Are you geared for the electric and hybrid car revolution?
The use of hybrid and electric cars is becoming increasingly popular, with the UK seeing a 31% rise in their sales this year alone. This shift in motoring is something we at Lindleys are already preparing for, to ensure we keep our customers on the road, regardless of what type of car you drive.
So what’s the difference between hybrid and electric cars? Here’s a quick overview ...
Electric cars
Electric cars have the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, depending on the type of electricity that charges the battery. The car itself is actually only as green as their battery ‘juice’ is. Natural gas electricity can result in less than half of the total emissions of the best combustion vehicle, this includes the manufacturing process.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars
Unlike electric vehicles, hybrids produce some emissions as they rely on petrol or diesel, as well as a battery to power the car. They have an electric motor, a battery pack and a regular combustion engine.
Plug-in hybrids have much larger batteries which means they can be charged through the mains. From a fully-charged battery, you can expect up to 30 miles of emissions-free driving before it reverts back to the petrol or diesel engine.
Why should or why shouldn’t you buy a hybrid or electric car?
A hybrid car can be filled up at any petrol station, they excel in cities where slower speeds mean the electric motor is used to power the car. This increases fuel efficiency.
However, due to hybrid cars still producing fossil fuels, you’ll still need to pay car tax on them in most cases (this isn’t the case for electric and hydrogen cars).
If you find yourself often driving in stop-start situations, or regularly doing inner-city driving, then a hybrid or electric car is for you. On the other hand, if you’re often used to long journeys with little stops, you won’t see the same benefits.
Lindleys Autocentres will certainly be geared for this change in motoring - make sure you are too.