Petrol, diesel, electric – the options for cars today are more than they’ve ever been, and hybrid cars have certainly made their mark in the market. As a stepping stone between a traditional fossil fuel vehicle and an electric, hybrids offer the best of both worlds in a lot of ways, but do they lack in others? To help you decide if a hybrid car is right for you, we’ve put together a pros and cons guide to help you make the decision.
What Is A Hybrid Car?
Hybrid cars combine a petrol or diesel engine, with an electric motor for a unique driving experience. These vehicles typically operate via the combustion engine for the most part, but where extra power is needed – for example, during acceleration – the electric motor is used to give the vehicle that extra boost. While the amount of battery power is small, it works alongside the engine to improve the miles per gallon, saving fuel and improving performance.
Hybrid cars come in two forms – plug-in, and self-charging. Plug-in hybrids work in the same way as an electric vehicle, needing to be plugged in to be charged from an electric outlet. This could be your home socket or a public charging point. They can typically travel further on electric power than self-charging alternatives.
Self-charging hybrids are non-plug-in and cannot be charged through an electrical port. Instead, the electric energy is generated through the car’s engine and brakes, essentially charging itself as you drive.
The Pros
Hybrid vehicles offer a range of benefits to their owners, from reduced fuel costs to lower emissions and government-issued tax incentives. Some of the greatest benefits you can expect from a hybrid vehicle include:
1. Reduced Fuel Costs
Hybrid vehicles ultimately use less petrol or diesel than a conventional combustion engine, which reduces your overall fuel needed, and therefore overall fuel costs. With the additional power of the electric motor, less petrol or diesel will be used during moments where the excess power is needed, ultimately lowering fuel consumption and therefore how often you will need to refill the tank. For self-charging hybrids in particular, the cost is lowered further, with no need to recharge manually.
2. Lower Emissions
Compared to purely gas-powered vehicles, hybrid cars are much more environmentally friendly. While you will still emit a certain level of pollutants with a hybrid vehicle, this is a significantly lower level than with conventional combustion engines. A typical passenger vehicle with a full petrol or diesel engine is predicted to emit over 4.6 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, however a hybrid vehicle will produce significantly less. With the use of electricity to power your vehicle or help produce extra power as you drive, the excess fuel you would have otherwise used won’t be touched, meaning there’ll be no excess emissions.
3. They’re Quiet
While not silent like electric vehicles, hybrid cars are considerably quieter than traditional combustion engines. The electric motors mean that very little noise is produced, so much so that many electric and hybrid vehicles have been made to play audible sounds so that they can be heard, particularly when travelling at certain speeds. This is a safety feature, but will still ensure you have a quieter drive than with traditional vehicles.
4. No Idling
Hybrid vehicles come with a a feature known as stop-start, or idle-stop. This essentially means that your vehicle will never idle. Instead, it will switch off at lights or when the car is stationary, and will restart quickly when you accelerate and are ready to go. This is done automatically and smoothly, meaning that there is little, to no interruption to your drive.
5. Tax And Money Incentives
When it comes to hybrid cars in the UK, the Government offer a grant to go towards the cost of a low-emission vehicle, providing it is brand new. These grants are calculated at 35% of the purchase price, up to the maximum of £2,500 for cars, £1,500 for motorcycles and mopeds, £3,000 for small vans, £6,000 for large vans, and £7,500 for taxi vehicles. You could also get £350 off the cost of installing a vehicle charger at home.
The Cons
As with anything in life, there are a few ‘cons’ or downsides that you need to be aware of when making that all-important decision as to whether a hybrid is right for you. From the upfront and repair costs, to the carbon footprint, here’s what you need to know:
1. Regenerative Braking
The regenerative brakes on a hybrid vehicle essentially charge the car anytime you need to brake. However, while this is useful for driving in cities or areas where there is a lot of traffic, long-distance or rural driving where you aren’t stopping or slowing down very often.
2. Loss In Performance
Generally speaking, hybrid vehicles are designed and built to offer economic driving, rather than speed or high performance. While most can definitely hold their own in the standard vehicle market, buyers looking for high-performance and speed-forward vehicles might not get what they’re looking for out of a hybrid vehicle. The battery can add additional weight to the car which makes higher speeds harder to get up to, and handling can feel heavier and less agile.
3. Upfront Cost
Hybrid cars are expensive, and will always cost more than the equivalent petrol/diesel vehicle. On average, you can expect to pay 20% or more above the equivalent combustion engine. While you could make up this difference using the grant and fuel economy, it may take thousands of miles in which to reach this recuperation.
4. Cost for Repairs
Due to their nature as a best-of-both-worlds vehicle, the repair costs for a hybrid can be higher than traditional gas or electric vehicles. While engine repairs Not all mechanics will have the knowledge or equipment to handle hybrid vehicles or the potential issues they may face. Our mechanics are well versed in a number of different vehicle engines, gearboxes, transmissions and more, so feel free to get in touch to find out more about how we can help.
5. Not As Eco-Friendly As Electric Cars
While hybrid vehicles are more eco-friendly than pure combustion engines, it’s still worth noting that they aren’t fully eco-friendly, and that an electric car might be better for those wanting to wipe out their carbon footprint completely. The emissions and environmental impact will ultimately depend on how often you power the car via petrol/diesel or electricity, as well as the charge type your vehicle has.