car has a 300-mile range and you only drive 20 miles a day, why not make the switch?
Electric Car Pros:
Electric cars have a much lower cost to recharge compared to petrol or diesel, meaning that they are significantly cheaper to run in the long term. Additionally, electric cars are zero emissions, making them better for the environment and exempt from clean air zone charges, such as London’s ULEZ. This means that electric car owners can save money when travelling in cities with a clean air zone.
Electric Car Cons:
Electric cars are still typically more expensive than their hybrid and petrol/diesel equivalents, making them a less cost-effective option. If you don’t have access to a charger at home, it can be trickier to keep your electric car charged. Additionally, the range for some models may be challenging if you’re covering long distances often. Since recharging can take some time, this can be a bit of a burden. Nevertheless, with advances in technology, electric cars are becoming more popular and accessible.
Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars use both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE) to power the vehicle. This allows them to use less fuel than traditional gasoline cars, but they still rely on the combustion engine to some extent. Hybrids do not need to be plugged in since the electric motor charges through regenerative braking, which captures energy typically lost during braking and stores it in the car’s battery. The electric motor assists the ICE to achieve better fuel efficiency, but the car cannot operate solely on electric power. Some popular hybrid models include the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Hyundai Ioniq.
Hybrids have several advantages over traditional gasoline cars, including better fuel economy and lower emissions. However, they are not as efficient as fully electric vehicles. Additionally, since they are not fully electric, they are not eligible for certain tax credits or incentives, like those offered for EVs.
The battery that powers the electric motor in a hybrid car is relatively small, which enables the battery to be easily charged while driving through the engine or through energy generated while coasting or braking. This feature has led some people to refer to hybrids as “self-charging” and is a simple way to distinguish them from plug-in hybrids.
Mild hybrids, which arrived later, have a different design. Smaller electric motors, adapted from the engine’s starter motor, just give you a little extra oomph when you hit the gas but are not capable of powering the vehicle on their own.
Hybrid Car Pros:
Hybrid cars offer the best of both worlds. They provide some electric-only driving with the familiarity of a petrol or diesel engine available. This means that you don’t need to worry about having access to a charger or taking the time to charge up, as you can just fill up the tank like you would with any other car. Moreover, hybrid cars are more efficient than their petrol or diesel equivalents, meaning you can save money on fuel costs. Furthermore, hybrid cars are often more eco-friendly than traditional cars, emitting fewer pollutants and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. In summary, hybrid cars offer a great combination of convenience, efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Hybrid Car Cons:
Hybrid cars are a great way to reduce fuel costs and emissions, but they do have some drawbacks. One of the biggest cons is that they don’t offer much electric-only driving. Most hybrids need to run in combination with a combustion engine, meaning that a certain amount of fuel will still be used.
PHEVs
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are similar to hybrids, but with a larger battery that can be charged through an external power source. PHEVs can operate on electric power alone, like a fully electric car, but also have a gasoline engine as a backup. The gasoline engine allows the car to continue driving if the battery is depleted, making them more versatile than fully electric cars. PHEVs also have regenerative braking technology to capture the energy and charge the battery. Some popular PHEV models include the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BMW 330e, and Chevrolet Volt.
PHEVs offer several advantages over traditional gasoline cars and hybrids, including better fuel economy and lower emissions. They also have a larger battery than hybrids, which allows them to operate on electric power alone for longer periods. PHEVs offer more versatility than fully electric cars since they have a backup ICE, making them suitable for longer trips where electric charging may not be available.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can be a wise choice for those with shorter daily commutes, where the electric-only range is sufficient and the car can be charged overnight at home. But, if you frequently take longer trips, the battery can weigh down the car meaning higher fuel costs.
PHEVs it is usually reserved for top-of-the-line models, offering premium high-performance options for business users but it is likely that the stop-gap solution may become less relevant as a useful transitional option and may not be in the price range of many motorists.
While hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are a step in the right direction, if we want to truly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we need to shift towards full-electric vehicles. However, for those who live in apartments or rent their homes, the idea of installing a home charging station may seem daunting. Fortunately, the EV Chargepoint Grant can help alleviate part of these concerns by providing 75% of the cost of installing a home wall box charger, up to £350.
This initiative helps make electric vehicles more accessible and attractive to a wider range of drivers, regardless of their living situation.
