If you’re debating between a hybrid vs gas car or a hybrid vs electric car, then you need to know all the facts - and that means both the advantages of a hybrid and the disadvantages of a hybrid. Below, we outline the different types of hybrid cars out there, as well as the pros and cons of hybrid vehicles.
Types of hybrid vehicles
Believe it or not, there are multiple types of hybrid vehicles. This allows drivers to choose the hybrid car that best suits their budget, lifestyle, and driving habits. We describe a few of the main types of hybrid cars below:
Full hybrid cars
First up is full hybrids. Full hybrid cars feature both a battery-powered motor and a traditional combustion engine. When the electric motor is not in use, the gas engine charges the electric car batteries, creating an efficient system. A full hybrid’s electric motor typically only runs when the vehicle is travelling at a reduced speed, such as in rush hour traffic or on a busy city street. For this reason, full hybrid cars are ideal for people who live in major cities or frequently drive in major cities.
Mild hybrid cars
Mild hybrid cars are similar to full hybrid cars in that they contain two different types of engines. That said, a mild hybrid vehicle is unable to function using the electric motor alone. Rather, the electric motor will only run when the internal combustion engine is also running. Although this might sound counterintuitive or wasteful, when both engines are running in tandem, the electric motor complements the traditional gas engine, which makes for reduced emissions and better fuel economy.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
Plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are often shortened to PHEVs, are an even more eco-friendly version of full and mild hybrids. This is because they use electric motors more than other types of hybrids. A plug-in hybrid can run for many kilometres solely using electric power, no matter how fast you’re driving.
Rather than the electric motor complementing the internal combustion engine in a mild hybrid, the internal combustion engine works to complement the electric motor in a plug-in hybrid. The internal combustion engine charges the electric motor as it's running. To find out how far a plug-in hybrid can go or how far can an electric car go, reach out to BrokerLink today.
Range extender hybrid vehicles
The last type of hybrid vehicle that we will discuss today is the range extender hybrid. Similar to the plug-in hybrid, the range extender hybrid is almost fully electric. This makes it one of the most fuel-efficient types of cars on the market today. The gas engine in a range extender hybrid car only runs when there is an emergency. Otherwise, the car runs on the electric motor.
Plus, when the electric motor runs out of battery, the small internal combustion engine that the range extender hybrid contains will act as a generator to charge the battery until it has just enough power to return to running on electricity.
Cons of hybrid cars
Now that you know a little bit more about the different kinds of hybrid cars out there, let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid vehicles. We’ll start with the bad news, otherwise known as the disadvantages or cons of a hybrid car. The drawbacks of hybrid cars include:
Hybrid vehicles are usually more expensive than gas vehicles
Although this is starting to change, historically and still today, the average hybrid car is more expensive than the average gas car. This is due to the advanced technology that they contain. While there are a lot of technological overlaps between hybrid and gas cars, hybrid cars also feature an electric motor, a large and more expensive battery, additional wiring, a superior cooling system, advanced gear mechanisms, and a much more complex internal computer system.
As a result, the cost of manufacturing a hybrid car is far beyond that of your typical gas car. That is why they come with a higher price tag. If budget is a concern for you, then purchasing a hybrid car may not be an option just yet.
Hybrid vehicles may compromise on performance
With the exception of certain luxury or particularly high-value hybrid models, most hybrid cars are designed with the goal of improving fuel economy. This means that other aspects of the vehicle, such as performance, are thrown by the wayside. A few examples of how designers have tweaked hybrid vehicles to make them as energy-efficient as possible is by creating a more efficient air conditioning system, outfitting them with low friction tires, and adding a lower state of tune for the gas engine. Although these fixes will undoubtedly make the car more efficient to run, they can have an impact on the overall performance of the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles may have poor fuel economy when travelling on highways or at high speeds
Depending on the type of hybrid vehicle that you purchase, it may not be as fuel efficient when travelling at higher speeds or on highways. For example, the mild and full hybrid cars discussed above only use their electric motors when travelling at low speeds or on busy streets.
To make matters worse, when a hybrid car uses its internal combustion engine, the damage that it can do to the environment and the amount of fuel that it runs through will not be significantly different from a gas-powered vehicle. That said, a hybrid vehicle will still emit fewer emissions than a gas car, even when running on its internal combustion engine.
Hybrid vehicles often come with higher car insurance rates
The next disadvantage of hybrid vehicles is that they usually come with higher car insurance rates. Although auto insurance premiums vary between policyholders, the type of car they drive is one factor that will be heavily considered. Typically, more expensive cars cost more to insure because the cost of repairing or replacing them in the event of an accident would also be higher.
That said, there are ways to reduce the cost of your hybrid car insurance plan, which a BrokerLink insurance broker can help you do. If you want to learn more about how you can keep your insurance rates down, reach out to BrokerLink today.
Hybrid cars may become less fuel-efficient when driven in cold temperatures
In cold temperatures, some hybrid batteries require more time to charge and operate effectively. This means that it will take your hybrid car more time to reach its peak performance capacity, as well as more time to charge. As a result, the internal combustion engine that your hybrid vehicle contains must release more energy, which makes it far less fuel efficient than usual. For this reason, if you live in a particularly cold climate, a hybrid car may not be the optimal choice.
Hybrid cars may require an at-home charger
If you drive a plug-in or range extender hybrid car specifically, you may need to install a charger in your home since these types of hybrids require a lot more electricity to run than others. Thus, similar to purchasing an electric car, you would need to budget for the cost of purchasing and installing a hybrid car charger in your home, which can be expensive. This is one of the hidden costs of owning an electric car or hybrid car.
Hybrid cars have increased maintenance costs
Hybrid cars often have higher maintenance costs than other types of cars. This is becauseif something goes wrong or needs to be repaired, the cost of finding a replacement part will be higher since the parts are more complex. Higher maintenance costs are an issue for both hybrid and electric car maintenance, and hybrid car owners must be prepared for them.
Hybrid vehicles have a shorter battery life
Hybrid and electric car batteries tend to have shorter lifespans than car batteries in traditional gas-powered vehicles. This means that if you intend to have your hybrid car for quite some time, there is a chance that you may need to replace it. The typical electric car battery lasts roughly ten years. Most come with a warranty from the manufacturer. However, if your battery dies after the warranty has expired, you might be on the hook for a very expensive battery that often costs tens of thousands of dollars.
Hybrid cars typically have fewer service options
One final disadvantage of hybrid cars is that they have fewer service options. Since they are less popular than gas cars, not all auto body shops are willing to service them. Part of the reason for this is that they do not have any mechanics who are trained or have experience with these types of cars. That said, as hybrid and electric cars become far more popular, this will be less of a problem.
Pros of hybrid cars
Now that you are well aware of the disadvantages of hybrid cars let’s dive into the advantages of them below:
Hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient than conventional cars
First, hybrid cars are undoubtedly more fuel-efficient than conventional cars. In fact, some studies show that they are nearly twice as fuel-efficient as the average gas-powered car. This increased fuel efficiency not only reduces your carbon footprint but will also minimize how much money you spend at the gas station.
Hybrid cars emit fewer emissions thanks to the electric motor
Another advantage of hybrid cars is that they emit fewer emissions and pollutants than other types of cars, including gas cars. So, if you have been looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact but aren’t ready to move to a fully electric car, a hybrid, especially a plug-in or range extender hybrid, might be a great option for you. In these types of hybrids, the internal combustion engine is only running a small portion of the time. They primarily run using the electric motor.
Hybrid cars come with government incentives
In Canada, you can receive a rebate on your hybrid car purchase. The federal government introduced this program to incentivize drivers to purchase eco-friendly cars, such as hybrid and electric cars. Provincial and municipal governments near you might also offer additional incentives. This can bring down the overall cost of your hybrid vehicle purchase.
Hybrid cars offer greater horsepower
One last advantage of hybrid vehicles is that they might offer better horsepower than the average gas-powered car. This is because they feature not one but two engines: an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. As a result, some hybrid vehicles might accelerate faster and offer better handling and responsiveness when you step on the gas pedal.
Another option: electric vehicles
If you are interested in purchasing a hybrid car, then an electric car might also be a good option for you. Electric cars aren’t all that different from certain types of hybrids, like plug-in hybrid vehicles. Plus, they can reduce your fuel efficiency even more. If you think that an electric car might be a worthwhile investment, keep reading for a list of the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.
The advantages of electric vehicles
Below is a list of perks that come with owning an electric car:
Electric cars have zero emissions
Perhaps the biggest advantage of owning an electric car is that they have zero emissions. If you’ve been taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint, going electric is a fantastic way of doing so. Since electric cars do not run on any gas whatsoever, they do not emit any pollutants as they run. The most obvious example of an electric car is a Tesla. If you want to receive free Tesla car insurance quotes, reach out to BrokerLink today.
Electric cars have better government incentives
Another advantage of hybrid cars is that you might be eligible for a government rebate if you buy one. The federal government of Canada offers an incentive to those who buy electric or hybrid cars as a way of encouraging people to go green. Rebates for electric cars tend to be higher than the rebates for hybrid cars.
Electric cars mean that you no longer have to spend time or money at the gas station
Last but not least, another advantage of owning an electric car is that you will not have to spend so much time or money at the gas station. Unlike hybrid cars that still contain internal combustion engines, electric cars run solely on an electric motor, which means there is no place for gasoline.
As a result, you will save tons of money at the gas pump. Even though you will likely need to pay to charge your EV at home, these costs will not come close to how much money you spend on gas with a gas-powered car.
Disadvantages of electric vehicles
Moving onto the cons of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles have several disadvantages that you should be aware of before you purchase one. These drawbacks include:
Electric cars have shorter ranges than gas cars
The first con of an electric vehicle is that its range is usually shorter than that of a gas-powered or hybrid car. The average range of an EV is between 200 and 300 miles. That said, the technology is improving, and some luxury EVs now have ranges of up to 500 miles. Either way, this range is generally shorter than that of a gas-powered car, which means that if you take long road trips frequently, you will likely need to stop to charge your vehicle multiple times along the way.
Electric cars are more expensive
We already discussed how hybrid cars are more expensive than gas-powered cars. Unfortunately, electric cars, on average, are even more expensive than hybrids. This is due to the advanced and complex technology that electric vehicles contain. For example, the cost of replacing an electric car battery can be triple that of replacing a regular car battery.
Electric cars take time to charge
Although you can say goodbye to those frequent trips to the gas station, you will still need to power your car, and that’s using electricity. Just as it takes time to charge your smartphone or your laptop, it will take time to charge your electric vehicle. Depending on the type of EV you drive, as well as the type of charger that you use to charge your vehicle, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours or more.
Car insurance for hybrid cars
Whether you decide to take the plunge and purchase a hybrid car or an electric car, you will need to make sure that you purchase a quality auto insurance policy. The first way of ensuring this is to find a policy that complies with local laws in your province. In Ontario, all hybrid and electric car insurance plans must include the following four types of auto insurance:
Specifically, drivers must have at least $200,000 in liability car insurance in order to legally drive their hybrid cars in Ontario. Beyond the mandatory coverage, there are a few other types of coverage that you might be interested in adding to your hybrid car insurance policy for the extra protection it offers. This includes:
For more information on how you can purchase the right car insurance coverage for your hybrid car, contact BrokerLink today.
Contact BrokerLink today!
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars is crucial before you bite the bullet and purchase one. If you want to learn more about how these types of cars run, how they charge, or what types of auto insurance you need for them, don’t hesitate to reach out to BrokerLink today.
BrokerLink has a team of licensed and experienced insurance advisors ready to help you find the best possible policy for your car, lifestyle, and driving habits. We can offer advice on the coverages that make the most sense for your needs. Plus, down the road, we can also help you renew your coverage, modify your policy, file a claim with your insurance company, or cancel your policy to find a new one.
Get in touch with BrokerLink today to discuss your auto insurance needs. You can also request a free quote. All BrokerLink car insurance quotes are free of charge and have no strings attached.
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