Electric Cars vs Hybrid Cars: Which Is Best?

People across the globe are becoming environmentally conscious and this is why even while buying a car, people are making wise decisions. In fact, to ensure the safety of the world people in Australia are ready to invest in electric cars or hybrid cars.

The sale of electric as well as the best hybrid cars in Australia has gone high in recent times. You can find the best electric cars as well as the best hybrid cars in the Australian market. Today, you can even buy used cars in Perth of these types.

Even when you look at the graph of used cars for sale in Perth Australia, you will be shocked to see the result for electric and hybrid cars.

If you are one of those who wish to buy an eco-friendly car, then the question might have come to your mind “Which one is a good option – a hybrid car or an electric car?

You can use this article as a complete guide about electric cars vs hybrid cars, different types of hybrid cars, different types of electric cars, their pros and cons, the best hybrid cars in Australia, the best electric cars in Australia and which car suits different requirements of people.

What Is An Electric Car?

An electric car (EV) is an automatic vehicle that gets power from one or two electronic motors. The car gets energy stored in these batteries only. Electric vehicles are very popular in Australia nowadays.

The batteries need to be charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric power source from time to time. The rechargeable batteries are located under the floor of the car, but can also be stacked where an engine is found in a traditional car.

There are many electric car charging stations in Australia where you can easily charge an electric car. You can even install a charging counter at your home, office or parking lot.

Types of Electric Cars

There are mainly two types of electric cars, namely Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).

1. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a purely electric vehicle that only uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs to run. In such a car, there is no use of any secondary source of propulsion. Motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, railcars, watercraft, forklifts, buses, trucks, and cars are some types of battery electric vehicles.

2. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), also known as fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is another type of electric vehicle. Such a vehicle uses a fuel cell along with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its electric motor. As a car can be easily refuelled with hydrogen which is similar to filling a car with petrol or diesel.

There is also another type of electric vehicle known as Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) that work very similarly to battery-electric cars. However, these electric cars are not popular nowadays.

Pros and Cons of Electric Cars

Electric cars are getting popular in Australia as it has many benefits. However such cars also have some negative aspects that you must take into consideration when planning to buy one. In fact, before looking for the cheapest place to buy a used car, you need to be aware of the merits and demerits.

– Pros of an electric car

Higher efficiency is one of the positive aspects of electric cars. Such cars have higher energy efficiency as compared to fossil fuel-burning models.

One advantage of electric cars is zero tailpipe emissions. This means electric vehicles cause a reduction in vehicular pollution.

Another important benefit of electric cars is that they offer high performance and low maintenance costs.

In Australia, the government offers grants on some models of electric vehicles.

– Cons of an electric car

When you think about money, electric cars are more expensive as compared to hybrid or traditional cars. However, when you plan to buy used cars in Perth, the price may be a little reasonable.

It is easy to charge an electric vehicle, but sometimes in case you do not have access to a charger then running an electric car will be a problem.

Even if fully charged, some models will run smoothly for a particular distance only. After that you need to charge the battery, making it difficult to travel long distances on an electric car.

Best Electric Cars in Australia

Some of the best electric cars available in Australia are:

• Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Hyundai Kona Electric
• MG ZS EV
• Nissan Leaf
• Kia Niro EV
• BMW i3
• Mercedes-Benz EQC
• Audi e-Tron
• Jaguar I-Pace
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Mazda MX-30 Electric
• Tesla Model 3

Also Read:- How Are Electric Vehicles Changing The Automobile Industry?

What Is A Hybrid Car?

In a hybrid car, you can find a combination of internal combustion power along with an electric motor. It means a hybrid car operates on either a petrol or diesel engine along with an electric motor that uses energy stored in batteries.

A driver can easily change or shift the operating mode of a hybrid car while driving. This means, with just a few clicks the driver can choose between a gas engine and an electric motor. Due to the usage of more than one type of power, hybrid cars are known for better fuel economy and performance.

Types of Hybrid Car

There are two types of hybrid cars, namely plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and self-charging hybrid (HEV).

1. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can be driven electric-only for a short distance, without using any fuel to charge the batteries on the move. Here one or two batteries are used to power an electric motor and another fuel to power an internal combustion engine (ICE). To charge the batteries you need to plug a charging cable into an external electric power source.

Most of the plug-in hybrid vehicles are passenger cars, but a few versions of commercial vehicles as well as vans, utility trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles, mopeds, and military vehicles are also available.

2. Self-charging hybrid (HEV)

A self-charging hybrid car is one that does not need to be plugged into recharge. Here the car uses the internal combustion engine to recharge the batteries as they go.

You do not have to worry about plugging the batteries to get them charged. Basically, a self-charging hybrid car is a traditional hybrid.

Most self-charging hybrids (HEV) are small-sized passenger cars.

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars

Just like a coin has two sides, hybrid cars come with their own set of merits and demerits. In fact, before looking for the cheapest place to buy a used car to buy the best hybrid cars in Australia, you need to be aware of the merits and demerits.

– Pros of a hybrid car

Hybrid cars usually come with a warranty which covers the entire hybrid system. This means if anything goes wrong within the warranty period you do not have to spend money on the repair.

As hybrid cars need less oil and gas, hence it helps to conserve more fossil fuels.

Most hybrid cars are fuel-efficient cars, hence is no need to fill the gas tank more often.

Hybrid cars are better for the environment as compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles as such vehicles produce fewer carbon emissions.

– Cons of Hybrid Vehicles

When it comes to hybrid cars, speed is a restriction as it is impossible to drive such cars at high speed.

Hybrid cars are typically more costly as compared to any other conventional economy cars.

Even if hybrid cars need less gas your monthly expenses will increase if you are buying the car on loan.

The repair cost of the electric motor or gasoline engine is usually very high.

Best Hybrid Cars in Australia

Some of the best hybrid cars in Australia are: –

• Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid,
• Lexus NX450H,
• Toyota RAV4,
• Subaru Forester Hybrid,
• Toyota Corolla Hybrid,
• Volvo XC40,
• Toyota Yaris Hybrid,
• Kia Niro HEV S,
• Lexus RX450H Luxury Hybrid

What’s Better, Hybrid Cars or Electric Cars?

Now that you know all the basic details about electric cars as well as hybrid cars, you can make a final decision. If your budget allows, go for an electric car. Once bought, you can save hundreds of dollars on gas and you will be contributing toward a better world for the future generation.

An electric car is for those who do not want to spend money on fuel and live in an area where charging an electric car is not a problem.

However, if you do not have access to public charging stations and cannot think of buying one for yourself, then investing in a hybrid car is a good idea. Also, a hybrid car is a good choice for those who are more comfortable driving petrol or diesel-based cars.

Summary

No matter what your decision is, always look for the best hybrid cars in Australia and the best electric cars in Australia. If looking for a second hand car, look for the best place to buy used cars. There are many cheapest places to buy a used car in Australia and with the right research, you can get a good hybrid and electric car.

Also Read:- Find the Best Hybrid Cars in Australia 2022