Are hybrids or plug-in hybrids better?

Hybrids vs Plug-in Hybrids: Which is Better?

When it comes to tech in cars, one of our favorite things here at Carl Black Hiram near Atlanta is hybrids. Over the past twenty-odd years, they’ve gone from fringe and expensive to being part of many new vehicles. They have all sorts of benefits with very few downsides. And now, with the advent of the electric vehicle, plug-in hybrids have joined the market. But that begs the question:

Are hybrids or plug-in hybrids better?

How Do CVTs in Hybrids Work?

Hybrids

Hybrids are everywhere nowadays. From the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid that’s rated at 53-city/56-highway mpg, to the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid that gets 25-city/26-highway mpg, hybrid technology is found on most vehicles. It uses regenerative braking and other clever engineering tricks to provide power to electric motors under a certain speed (usually around 25-30 mph) or RPM. This greatly increases fuel efficiency since motors are at their most efficient at steady speeds around 60-70 mph, but do poorly at low speeds. However, hybrid systems do little to reduce carbon emissions and still require gas to operate, just like a regular car.

Plug-in Hybrids

Plug-in hybrids are also starting to become more common. They combine a normal hybrid vehicle with a small battery pack to improve fuel economy and decrease emissions. While the batteries are charged, a plug-in hybrid can operate completely on electricity, no matter how fast you’re going. Similarly, as a hybrid, your fuel efficiency goes up and your carbon emissions go down significantly while you have a charge. Once that charge runs out, though, you basically have a normal hybrid…but heavier. That means keeping plug-in hybrids charged up is very important.

Get a Pre-owned Vehicle on Sale

If you’re thinking about buying a used vehicle, then we make sure to check out our Used Specials page. There, you’ll find used vehicles that are on sale for thousands of dollars less than internet prices. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. We’ll be happy to help.