Facts About Electric and Hybrid cars
The automotive industry is going through some exciting changes, with polluting fossil fuel powered cars being replaced by electric and hybrid vehicles. These are designed to partly or completely reduce emissions helping road travel to become a lot eco-friendlier. Cluing up on the facts with help you to get your head around this electric/hybrid revolution. So, here’s what you need to know about electric and hybrid cars.
Electric cars offer significant benefits to the environment
Cars which guzzle diesel and pump out excessive emissions are becoming a thing of the past. This is because electric cars with battery-powered motors are more prominent. 100% electric cars require recharging yet offer a quiet, zero-emissions driving experience, which is more than appealing to an eco-friendly motorist. Those powered partly by electricity are called hybrids. Hybrid vehicles have both a fuel-powered engine and an electric motor to reduce emissions.
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Running costs are a lot cheaper
As well as reducing exhaust emissions and therefore protecting the environment, electric vehicles and hybrid cars are also a lot cheaper to run. This is because recharging with electricity costs a fraction of the price of a full tank of petrol or diesel. Self-charging hybrids even convert wasted energy from activities such as braking or coasting back into energy, making the driving experience even more efficient and cost-effective. The stop/start functionality of many hybrids also makes it easier to save fuel.
What’s more, electric vehicles have fewer parts than vehicles with combustion engines. Therefore, they’re often easier and cheaper to maintain and are much more economical to run over time.
Plug-in hybrids can travel further in EV mode
There are two main types of hybrid vehicles – regular hybrids which are self-charging through regenerative braking and plug-in hybrids. Regular hybrids are efficient but have smaller batteries, and therefore it’s harder to travel in EV mode alone without fuel in the tank as a backup solution is always needed. They are not designed to work without the fuel engine.
Plug-in hybrids, however, have much bigger rechargeable batteries and can travel in EV mode for greater distances – usually around 20-60km depending on the model. The latter is recharged through regenerative braking and by plugging it in. Typically, the fuel engine only kicks in if there is no charge left in the battery or a boost of power is needed.
Vantage Motor Group offers a wide selection of electric and hybrid vehicles from many different marques. Keep an eye on our new Vantage Hybrid website for more information or contact the team direct.
