Making a decision to purchase a new vehicle is important. When considering all your options, it is best to understand how each vehicle differs. Additionally, you should make a list of each vehicle’s pros and cons.
In this article, we’ll help you understand the difference between alternative vehicles and whether if you should buy an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Plug-In or Electric – What’s the Difference?
As their name suggests, plug-in hybrids are hybrid cards which can be plugged in. The Chevrolet volt and Toyota Prius plug-in are good examples of popular plug-in hybrids on the market.
Plug-in vehicles use two separate powertrains to drive the wheels. An electric motor allows drivers to go a limited distance of usually 30 and 40 miles, and a normal gasoline engine which kicks on before the electric motor is depleted.
Electric vehicles are fully electric which means they don’t use any gasoline. The Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S are two examples of fully electric vehicles. These vehicles do not have a backup engine to help when the batteries run out. Typically, they have more room for batteries which means electric vehicles have a longer range than plug-in hybrids.
Plug-In Pros and Cons
Plug-in hybrid vehicles have a primary advantage over EVs, which is the range mentioned above. In addition to their electric powertrains, they also use gas engines. This allows plug-in drivers to get electric efficiency in town and traditional range for longer trips.
The main disadvantage of plug-in hybrids is the lack of variety. Even with the popularity of hybrids, automakers still only offer limited models. This is partly due to automakers offering fully electric vehicles instead. Drivers are increasingly more interested in a fully electric vehicle as using no fuel benefits the environment more.
Electric Vehicle Pros and Cons
Electric vehicles offer many advantages of plug-in hybrids, the main one being a more environmentally friendly approach. Since EVs use no fuel at all, it allows drivers to minimize their carbon footprint even more.
Electric vehicles also help drivers save more than plug-in hybrid drivers. They offer a longer electric only range which means drivers can cruise for longer without using any fuel; this is opposed to their plug-in counterparts.
Even with the many benefits, a few drawbacks still exist in fully electric vehicles. A plug-in hybrid can travel up to 40 miles on fully electric and an additional 300 miles on gasoline. EVs are limited to usually 70 miles of total range.
The Takeaway
So, should you buy an electric of plug-in hybrid vehicle? The decision lies in what you find more important and your daily lifestyle. If you tend to drive more and have a longer commute, you don’t mind the limited choice of models, a plug-in hybrid may be more suitable.
If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible and spend less time driving around, or if you want something with a little more style, an electric vehicle is advisable.
