Hybrid Cars and Their Key Benefits

The electric revolution is here, and has been for some time.

Since firebrand electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers like Tesla and Polestar disrupted the automotive market with their accessible and practical electric-powered models, mainstream manufacturers have followed suit; today, zero-emission vehicles account for nearly 3% of all cars on the road.

But in the middle of all this, a transitional vehicle has been forgotten. As many deliberate over making the switch to EVs from gas guzzlers, a missing link presents a unique opportunity to wean us off our petrol obsession: the hybrid. But what are the benefits of the hybrid EV, and why might you consider replacing your own vehicle with one?

1. Improved Fuel Efficiency

The most obvious benefit relates to fuel efficiency, with hybrid vehicles boasting much better mile-per-gallon statistics than their fully gas-guzzling counterparts. This is because petrol or diesel usage is subsidised by the on-board motor, allowing you to get far further on a tank than you otherwise would. This is a godsend for monthly vehicle costs, where less fuel usage ultimately means more in your pocket at the end of the year.

2. Reduced Environmental Impact

Reduced fuel usage also results in ancillary benefits, one of which is the primary purpose for the roll-out and success of electric vehicles in the first place: the environment. Petrol and diesel contribute a huge amount of CO2 emissions, with domestic transport emissions reaching as much as 107 million tonnes in 2022 alone.

Hybrid cars result in less fuel being used per drive, ultimately reducing the amount a driver consumes. In turn, this reduces the environmental impact of the hybrid vehicle, with positive results for national emissions figures and a clearer path to a zero-carbon future.

3. Cost Savings

Cost savings have already been touched upon here, but are not limited to the simple saving of fuel. With electric motors cutting in where combustion engines are not needed on a given drive, the engines of hybrid vehicles are taxed less by the average journey. Less usage means less wear, meaning hybrid engines can go longer without needing repairs or maintenance.

It is also the case that there are more hybrid models on the market, courtesy of the used car market – making access to EV technology far more affordable in the short term. Vauxhall hybrids are a common find on both new and used markets, and enable motorists to avail of decreased costs sooner. This is all without even touching on the road tax benefits of driving low-carbon, or the exemption from congestion charges that some hybrids enjoy.

4. Quiet and Smooth Driving Experience

Finally, we come to the experience of driving a hybrid vehicle itself. The electric motor has far fewer moving parts than the combustion engine, meaning that when a hybrid’s motor is engaged, the drive is far smoother. As such, urban driving becomes much quieter and much more enjoyable for the motorist.