With big names such as Ford and Nissan planning to join Toyota, Honda and Lexus in offering the hybrid car to the UK market in 2010, it’s worth getting clued up on the pros and cons of going green. To help you suss out the ins and outs of hybrid ownership, Mer car care products has put together the following insight.
First things first, what exactly is a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars are vehicles that use at least two different power sources to run. This typically means using a combination of power from a conventional car engine and energy from a rechargeable electric battery or motor. The idea is that, by combining a clean energy source like electricity with traditional diesel or petrol power, cars will use less fuel and produce significantly less CO2.
Isn’t there more than one type of hybrid engine out there?
Yes, it all tends to get a bit techy but there are essentially two types of hybrid car engines currently on the market - parallel hybrids and series hybrids.
* Parallel hybrids - this type of hybrid allows your car to be powered by a traditional fuel engine or by an electric battery using a split ratio system. It’s possible to run the car solely using either power source or by using a combination of your choosing. Current commercial models include the Lexus Gs450, the LS600, the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape.
* Series hybrids - this type of hybrid is arguably slightly more futuristic than the parallel as the traditional fuel engine never directly powers the vehicle. Instead, the traditional engine is used to create electricity to charge the electric battery or power the electric motor. Several series hybrid commercial models are currently in development from makers such as Chevrolet, Volvo and Ford.
* Plug-in hybrids - just to make things even more confusing, there are also a number of so called plug-in hybrids or PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) currently being developed. These can use either the parallel or series hybrid power model, but include additional electric storage capabilities which can be charged at home between journeys.
Arguably, PHEVs are the greenest hybrid option, as they limit the need for the traditional fuel engine and allow the vehicle to be operated like an electric car.
What’s it like driving a hybrid car?
The majority of hybrid drivers report finding their vehicles surprisingly similar to traditionally-powered cars in terms of steering, acceleration and road handling. It often takes people longer to adjust to the push-start ignition and high tech dashboard displays though, which offer a wealth of information on the car’s energy levels and fuel consumption.
Many drivers also find the reduced engine noise difficult to get used to, particularly if they’re running their car in the almost silent electric-only mode.
What do I do when it comes to refuelling a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars can be fuelled in the normal way at filling stations using either the manufacturer’s recommended diesel or petrol. Thanks to their dual fuel capabilities, they typically require less frequent top-ups than traditional petrol or diesel cars too which is good news for your wallet.
How much do hybrid cars cost to buy?
Because hybrid technology is still very much in its infancy, the range of hybrid cars currently on the market tends to be state of the art and rather pricey. The Honda Insight starts from around £16K while Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrids retail at around £19K. Lexus models tend to go for nearer the £40K mark and are typically aimed at the higher end of the market.
Although the initial outlay on a hybrid is fairly considerable, it’s worth bearing in mind that your fuel costs and road tax will be significantly lower than with a normal car. Thanks to their reduced CO2 emissions, many hybrid models like the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid fall into road tax band B - currently £15 a year.
Does driving a hybrid really make a big difference to the environment?
According to research undertaken by What Green Car, most petrol-hybrids reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 25% per mile compared to an equivalent petrol car on European roads. Some hybrids - like the Honda Insight - apparently go one better still by cutting CO2 emissions to around half of that of a traditional petrol car.
With CO2 emissions and the production of other greenhouse gases increasingly under the government spotlight, it seems likely that all cars may have to conform to hybrid standards in the not too distant future.