Should you buy a hybrid, diesel or electric car?
Today there are many hybrid cars, pure diesels and electric vehicles. They work in different ways, but all help the environment and improve MPG.
In addition to standard gasoline vehicles, you can choose from other power options including hybrid, diesel and electric. The big question many vehicle owners ask is whether these alternative fuel vehicles are worth the higher asking price. By looking at the pros and cons of these alternative fuel vehicles, you will be able to make a decision as to whether one of these vehicles is right for your specific needs.
Hybrid cars
Hybrid vehicles come with a gasoline or diesel engine, but they also use an alternative fuel source as an additional mode of operation. The type of hybrid vehicle determines the vehicle's fuel economy.
How a hybrid car works. In the US, a hybrid uses gasoline and electricity as a power source.
Hybrids use a battery pack and an electric motor combined with an internal combustion engine.
Most hybrids charge while you drive, but many also require you to plug in the battery when you're not driving, especially full hybrids and mild hybrids.
Some hybrids also use "stop-start" technology, which turns off the gasoline engine when the car is stationary.
Another technology that some hybrids use is a continuously variable transmission, also known as a CVT. The continuously variable transmission allows smoother shifting, allowing the engine to operate in a more economical revolutions per minute (RPM) range.
Different types of hybrid cars. Different types of hybrid vehicles include full, mild and plug-in hybrids.
When choosing a hybrid, you can choose from several types, including full, mild, and plug-in hybrids. Another category of vehicles that show some hybrid performance are micro and oil hybrids.
Full hybrids are the most economical version of hybrid vehicles. Full hybrids can operate in a variety of modes such as series, parallel, and all-electric mode. An example of a full hybrid is the Toyota Prius.
A mild hybrid is not as economical as a full hybrid, but still offers higher fuel consumption than a comparable all-petrol vehicle. In a mild hybrid, the battery and auxiliary engine work with the gasoline engine to get the car moving, but they never take full control. A perfect example of a mild hybrid is the Honda Civic Hybrid's Integrated Motor Assist.
The plug-in hybrid has a larger battery than most other hybrids, including a full hybrid. This larger size requires you to plug them in between rides. Plug-in hybrids can also run in all-electric mode for a certain range of miles. The Chevy Volt is just one example of a plug-in hybrid.
Micro- and oil-hybrid vehicles use little, if any, electric motor to drive the drive wheels. The micro-hybrid uses an electric motor to drive on-board electronic systems, but nothing more. The muscle hybrid uses technology to supercharge the electric motor, giving it more power to run the car's systems. For a micro-hybrid, a Chevy Malibu with stop-start technology is a good example. As for the beefy hybrid, you can try the Infiniti Q50 hybrid.
Benefits of Owning a Hybrid Vehicle. Owning a hybrid car has its advantages.
The biggest benefit of owning a hybrid car is its environmental friendliness. The dual nature of the hybrid engine means the car runs cleaner and is less polluting.
The cleaner nature of a hybrid vehicle means it uses less gasoline to operate and can greatly improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency.
Hybrid vehicles are also known for retaining their resale value, making it easier to recover some of the money spent on them if you later decide to sell the vehicle and purchase another vehicle.
Disadvantages of Owning a Hybrid Vehicle. In addition to the advantages, hybrid cars also have some disadvantages.
One of the main differences between a hybrid and a standard gasoline-powered car is engine power. For the most part, the combined power of the electric and gasoline engines in a hybrid vehicle is often less than that of a comparable gasoline engine.
The biggest downside to hybrid cars is that they tend to cost more than gasoline-powered cars. Luckily, they tend to retain their resale value, so you can recoup some of your costs if you decide to sell later.
Another disadvantage is the reduced payload capacity of a hybrid vehicle. Much of the extra cargo space you'll find in other types of vehicles is eaten up by the extra electric motor, battery, and other elements needed in a hybrid vehicle.
Diesel cars
Another option, compared to a hybrid and electric car, is a diesel-powered car. Diesel engines run more efficiently than gasoline engines. This is possible due to the higher compression ratio that most diesel engines can achieve.
What is a diesel car? Unlike a hybrid or electric car, diesel powered vehicles are more economical than gasoline powered vehicles.
Diesel engines, although similar to gasoline engines, do not use spark plugs to combine the fuel/air mixture. Instead, it first uses the heat from compressing the air in the chamber to ignite the diesel fuel, powering the engine. A diesel engine typically has a 25 to 30 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over a comparable gasoline engine.
Benefits of owning a diesel car. Like other alternative fuel vehicles, diesel vehicles have certain advantages that make them attractive to potential buyers.
As mentioned, their improved fuel efficiency gives owners a 25-30 percent increase in fuel economy compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. They can even provide better fuel economy than some gasoline-electric hybrids.
Without a spark or distributor, but relying on the heat generated when the air in the cylinder is compressed, a diesel car does not require ignition tuning.
The more durable nature of the diesel engine means it lasts longer than most gasoline engines.
Diesel vehicles tend to have more engine torque, giving them more power than their gasoline counterparts.
Disadvantages of owning a diesel car. While diesel has many advantages, it also has several disadvantages.
Diesel fuel is currently more expensive than gasoline. While this may change in the future, this higher cost generally reduces the higher fuel consumption advantage that diesel engines have over standard gasoline-powered vehicles.
Gasoline engines tend to give their cars more speed and better performance.
Repairs can cost more in the long run, although most diesel engines require very little maintenance. As long as you're doing your car's scheduled maintenance, you should generally have a minimum number of issues.
Electric cars
Electric vehicles are an attractive alternative to standard gasoline engines. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not rely on gasoline as an energy source, which makes them attractive to environmentally conscious drivers.
What is an electric car? An electric vehicle runs primarily on electricity, while a hybrid runs on both gasoline and electricity.
The way an electric car works is that between driving sessions, you connect it to a power source through a plug that charges the battery for use while driving.
While driving, the car is powered by batteries that power the electric transmission.
Braking helps recharge the battery in a process called regenerative braking.
Different types of electric vehicles. When buying an electric car, you generally have limited choices, but as the technology becomes more widespread, expect emerging technologies like fuel cells to continue to grow in popularity and usage.
A battery electric vehicle or BEV runs entirely on energy provided by a battery. This power drives an electric powertrain that operates without the aid of an internal combustion engine. In addition to the fact that you need to plug them in between rides, many BEVs use regenerative braking to recharge the car's batteries while driving. The BMW i81's 3-mile range makes it a great BEV.
Fuel cell electric vehicles are a new technology based on electricity generated from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to power a vehicle. Although relatively new, note that fuel cell vehicles will become more common in the future. Toyota Mirai is one of the first vehicles to use fuel cell technology.
Benefits of owning an electric car. Electric vehicles have great incentives for those who drive them.
Electric vehicles run entirely on electricity, saving you time at the gas station.
Electric vehicles also do not produce harmful emissions, that is, they do not pollute the air around you while driving.
Another benefit of owning an electric car is the relatively low need for maintenance.
Disadvantages of owning an electric car While there are great benefits to owning an electric car, there are also some downsides.
One of the biggest drawbacks is finding a recharge point away from home. This is a problem when using electric vehicles for long trips, although if you are mostly close to home, this is not a big problem.
Savings on buying gasoline are sometimes offset by the cost of electricity to charge the car between trips.
Most electric vehicles have a limited range, typically 50 to 100 miles. Let's hope that further developments in technology can improve this training range.
Electric vehicles also typically cost more than other types of vehicles due to the newness of the technology, but the price should continue to come down as the technology becomes more advanced and widespread.
The decision to buy a hybrid, diesel or electric car depends primarily on your budget and commitment to improving the environment. The increased fuel efficiency that many of these vehicles provide is well worth the extra cost these vehicles can cost. Before purchasing any used hybrid, diesel or electric vehicle, have one of our experienced mechanics perform a pre-purchase vehicle inspection.
