Making A Greener Choice – Hybrid, EV or PHEV?

Posted on: 10/04/19

We hear a lot these days about hybrid and electric vehicles and their green credentials but how do these cars work and are they the right choice for you?

Essentially hybrids differ from diesel or petrol cars in that they are powered by both a conventional engine and electric motor, making them more fuel efficient and less polluting.

A hybrid car’s batteries are charged by its combustion engine, with the electric motor providing additional power when needed, such as when you’re accelerating.

They are capable of running on just battery power when, for example, nipping around town, but can switch to petrol for longer journeys. And, according to motoring organisations they use between 15% to 30% less fuel than non-hybrid cars.

Another option is a plug-in hybrid or PHEV – which is widely regarded as the next step in hybrid car technology. As the name suggests, the plug-in hybrid is plugged into a charging point to recharge its batteries, and unlike ordinary hybrids its main source of power is electricity.

Hybrids and PHEVs are probably your best option if you want a greener alternative to petrol and diesel but are concerned about the range and capacity of electric cars (EVs). That said, EVs – which offer many cost and environmental benefits – are growing in popularity as more charging points become available. Charging an electric car can take anything from half an hour to 12 hours, depending on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point.

Fears about the extent of an EV’s range have also been allayed by the arrival of cars such as the Tesla Model S, which can go for more than 200 miles before recharging is needed.

When it comes to insurance, electric cars tend to cost more to insure than their petrol and diesel counterparts and some companies don’t insure them yet. As hybrids are more common than EVs, premiums are more competitive, and most insurers will cover them.

EVs can save you money on road tax though. Cars with zero-emissions are now exempt from the UK Government’s Vehicle Excise Duty – unless your EV has a list price of more than £40,000. If it is in the higher-end cost bracket, though, you’ll have to pay £310 a year for five years as from the second time your vehicle is taxed.

With the Government banning all sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 in a bid to cut harmful emissions, the development of EV and hybrid technology continues apace.

EVs were the star attraction at the Geneva Motor Show 2019 and even James Bond has gone green with the next Bond movie set to feature Daniel Craig behind the wheel of an electric Aston Martin.

You might not be in the market for the latest Bond car, but more EV and hybrid models are becoming available, increasing UK drivers’ choice as we move towards a greener future.