However, the electric car draws power from a single source of the electric motor(s) to propel the vehicle. While hybrid cars offer better fuel efficiency or longer distances/ranges, electric vehicles are still yet to reach that potential.
Less horsepower. While most drivers choose a hybrid for its fuel economy and emissions, one disadvantage of hybrids is that they may not possess the same overall horsepower as a traditional car.
The primary benefit is range. While an electric vehicle can only travel as far as its batteries allow, plug-in hybrids also have a gasoline engine and an electric powertrain. The result is that plug-in drivers get the best of both worlds.
Since hybrids have both regenerative batteries and a fuel engine, both are used proportionally less — meaning both are likely to last longer. Roughly speaking, though, hybrid car drivers can expect to drive their car from anything between 5 and 15 years if suitable maintenance is carried out on them.
Hybrid Vehicle Benefits
Easy to use: Unlike a pure electric vehicle, you don't have to plug in a hybrid. Simply refuel at any gas station. Better to drive: CR's tests show that the hybrid versions of many cars have more power and smoother acceleration than the gas-only models.
Battery degradation is one of the most common problems with hybrid cars. This can cause a decrease in the car's performance and mileage, as well as an increase in fuel consumption. The battery may eventually lose its capacity over time, leading to decreased performance and range from the vehicle.
Are hybrid cars high maintenance? The good news is that it costs no more to maintain a hybrid car than a non-electric vehicle. There are some things you should be aware of, however. Our service teams want to help keep your car running in top shape, so we've put together the helpful information below.
What happens if my hybrid car runs out of battery? All hybrids will run on their petrol or diesel engines even if the battery is depleted. In practice, it's unlikely that the battery would ever become totally discharged because it will be automatically recharged by the engine or using regenerative braking.
How much does a hybrid battery cost? Generally, a hybrid battery replacement cost can range from $2,000 to $8,000. The price can ultimately vary depending on the %%di_make%% model or even the service center.
Less Overall Maintenance: Similar to oil changes, you'll likely need less overall maintenance with a hybrid vehicle. With the internal combustion engine being used less, there are fewer moving parts that will be worn down.
Reduced emissions: Conventional cars emit tailpipe emissions that can cause damage to the environment. Since hybrid cars can run on just electric energy for short trips, your hybrid car will emit fewer emissions. Improved fuel efficiency: Since you have two fuel sources, hybrid cars offer improved fuel efficiency.
A plug-in hybrid may be able to get a little charge through regenerative braking. But since a plug-in car has a larger battery that it relies on more, it needs to be connected to an external power source to fully recharge. Full hybrids can recharge their electric batteries through regenerative braking.
Hybrid Car Battery Life
The major hybrid concerns most often cited by hybrid-reluctant consumers are battery life and battery reliability. Therefore, the how-long-does-a-battery-last question is a fair one.
Ranking among luxury brands, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid received top marks for reliability among surveyed consumers. Earning the top spot in reliability overall, Toyota has other hybrids in its lineup that rank high in reliability, like the RAV4 Hybrid and the well-known Prius.
Most hybrid vehicle manufacturers say that, on average, a hybrid battery pack will last from 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
Hybrid batteries can last anywhere from five years to over 10. Though the aging of materials does affect battery life, the frequency of discharge is the biggest factor. The more you drive and discharge the battery, the sooner it will die.
Battery packs are usually guaranteed by the car manufacturer for eight years or 160,000km - whichever comes first - and during that period of time, hybrid drivers will start to notice a decline in the battery pack's ability to hold a charge.
Batteries naturally lose their voltage over time, even when the vehicle is not in use – this is especially true for older cars (with older hybrid batteries). Your best bet is to drive your Prius, Camry Hybrid, or other hybrid vehicles at least twice a week for at least 10 miles on each drive.
Don't use your hybrid vehicle to jump-start other vehicles too much, this can damage your vehicle's electrical system. Apply your parking brake and turn off your headlights and interior lights. Turn off the hybrid system and remove your key.
The car starts up in electric mode automatically and stays in this mode up until a speed between 43 mph and 80 mph. If additional power is needed, or if the battery's charge is too low, then the car will activate the combustion engine.
High fuel prices have made hybrid cars more appealing than ever, but there are still some models that lose a huge proportion of their value over three years...
Replacing The Battery
The hybrid replacement battery pack for a Toyota RAV4 costs anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000.
Although most hybrid vehicles cost more to buy up front than their gas-only counterparts, our analysis shows that many hybrids will save you more money in the first four years of ownership, even if gas prices continue to drop.