Hybrid cars are part of the drive from manufacturers to produce cleaner and less polluting engines. With many governments and cities now signing up to new and decisive anti-pollution measures, a vehicle that includes at least some electric based power is seen to be a good solution.
How they work
The basic idea of a hybrid vehicle is for the battery to be charged by the petrol or diesel engine when it is being driven. The battery component then becomes a temporary energy storage device which supports the main engine.
There are the three driving choices or modes to select from – the petrol or diesel fuelled engine alone or the electric motor alone, or a mix of both. There is the mode where the car can efficiently balance these itself.
Why choose a Hybrid?
Of course, there are environmental reasons to choose a Hybrid – you’ll be helping with the emissions issue. Then there are cash in the pocket advantages if you need to drive in cities such as London where Low Emission charges have been imposed.
Perhaps the question we should be asking is: why NOT drive a hybrid? Their driving performance and acceleration is basically the same as a conventional car, and the handling will be very similar if not in fact, slightly improved. Their look and styling are comparable to other new conventional models, and they have all the technology that you would expect.
A Hybrid avoids all the charging issues that lie with a pure EV. You don’t need to start using a totally brand-new type of fuel – electricity. You can just fill up at the petrol pump as you always have.
When it comes to fuel economy, Hybrids can give you some good savings compared to conventionally fuelled vehicles. A Toyota Prius+ for example, a petrol/electric hybrid seven-seater MPV is capable of 68.9mpg and is beautifully refined with upgraded multimedia capability.
Although the tax breaks that were initially in place for Hybrids have been withdrawn, if you have a pre-2017 registered Hybrid then there are still savings to be had with your annual car tax – another reason to consider a Hybrid car.
And with many manufacturers offering scrappage schemes at the moment, there are many incentives to consider ditching the old diesel and using the added cash injection to get you on the modern electric drivetrain.
Hybrid sales on the rise
When the government withdrew their grants for new Hybrid vehicles, there were concerns that sales of these new type vehicles will slow. However, an online survey earlier in 2019 showed that there’s been a healthy growth in the sale of Hybrid vehicles in the first two months of the year, with a 20 per cent increase on last year.*
So, why not consider a Hybrid car for yourself? As the driving range and the fuel economy of Hybrids continues to improve, they are the future. Why wait? Go on – join the revolution!
* The International Car Tech and Mobility Summit ‘Electronomous and Mobility X’ report (Source: Cartell Carstat.
