Are Hybrid Cars Worth It?

Hybrid cars seem to promise all the benefits of a petrol or diesel car as well as the advantages of an electric vehicle. But are hybrid cars actually worth it? First, we’ll start by looking into how a hybrid car works.

How does a hybrid car work?

A hybrid car uses both a traditional combustion engine, which is typically fueled with petrol, as well as an electric motor. Because they have the added benefit of the electric motor, they often use less petrol than conventional cars.

What types of hybrid car are there?

There are a few different types of hybrid car that work in slightly different ways.

Plug-in hybrid

The plug-in hybrid car can have the electric recharged by plugging the car into a charge point. This could be a public charge point in a car park or you can charge it via your usual plug socket at home.

It has a large battery, but not as large as a fully electric vehicle. Plug-in hybrid cars can usually go between 30-40 miles on a single charge. If you were travelling further than that, the petrol engine will be there to keep the car going.

Self-charging hybrid

A self-charging hybrid car works in the way that you probably expect – it self-charges the electricity. In this type of hybrid, the electricity is used in parallel to the petrol engine, and it’s used to give the engine an extra boost. This then reduces how much petrol is used.

The electric is charged by “waste” energy that’s generated from the engine and when you brake. So, it can recharge consistently as you drive.

Mild hybrid cars

Mild hybrid cars work in a similar way to self-charging hybrid vehicles, but the battery is much smaller. The battery helps to drive the vehicle more economically and save fuel, but it can’t travel on the electric battery alone. It will always need to have petrol or diesel in order to run. m

Are hybrid cars cheap to run?

In many ways, a hybrid car will be cheaper to run than a standard petrol or diesel car. Thanks to the electric batteries, you’ll use a lot less fuel to drive the car, so you can save money here.

Because they produce fewer emissions, hybrid vehicles will also often have cheaper car tax than a traditional combustion engine vehicle. However, unlike electric vehicles that generally pay no road tax, there will still be something to pay.

Maintaining a hybrid car can be more costly than a traditional car. This is because parts are often more expensive, plus you are essentially maintaining two different systems within one car. Because of this, car insurance for hybrid cars and sometimes be more expensive too.

Should I buy a hybrid car?

Whether a hybrid car is right for you will depend on what you primarily use your car for. They can be perfect if you mainly drive in urban areas, travel short journeys, and/or have plenty of opportunities to recharge your car. In this case, you’ll probably find you save a lot of money on fuel, which can balance out the higher maintenance costs.

However, if you drive long distances often, a hybrid car might not be right for you. If you have a plug-in hybrid, run out of electric and have to rely on the petrol engine for a long way, you will essentially be driving a heavier fuel-powered car. This will then be less efficient than driving a normal petrol or diesel car.

If you drive long distances but are still interested in a hybrid car, a mild hybrid may be more suitable. This will still help to reduce your emissions and save you money on fuel, but you won’t have to ever depend on the electric battery alone.

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