What is a Hybrid?
Looking for car finance on a hybrid? You are in the right place! Hybrid vehicles continue to grow in popularity as we move towards more sustainable forms of transport. They bring together electric and fossil-fuel power together, creating a more efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport.
What is a Hybrid Car?
A hybrid car basically uses the same type of combustion engine as a normal petrol/diesel car, but instead, add electric batteries and motors to make it more efficient and less damaging to the environment. The electric motor can take some of the responsibility for power, making it cheaper to run, as well as being able to re-charge itself thanks to having the combustion engine!
How do Hybrids work?
Hybrid cars have a conventional engine, an electric motor and a battery. There are three different types of hybrids and each works in a different way:
Parallel Hybrid Cars:
These are the most common type of hybrid, and the Toyota Prius is the most widely known example. The car’s wheels can be powered in three different ways: either directly by the engine, by the electric motor alone, or by both power sources working together.
Range Extender Hybrids:
These only use their conventional engine to produce electricity for a generator that recharges the batteries. The engine never drives the car, it only produces energy for the electric motor. The BMW i3 or Honda Jazz are good examples of these.
Plug-In Hybrids:
As the name implies, this type of hybrid can be plugged into an electric outlet to recharge their batteries, as well as being charged on the move. Effectively, they are a halfway house between conventional hybrids and full electric vehicles.
Pros + Cons of Hybrid Cars:
Positives:
- Much kinder to Polar Bears
- Less dependence on ever more expensive fossil fuels
- Saves money on road tax
- Less risk of running out of fuel
- They can recharge the batteries as you brake!
Negatives:
- Quite often, they don’t match up to their claimed economy + mileage figures
- Usually less power (more suited to city drivers)
- Hybrids are often more expensive to buy initially
How far can I drive a Hybrid Car?
Range anxiety isn’t an issue and you don’t need a charging point because hybrids charge up their own batteries. So as long as you have fuel in your tank you should be golden!
If you are running on electric power alone, the range is usually no more than 30-60 miles of straight electric power, but it will all depend on the maker of each hybrid. A hybrid car, in theory, shouldn’t run out of power as long as you are not running on electric power only.
Are Hybrids worth it?
A hybrid car will nearly always be more expensive than a standard combustion version, as they have a good bit more tech in them to make them as efficient and clever as they are. But don’t let the high price discourage you, as hybrids are vastly cheaper to run over time than their straight fossil fuel counterparts.
Realistically, it all depends on what you need your car for, whether it’s commuting motorway miles or pottering around town, your car should be suited to your lifestyle so you can get the most out of it.
Should I buy a Hybrid?
A hybrid car will suit you if you do most of your mileage in and around town because you’ll gain the most benefit from running on electric-only power, which is effectively free travel.
If you do frequent short trips and don’t need the extra flexibility of a hybrid, then you may be better off with an electric car, which will give you cheap urban travel and no tailpipe emissions. However, if you do a lot of motorway miles you may be better off with an efficient diesel car.
We offer a variety of options for finance with our panel of lenders, so if you are looking to make the switch to a more sustainable form of travel, give our team of expert ninjas a call! We can sort car finance for any type of vehicle, including hybrids!
We offer both PCP Finance and HP Finance, and we can even find you the perfect car to match your specifications! Even if you have a lower credit score, we can help you sort bad credit car finance.
Why not take our hybrid car finance calculator for a spin, and see which lenders might approve you today!
