Why should I consider an electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid car?
FOR many years Governments, legislators, car manufacturers and environmentalists all over the world have been looking at ways to reduce harmful exhaust emissions from road transport, and by cutting out internal combustion engines there are obvious improvements to be made to local air quality.
On top of that, there’s scope to save a lot of money in running costs, especially as the technology becomes more commonplace and the UK’s electric vehicle infrastructure improves.
Why are electric cars hitting the market so quickly?
THERE are multiple factors here, chief among them being that since 2009 every car maker has been tasked with reducing its CO2 emissions targets year-on-year, while from 2024 it has also been mandated that a minimum of 22 per cent of new cars are plug-in models. Those two factors alone have driven investment into low-emission models, while increased customer acceptance and the desire to adopt newer, greener tech among a greater number of buyers has driven this further.
Then there is the UK Government’s decision to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars completely, which was originally set for 2030 but has now been moved back to 2035. Car makers are preparing for this and many have stopped all investment in internal combustion engines.
Which should I choose – a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car?
THE age of the electrified car is now definitely upon us, and the prominence of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars is only going to grow in the coming years.
But many of us remain concerned about which powertrain to go for. Fully electric cars don’t work for everyone and that’s where hybrids come in – with plug-in hybrids sitting in the middle ground.
Hybrid cars are the easiest in terms of familiarity, because you don’t need to plug them in. If you’ve no means to charge an electric car (EV) at home, a hybrid could be the perfect solution. Hybrids also tend to cost less than plug-in or electric cars to buy, too.
Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) have a battery that will allow you to drive on electric power only for a number of miles. If you run out of power, you’ve got
