Hybrid

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. You might also like: Electric Car vs Gas Car – Why To Upgrade? 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. You might also like: Are Electric Car Chargers Universal – Types of Chargers 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. You might also like: Are Hybrid Powertrains Perfect To Bridge The Gap Between IC Engines & Full-Electric Drivetrains? 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.

With people beginning to experience the electric car revolution around them, the natural question is a comparison with the traditional gas cars. The electric car vs gas car debate comes naturally if you are even remotely privy to the latest developments around yourself in the global automobile industry. Electric cars are here and for good. There is almost nothing left in the development of an internal combustion engine to make them comply with the ever-stringent becoming emission regulations in every part of the world. The future, that people used to associate electric cars with, is here. Are you ready to upgrade? You might also like: Are Electric Car Chargers Universal – Types of Chargers Electric vs Gas Cars Gas cars have been around for over a century. The steam engine and later on, fuel in the form of petrol and diesel were the sources for generating power in gas cars. Electric cars, on the contrary, receive power from a battery that is generally placed under the floor of the vehicle. It supplied power to the electric motor, in turn powering the wheels. This is the basic difference of how the power is generated in both these types of cars.  Emissions Difference The traditional fuels are derived from natural resources where petrol and diesel burn to produce energy. This leaves a large chunk of carbon in the form of exhaust emissions. Internal combustion engines (ICE) are only around 25-30% (petrol) and 30-40% (diesel) efficient. This naturally means that the majority of the energy produced by ICE-power cars goes waste and causes pollution. To tackle this, electrification was introduced.  With electric vehicles, there is no fuel involved and no emissions. However, it must be understood that the carbon emissions required to produce electricity and batteries need to be taken into consideration which is referred to as source-to-tank. There are emissions involved in this process. But at the end of the day, companies are working on developing recyclable battery packs with less use of toxic metals in the composition of cells. Also, electricity is being produced by renewable sources like windmills, solar energy and hydro energy.  You might also like: Is Electric Car Battery Safe, Fireproof, Waterproof and Short Circuit Proof? Price Difference  While the technological feasibility is for the OEMs to take care of, the cost of the final product is what the regal people are concerned with. All zero-emissions narratives and carbon neutrality targets mean nothing if people are not able to afford electric cars. In this aspect, the EV version of a regular car costs around over 50% more for the same car model. This is a huge mark-up for the customers to bear.  As with every technology, the costs associated with it come down when the volumes go up. As far as the EV space is concerned, we are still at a relatively nascent stage. There needs to be a lot of work done to improve battery manufacturing and capacity, charging infrastructure, EV manufacturing costs, etc. for electrified cars to become a mass market. But the governments across the world are offering incentives and benefits to promote EV adoption. On the other end of the spectrum, the auto manufacturers have come up with aggressive and ambitious plans to quit manufacturing ICE-powered vehicles by the end of the decade. Hence, you must get ready to embrace this EV wave that seems to be inevitable. These are some points to be considered in this electric car vs gas car debate.