Hybrid Cars vs Electric Cars – Which Is Better and Why?

The path to the future clearly leads to electric cars but must pass through hybrid cars.

The obvious question that a modern-day car buyer must consider before making a purchase decision is hybrid vs electric cars. In essence, anyone who wants to own a vehicle for a long time would consider some sort of electrification. There are only two valid choices; a full-electric car or a hybrid electric car. Let us discuss the pros and cons of each.

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Electric Cars vs Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars – Pros and Cons

The hybrid cars that we are talking about here are PHEVs (Plug-In Hybrid Cars) that are capable of driving on pure electricity for short distances. The mild-hybrid cars are those that offer just the Start/Stop function. The PHEVs are cleverly integrated into modern vehicles which allows the vehicle to be driven using an electric motor. In addition to that, hybrid powertrains also aid the engine by providing some form of boost or enhancing the fuel economy.

This is done by providing power to the engine during those RPMs when the internal combustion engine consumes the most fuel. The electric system comes in handy to increase the mileage of cars significantly. Another important aspect of hybrid vehicles is the fact that it doesn’t require too many modifications to the engine of a regular car. There are not too many electric components to disturb the regular layout of the IC engine.

Finally, the prices of hybrid cars are much more affordable and attractive compared to pure electric cars. This translates to a minimal increment over the regular IC engine-powered vehicles. Since, price is a major hurdle in the mass adoption process of the EVs, hybrid vehicles present a great case.

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Electric Cars – Pros and Cons

The full-electric cars have a slew of advantages which is why the prospect is gaining traction so rapidly. The running costs compared to fuel-powered vehicles are drastically low. In fact, the prices of petrol and diesel are on a rise lately and this trend is unlikely to stop anytime soon. The price to charge the EV is comparatively much cheaper.

Apart from that, there are no tailpipe emissions at all. This is a great feature to have in big cities where governments around the globe are looking for such solutions. However, it must be argued that the carbon footprint for EVs is not zero because the production of batteries and electricity is not carbon-free yet.

The driving dynamics and performance of electric cars are yet another reason why people are so in awe of them. Unlike IC engines, the electric powertrains offer 100% torque from the get-go. As soon as you press the accelerator pedal, there is no lag in power delivery. This is because there are not too many mechanical components or emission-focused engine calibration to prevent the engine from delivering all the torque to the wheels instantly.

The list of cons of EVs is, unfortunately, quite lengthy too. First and foremost, the initial costs of EVs are almost double that of a similar model with an IC engine. This puts the EVs far away from the reach of most regular car buyers. On top of that, the biggest concern is the lack of charging infrastructure. People have the range anxiety that they haven’t gotten over yet.

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Once the EV runs out of juice on the highway, you are pretty much stranded. Although the charging infrastructure is being developed at a rapid pace, it would still take years before there are enough charging stations on the highways to make people comfortable and relaxed.