The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Cars
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 8 months ago
5 min read
- Electric vehicles
FixMyCar answers all your questions relating to hybrid cars.
The future seems pretty bleak for the cars we know and love. The government has banned new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, and manufacturers are clamouring to fall in line, discontinuing much-loved models to make way for their green successors.
But does it all have to be doom and gloom? What about hybrid cars - could we grow to love them, too? After all, they offer a compromise that is more sustainable than traditional combustion engines without losing the reliable familiarity of fuel-based transport.
At FixMyCar, we’ve gathered a list of the most common questions drivers have about hybrid vehicles to help build a clearer picture of how they might fit into our future.
Contents:
Hybrid vs electric - which is better?
How long do hybrid batteries last?
Are hybrid batteries expensive?
How much electricity does a hybrid car use?
Can hybrid cars run on electricity only?
Are all hybrid cars automatic?
What is a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars run on a mixture of traditional fuel (petrol or diesel) and electricity. They have a battery, an electric motor, a fuel tank and an internal combustion motor. You could say they offer the best of both worlds.
Some hybrids use the combustion engine as a generator and are driven exclusively by electric motors. These are known as range-extender or 'series' hybrids. Others use electric motors that operate simultaneously with the engine or can alternate between the two.
Full hybrid vehicles
Full hybrids (sometimes called 'parallel hybrids') use electric motors and the engine to power the car. They usually hold small amounts of charge used in addition to the engine, increasing fuel efficiency.
Most full hybrids can switch to electric-only mode, though this can only be sustained at low speeds over small distances due to the size of the battery.
Although full hybrids have small batteries, this is advantageous in some ways. It allows the battery to be fully re-charged by the engine, so you never have to plug it in.
Mild hybrid vehicles
Mild hybrids use a combustion engine and an electric motor, just like full hybrids, but they can't be used independently. Traditionally, the electric motor assists the engine, but some manufacturers now use systems where this isn't the case. Instead, it saves fuel by recovering kinetic (movement) energy and using it to power the vehicle's ancillary systems.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in hybrids can be plugged in to charge their batteries and provide a significantly better electric-only range than a full hybrid. In theory, low-mileage drivers could run a PHEV without ever using its petrol engine.
Hybrid vs electric - which is better?
Electric pros
Zero direct emissions
Can be charged at home - convenient
Charging is much cheaper than filling up with fuel
Less maintenance costs - no combustion engine
Instant power
Electric cons
Charging stations - having one fitted at home costs around £1000
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the average range of an electric car is 236 miles. Even traditional cars with tiny tanks like the Hyundai i10 can get around 330 miles.
High replacement battery costs
Hybrid pros
Plug-in hybrids can run on just electric or just fuel, giving you more options
More affordable than electric cars
Fewer maintenance costs than traditional cars
Bigger driving range than electric cars (and many traditional ones, too!)
More model & style choices than electric cars
Hybrid cons
Emissions - less than traditional cars, more than electric
Power - less than traditional cars, more than electric
Maintenance costs - there are less bills generally but when they happen they are often more expensive
So, to summarise…
Electric cars are better for the environment, offer instant power and have less maintenance costs.
Hybrid cars are less expensive to buy, offer the best of both worlds and give you better range.
How long do hybrid batteries last?
The batteries in hybrid cars are designed to last a long time, so they should certainly surpass 80,000 miles, with some reaching as many as 200,000.
Most hybrid manufacturers also offer excellent warranties. For example, Toyota provides a ten-year warranty and, providing the car undergoes an annual service, a further one year/10,000 miles of Hybrid Battery Extended Cover for up to 15 years.
The lifespan of a battery is influenced by several factors, including:
Driving style
Make and model
Maintenance
Load weight
Age
Are hybrid batteries expensive?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. Hybrid batteries generally cost between £1000 and £3000, but it’s not all bad news. Since they are designed to last the car's lifetime, it’s unlikely you’ll need to foot this bill at any point. Not to mention the fact that their prices are coming down all the time as more hybrids are manufactured and demand steadily grows.
How much electricity does a hybrid car use?
When you pay for hybrid or electric car charging, you do so by kilowatt-hour (kWh). If you’ve got a specific hybrid car in mind, find out how much you pay for your electricity at home and multiply it by the battery size of your plug-in hybrid.
So, let’s say you pay 30p per kilowatt-hour, and the battery size is 50kW. It would cost £15 for a full charge.
Can hybrid cars run on electricity only?
As discussed above, it depends on the type of hybrid car you have. If you want a vehicle that can run solely on electricity, you’ll need to purchase a fully electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, which offers the best of both worlds.
Are all hybrid cars automatic?
Fully hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars will always be automatic simply because there is no benefit to having a manual transmission when operating solely on electric power. Some plug-in hybrids allow you to change gears using paddles; this is called a semi-automatic gearbox.
If you’re opposed to driving an automatic, you’ll be pleased to know that mild hybrids can still come with a manual gearbox.
What type of batteries are used in hybrid cars?
Lithium Ion
Lithium Ion batteries offer energy efficiency while still providing plenty of power. Though they're relatively expensive, they are lighter than many other battery types.
Nickel Metal Hydride Battery (NiMH)
Most hybrid vehicles on the market today will use this type of battery. They have been on the market for a long time, so they are usually more affordable but store less energy than lithium-ion battery packs.
Lead-Acid Battery
Lead-acid batteries are the most affordable of the three options since they have been around for the longest. They are used in hybrid and traditional cars, so their safety has long been tested. Usually, lead-acid batteries can be found in mild hybrids.
This guide explains how to get the most out of your car battery.
Are hybrid car batteries recyclable?
Recycling electrical car batteries is a technical and complex process that is not widely done in the UK. However, it is possible, and with more and more EVs and hybrids being manufactured and sold daily, recycling batteries should get easier with time.
Looking for repairs or maintenance for your hybrid car? Whatever you need, we can help you find the right garage at the right price.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers in a language they understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.