Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: What’s the Difference?

You’ve probably noticed more electrified vehicles like the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrids on our Englewood roads every day. But which kind of electrified car should you get, a hybrid or electric vehicle? Is there a difference? If you’re debating the benefits of hybrid cars vs. electric cars, we’re here to help! We’ve put together a hybrid vs. electric cars pros and cons comparison to help you find the right fit.

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars: Fuel Costs

Fully electric cars use no gas at all, which means stops at Jersey City gas stations are no longer necessary for drivers of these vehicles. However, electricity is not free. Your home utility bill will go up a little and charging your EV at public stations incurs a cost, as well. 

Hybrid cars, on the other hand, have both an electric motor and a gas engine, so they need their gas tanks filled up from time to time. However, hybrids don’t use nearly as much gas as conventional combustion engines. Plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs for short, have a separate gas engine and electric motor—so they need both gasoline and battery charging, but offer greater flexibility. Here’s what New York City drivers should know when comparing the hybrid vs. electric car fuel costs:

• Electric Cars – No gas costs, but incur costs from electricity usage
• Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs) – Moderate gas and electricity costs, but significantly more fuel-efficient than either hybrids or combustion gas engines
• Hybrids – Higher gas costs than PHEVs or EVs, but typically less than a conventional gas-powered vehicle

Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: Charging

Fully electric cars must be plugged in to charge. This can take significant time and might be a hassle for busy Fort Lee drivers. Most electric cars can be charged up to 80% in half an hour at a Level 3 rapid public charger, and can take from 8 to 12 hours to charge fully with a Level 2 home charging system. 

Plug-in hybrids need to be charged for the electric motor to work, but the gas engine will take over if the battery dies. Hybrids do not need to be plugged in, as their electric motors are self-charged by their gas engines.

To summarize, here are the biggest hybrid vs electric differences when it comes to charging:

• Electric Cars – Must be charged, which can take a significant amount of time
• Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs) – Need to be charged for the electric motor to work, although the gas engine will take over if the battery dies
• Hybrids – Do not need to be plugged in at all, as the electric motor is charged by the gas engine

Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: Pros and Cons

So, let’s sum up this comparison of hybrid vs. electric cars. Pros and cons for each are listed below:

Electric Cars

• Pros – Most fuel-efficient; least amount of maintenance
• Cons – Most expensive; must be charged which can take a lot of time

Plug-in Hybrids 

• Pros – Less expensive than EVs; less maintenance than gas-driven vehicles; significantly more fuel-efficient than hybrids and gas-driven vehicles
• Cons – Electric motor requires charging; more expensive than hybrids and gas-driven vehicles

Hybrids

• Pros – Less expensive than EVs or PHEVs; more fuel-efficient than gas-driven vehicles; less maintenance than gas-driven vehicles
• Cons – More expensive than gas-driven vehicles; less fuel-efficient than EVs and PHEVs

Check out the Range Rover PHEV at Land Rover Englewood

Come down and test drive the Range Rover plug-in hybrid to see its remarkable performance for yourself! We’d be happy to help you drive home in one of your own and answer any questions you may have about hybrid vs. electric car pros and cons. You can learn more by reading about the impressive range of the Range Rover PHEV and how the federal tax credit for electric cars work. We’re just down the road from New York City, so drop by or contact us today!