Hybrid vs. EV: Which is Better to Buy?
If you’re considering the switch to an alternative fuel vehicle you are more than likely deciding between a hybrid or a full battery electric vehicle sure there are also hydrogen fuel cell options to consider but only from Hyundai and Toyota and only really on the west coast so between the more
Common Alternatives which one is right for you let’s break down the key differences first off did you know that there are more electric cars available in the US today and on their way in the next 12 months than hybrids that’s right however when it comes to what most Shoppers can
Realistically work with in their daily lives hybrids make a bit more sense the first mass-market hybrid option here in the States was the Honda Insight but the Toyota Prius is what made them cool and mainstream a Prius is a regular hybrid one that relies on a gasoline engine to
Move the vehicle but augments that with a larger battery and at least one electric motor to assist with propulsion later on in the evolution of the technology plug-in hybrids were introduced these have even bigger batteries on board that you can charge at an EV charging station there’s still
A gas engine on board but because you have the big battery to work with a plug-in hybrid is the perfect Middle Ground between the traditional gas powered vehicle and a full battery electric one take for instance the latest Toyota Prius Prime Toyota speaker for plug-in hybrid that model can travel
On battery power alone for up to 42 miles once the juice is almost completely gone in the battery the car switches back to being an efficient hybrid thus giving you a lot more total driving range than both a gas car or even the standard Prius hybrid this means that depending on your lifestyle
You could potentially never use a drop of gas if you remember to actually charge the battery at home work the grocery store or wherever you frequently come across public charging stations the gas engine will always be there for backup eliminating any range anxiety you may have from driving a full EV but how
Do hybrid batteries stay charged if they don’t have a plug firstly the gas engine can act as a generator as you’re driving down the street if the battery has enough juice a hybrid will do its best to keep the engine off until you need more oomph but when that battery is low
It does the charging for you another neat engineering feat of all hybrids and plug-in hybrids called regenerative braking uses the kinetic energy from slowing down the electric motors during coasting or full stop braking to create electricity that can be stored back in the battery EVS can do the same thing but even use
This technology to slow the vehicle down all the way to a stop without you ever having to hit the brake pedal this is generally referred to as one pedal driving if its complete fossil fuel replacement you’re after then an electric vehicle is the way to go the battery on board
Dwarfs those in any hybrid or plug-in hybrid thus allowing for all electric driving range as little as 100 miles or up to 516 miles depending on the vehicle key things to know about EVs and all electric car will cost more upfront than a similar style hybrid however some EVS
As well as plug-in hybrids are eligible for federal tax incentives of up to 7 500 bringing the net acquisition cost down closer to more traditional Vehicles without gas engines EVS don’t need oil changes and overall maintenance costs are less than a hybrid which in turn experiences less wear and tear on the
Engine because it doesn’t have to work as hard when there’s electric assistance going on hybrids provide remarkable fuel efficiency but they still create some tailpipe emissions electric cars don’t have a gas engine so driving them doesn’t contribute to smog hybrids have more frequent opportunities to refuel recharging an EV may be inconvenient
When away from home annual fuel cost us for a hybrid are typically higher than annual costs for charging an electric car and because there is no engine up front some manufacturers opt to take advantage of that space by providing cargo compartments there instead thus maximizing your cargo hauling ability it
Really comes down to whether you want to mitigate gasoline consumption or completely get rid of it an electric vehicle in 2023 is far more likely to accomplish that task successfully because of continued advancements in the technology on board and in charging infrastructure for more information on those important facets of Ed ownership
Kelly Blue Book got you covered
Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs are the most approachable forms of alternative-fuel transportation, but which one is right for you? #KBB
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