Hybrid Cars Vs Pure Electric Cars: The Differences
So if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve run into a bit of confusion regarding the various eco-friendly vehicle types that have recently begun appearing on the market. Hybrid cars have been around for a while now, with Toyota enjoying a favourable amount of success with the Prius. However, a new type of purely electrically driven vehicles is starting to appear and gain ever more popularity. The differences may not be obviously apparent and there is various confusion over the way in which each one performs. So, over the next few paragraphs I’ve put a quick guide together that I hope will help you better choose your next eco-friendly vehicle.
Hybrid Cars
When a vehicle is dubbed ‘Hybrid’, it is typically called so because it utilises more than one type of technology to drive itself. In a conventional Hybrid car, this usually results in a typical combustion engine been helped along by a smaller electric motor. The bank of batteries used to drive the motor is typically recharged during periods of braking through the use of specially made ‘regenerative brakes’. When the vehicle is under full load i.e. on a motorway, the fuel powered engine is used. However, under periods where there is minimal demand on the engine, power is switched either fully or partially to the electric motor. Newer vehicles are beginning to use different hybrid methods in a further attempt to improve emissions, mileage and performance; for example hydrogen based fuel cells in place of electric ones.
Pure Electric Cars
Pure Electric Vehicles differ from Hybrids because they are powered exclusively by electricity. Rather than using a combination of a combustion engine and electric motor, the car is simply fitted with a much larger electric motor and more batteries to power it. Electric cars have the benefit of producing zero tailpipe emissions, while also being far cheaper to operate than a convention vehicle. They are also theoretically more convenient, having the ability to be recharged from your own house power supply.
In Comparison: Pro’s and Con’s
To decide which one best meets your needs there are a couple of things to consider:
Noise:
Probably the biggest difference is in regards to engine noise, as electric cars are totally silent. The fact that they exclusively use an electric motor means that compared to a Hybrid, you won’t be hearing any engine noise whatsoever. Some manufacturers actually put ‘fake’ engine noise in its place just so you have some sort of indication of whether the car is running or not. Whether the eerie silence is something you’ll enjoy or not comes down to personal preference.
Price:
On the basis of initial price, Hybrid cars are currently far cheaper to buy than electric vehicles. However in the long run, an electric car should be cheaper to run in terms of fuel costs, as electricity prices for running said cars is only a few pence per mile.
Convenience:
Also, while there is a convenience in being able to charge an electric car at home, the technology behind it is not yet refined enough. Our home electrical sockets can take hours to charge a vehicle, whereas a Hybrid is typically just fuelled up at the pumps like a normal vehicle. Electric pumps are beginning to show up which can handle much higher rates and charge your electric vehicles much faster akin to a conventional motor, but they are still woefully sparse in the UK.