Hybrid Vs Electric - Which should you choose?

Should you buy a Hybrid or electric car? Here at Swansway Motor Group we are here to help you decide!

Many people will be wondering whether to choose a hybrid or an electric for their next vehicle. Hybrid vehicles act as a stepping stone between fossil fuel and fully electric, so they’re a great way to get started on your journey to electric.

There are three types of hybrid vehicles; full hybrid (FHEVs), mild hybrid (MHEVs) and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs).

The most commonly known hybrid, and often the type people imagine when they think of a hybrid, is a plug-in hybrid. These are powered by plugging the vehicle into a power source to charge the battery. The other two types of hybrid, full and mild, are both recharged by driving the combustion engine.

Take a read of our Hybrid vs Electric comparison to help you decide which best suits your lifestyle.

Purchase Price:

How much it’s going to cost is one of the first considerations when selecting a vehicle.

If you’re considering a hybrid it will depend on the type of hybrid you’re most interested in, full-hybrid and mild-hybrid are typically cheaper than plug-in hybrids, which are closer in price to a full-electric vehicle.

When it comes to electric vehicles, there are government grants available to help bring down the costs, currently the government are offering a Business and Fleet grant to help business move into the world of electric. For individuals there’s the Electric Homecharge scheme, to reduce any charging worries you might have.

Generally, a hybrid vehicle is cheaper to buy than an electric due to the smaller battery, but used electric car prices can be as much as half the price of a new electric car! So, it’s worth considering the used car market whether you choose a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Running Costs:

Electric vehicles are typically cheaper to run when compared to hybrid vehicles.

This is because, despite having electric engines, all hybrid vehicles need to be fuelled with either petrol or diesel, this will cost more than fully charging an electric vehicle.

Costs level out slightly when it comes to road tax. Hybrid vehicles are not exempt from road tax like EVs are, however, as they produce lower emissions compared to most vehicles, the cost of road tax is relatively low.

Taking note of maintenance costs is important, hybrid vehicles experience many of the same issues that a petrol or diesel vehicle would face and therefore are more expensive to maintain than an electric vehicle which has fewer moving parts.

Range:

One of the biggest anxieties that people have when it comes to electric vehicles relates to the range, this is where hybrid vehicles shine as they serve as a stepping stone between petrol/diesel and electric.

The range of an electric vehicle depends on the make and model but generally they can travel between 100-300 miles with the estimated average at 211 miles. There are now over 53,900 charging points in the UK, that’s more than we have petrol stations. So that should help eliminate some range anxiety.

The range of hybrid vehicles can depend on the vehicle, in terms of electric range, plug-in hybrids have the longest range out of all hybrid vehicles and on average can travel for around 20-50 miles on just electric power. When it comes to MHEVs and FHEVs, the electric range on these vehicles is much lower. As for the fuel side of things, this range is similar to that of a standard petrol or diesel vehicle.

The range can also be impacted by your average mpg, several factors can affect your mpg, such as your driving style and extra weight in the vehicle. Take a look at our tips on how to save fuel and drive economically.

Emissions:

As mentioned, hybrid vehicles create a great stepping stone for making the switch from fuel to electric, and therefore they produce lower emissions than a typical vehicle. Electric vehicles produce zero emissions.

Driving Experience:

Depending on your personal preference, the driving experience of each vehicle will differ. Electric vehicles produce no noise pollution, meaning that they offer a peaceful drive. They’re also quick to accelerate.

Hybrids offer a sense of familiarity when it comes to the driving experience, it’s unlikely that a driver will notice much of a difference when compared to an electric or diesel vehicle, however, due to the heavy battery pack, they may handle slightly differently.

Still have a question about which EV is best for you?

Our expert teams are on hand to help!