Hybrid cars have been on the market for some years and it is only now after government research and action that they are becoming more popular. They offer an attractive blend of power, economy, range, efficiency and low emissions; they are the perfect halfway house between a full electric vehicle and fossil fuel driven cars. The recent government announcement banishing petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 has another important caveat which extends their lifespan by at least 20 years: ‘between 2030 and 2035, only new cars and vans may be sold which have the capacity to drive a considerable distance using electricity.’ This is good news not just for the environment but for the hybrid car buyer who wants the cheapest, easiest and most fuel efficient car on the market. So what makes a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars combine the best elements of both gas guzzlers and battery powered vehicles. The key difference between hybrid cars and electric cars is in the battery. Electric cars run purely on battery power, using the battery’s energy to make the car run. A hybrid uses a combination of electric motor power, charge the batteries and then use the battery’s energy to supplement the gas engine.
The best hybrid cars are those with the best fuel efficiency ratings. The lower the fuel efficiency rating of a car, the more energy it is willing to spend on fuel and therefore the less it will cost you to run your car. Unfortunately the higher the fuel efficiency rating of a vehicle, the more it costs to run it. The trade off for this is longer driving distance without a drop in car insurance premiums. However it is possible to get a hybrid car with a high fuel efficiency rating while still maintaining a reasonable price, as manufacturers are now releasing more efficient cars that achieve even greater fuel efficiency than their predecessors.
There are currently three main types of hybrid cars currently available on the market. These include fully electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrids and gasoline models with gasoline engines. All hybrids vehicles are going to have a limited driving range and therefore may not be suitable for all climates or driving situations.
The most popular and efficient hybrid cars are those that incorporate both electric motors and internal combustion engines. The electric vehicle (EV) works off of one of two sources: rechargeable batteries or gasoline. In many electric vehicles the electric motor is powered by an AC source and the batteries are charged when the car is put in motion. Gasoline is used to power the internal combustion engine and in some gasoline models there is actually a direct conversion between the gasoline engine and the AC source. This is referred to as electric drive but it is technically not a hybrid car.
Electric vehicles are still a niche and as more improvements are introduced they will become much more common. Currently the best hybrid estate cars are those in the medium price range that incorporate both technologies. However, for those who can afford them there are now very good gasoline alternatives that are now cheaper than petrol for a variety of reasons. They are also much more fuel efficient which makes them the best hybrid cars.
Hybrid cars combine the best elements of both gas guzzlers and battery powered vehicles. The key difference between hybrid cars and electric cars is in the battery. Electric cars run purely on battery power, using the battery’s energy to make the car run. A hybrid uses a combination of electric motor power, charge the batteries and then use the battery’s energy to supplement the gas engine.
The best hybrid cars are those with the best fuel efficiency ratings. The lower the fuel efficiency rating of a car, the more energy it is willing to spend on fuel and therefore the less it will cost you to run your car. Unfortunately the higher the fuel efficiency rating of a vehicle, the more it costs to run it. The trade off for this is longer driving distance without a drop in car insurance premiums. However it is possible to get a hybrid car with a high fuel efficiency rating while still maintaining a reasonable price, as manufacturers are now releasing more efficient cars that achieve even greater fuel efficiency than their predecessors.
There are currently three main types of hybrid cars currently available on the market. These include fully electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrids and gasoline models with gasoline engines. All hybrids vehicles are going to have a limited driving range and therefore may not be suitable for all climates or driving situations.
The most popular and efficient hybrid cars are those that incorporate both electric motors and internal combustion engines. The electric vehicle (EV) works off of one of two sources: rechargeable batteries or gasoline. In many electric vehicles the electric motor is powered by an AC source and the batteries are charged when the car is put in motion. Gasoline is used to power the internal combustion engine and in some gasoline models there is actually a direct conversion between the gasoline engine and the AC source. This is referred to as electric drive but it is technically not a hybrid car.
Electric vehicles are still a niche and as more improvements are introduced they will become much more common. Currently the best hybrid estate cars are those in the medium price range that incorporate both technologies. However, for those who can afford them there are now very good gasoline alternatives that are now cheaper than petrol for a variety of reasons. They are also much more fuel efficient which makes them the best hybrid cars.
