Understand what hybrid cars have to offer you

As we move globally towards greener transportation we’re seeing more and more manufacturers offering hybrid and electric models.

If you’re considering whether to make the switch then we’ve rounded up the top benefits of hybrid vehicles below. We’ve looked at the benefits of going fully electric separately as they’re a little different to those of a hybrid.

There are three main types of hybrid available in the UK, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), full hybrids (HEVs) sometimes known as self-charging hybrids and mild hybrids (MHEVs).

PHEVs are hybrids that you need to charge the electric motor in whereas full hybrids recharge their battery by capturing energy through regenerative braking and when appropriate are charged by the combustion engine as well. Both PHEVs and HEVs offer a fully electric range though this varies between models.

MHEVs do not have an electric range, instead the hybrid technology in them supports the traditional combustion engine giving additional power when accelerating or managing the stop-start technology. For more information on the differences between the three types of hybrid and which could be the right choice for you take a look at our hybrid guide.

The benefits of each type of hybrid are different so we’ve broken this guide down into three sections; the benefits of PHEVs, the benefits of HEVs and the benefits of MHEVs.

Benefits of Hybrid Cars

There are some benefits that you will have regardless of what type of hybrid you decide is right for you so instead of repeating these three times we’re going to look at these first.

• A hybrid uses less fuel than a vehicle without the electric component and so the cost of filling up can be a lot less.
• As they use less fuel they also generally emit fewer emissions and so are better for the environment than a similar model with an internal combustion engine.
• Hybrids have a petrol or diesel engine as well as the electric motor so you do not have the same charging concerns or range anxiety that you would with a fully electric car.
• Depending on what type of hybrid and that particular vehicle’s specification a hybrid can offer you much lower benefit in kind (BIK) rates depending on how far they can drive on pure electric power.
• Lower emissions also means lower road tax compared to a petrol or diesel equivalent.

Benefits of PHEVs

There are several reasons that you might decide a PHEV is the best type of hybrid for you.

Benefits of HEVs

The main difference between a HEV and PHEV is that you do not need to plug it in and charge it. If you are unable to have a home charging unit installed and are concerned about being able to fit charging in at a convenient time and location, then a HEV could be the right choice for you as they do not need charging.

Most still have a fully electric mode, though this is usually only for a shorter distance, or at low speeds, which means they can still have reduced BIK rates and other tax benefits.

Benefits of MHEVs

Cars and vans with mild-hybrid technology are often the most similar to their petrol or diesel counterparts and so require the littlest adjustment for you to become used to.

As the technology for MHEVs is easy and cheap to install to existing vehicle designs this often translates into cheaper costs for you to purchase or lease them.

If you want to find out more about hybrids in general then take a look at this helpful guide or if you want to know more about going fully electric click here. Or if you'd rather speak to someone on the phone then give us a call on 0330 221 0000 and one of  our Leasing Consultants will be happy to help with any questions you have.