Electrics and Hybrids: Choosing a Green Ride

With Earth Day falling on April 22nd every year, spring is a great time to think about ways to reduce our carbon footprint and live more sustainably.  If you’re thinking about purchasing a new set of wheels, you might consider the eco-friendly move of investing in an electric or hybrid vehicle.  But with so many options on the market these days, how do you decide which model is right for you?  Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both electric and hybrid cars to help inform your decision: 

Electric Vehicles – Pros 

No Gas: With the ever-increasing price of gasoline, this perk is a no-brainer.  Since electric vehicles don’t have any form of gas or diesel engine, you won’t have to worry about the price at the pump. 

No Oil Changes: Without a traditional gasoline motor, an electric vehicle also doesn’t have engine oil that needs to be regularly monitored and changed out.  That’s one less item to check off on your pre-summer road trip list! 

High Quality Performance: One common misconception about electric vehicles is that they don’t perform as vehicles that run on gasoline.  While they may not sound as impressive when you rev the engine due to the nature of their power source, electric vehicles certainly perform impressively in certain areas.  As Lifewire explains, EVs are capable of instant torque, meaning “when you push the accelerator in an electric vehicle, it starts moving almost instantly, while it takes a moment for a gas-powered vehicle to get rolling.”  Car and Driver ran comparisons last year of EVs vs. non-EVs in several performance metrics and notes that in addition to snappier acceleration, electrics distribute their weight more evenly throughout the vehicle compared to gas guzzlers.  The same article shows a stark contrast between the energy efficiencies of electric and gas cars: 29 mpg on average for gas engines compared to 92 MPGe for EVs. 

Eco-Friendly: If you want to play devil’s advocate, you can point out that most of the country’s electricity is still coming from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, and so electric vehicles still have a carbon footprint.  At the end of the day, electric vehicles don’t produce any tailpipe emissions.  Between not directly contributing to poor air quality and not requiring gas or oil to run, EVs are arguably a greener transportation option than gas-powered vehicles. 

Electric Vehicles – Cons 

Few Charging Stations: Since gas-powered vehicles have been around a century longer than electric vehicles, it’s no surprise that there are a lot more gas stations lining our highways than there are EV charging stations.  That said, it all depends on where you’re planning to take that summer road trip: if you’re cruising the Pacific Highway, you’re golden, with California having the highest concentration of public charging stations in the US.  The rest of the country is catching up – there’s even a Tesla charging station in the rural South Dakota town of Wall (home to famed roadside attraction Wall Drug). 

Long Charge Time: In our fast-paced world, we’ve become used to a certain level of instant gratification – something that EVs don’t provide when it comes to refueling time.  There are a number of variables at play when it comes to EV charging time, but a major factor is the charging level of the power source: Level 1, Level 2, or DC Fast Charging.  DC Fast Chargers or Tesla Superchargers utilize direct current and take the least amount of time, generally able to get your battery to 80% in 30-45 minutes.  Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt outlet, which most people have at home, and can take your car battery to a full charge overnight.  Level 1 is the most accessible in that it only requires a standard 120-volt outlet, but takes the longest, adding a mere 3-6 miles of range per hour. 

Limited Driving Range: Electrics are fantastic commuter and quick trip vehicles – think of all the gas you wouldn’t be using idling at stop lights or sitting in traffic!  However, you’ll definitely want to plan accordingly if you’re using an electric for a longer trip, since the average EV range is only 179 miles (compared to the average gas vehicle’s 485 miles).  If you’re prone to range anxiety – worrying about running out of fuel before you’re able to stop at a gas or charging station – this is certainly a factor to consider. 

Price Point: For budget-minded drivers, electric vehicles do carry a higher upfront investment when it comes to purchasing.  As CNBC pointed out last year, the average new EV costs about $10,000 more than the average new gas-powered vehicle.  If you can get over that initial financial hurdle, savings benefits will eventually kick in: a recent publication by the Zero Emission Transportation Association notes that in light of surging gas prices, electrics can be 3-6 times cheaper to drive per mile than their gas-consuming cousins. 

Hybrid Vehicles – Pros 

Gas and Oil Efficiency: Though hybrids don’t completely take fossil fuels out of the equation like EVs, they make more efficient use of the gas and oil they do consume.  According to Consumer Reports, the gas savings will offset the cost of the car in as little as 2 years for a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.  AAA recommends changing a gasoline vehicle’s oil every 5,000-7,500 miles, while some hybrid makers suggest that you can go 10,000 miles or more between changes. 

Tax Credits: Taxes – we hate to pay them, but we love when they’re refunded to us.  Certain models of plug-in hybrid vehicles may qualify for federal tax credits.  Check out this recent list from Electrek to see if Uncle Sam will send you a little check for the model you have in mind. 

Eco-Friendly: Hybrids may still rely directly on fossil fuels, but using less gas and oil is certainly better for the air we breathe and the earth in general.  The Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Vehicle Guide provides great information on considerations for making greener car purchasing and driving decisions. 

Hybrid Vehicles – Cons 

Slower Driving: If you’ve got the need for speed, hybrids might not be your cup of tea.  While most hybrid vehicles can reach speeds of 100 miles per hour, the typical hybrid’s acceleration is a bit on the sluggish side, going from 0 to 60 mph in about ten seconds.  The “slow hybrid” stereotype is slowly changing, as makers like Ferrari are now putting out cars that can do 0 to 60 in a snappy 2.5 seconds. 

Higher Price Tag: Similar to electric vehicles, hybrids can cost up to 20% more than traditional gas-powered cars. They can also cost about 7% more to insure than traditional vehicles. 

Pricey Batteries: If you’re used to paying $100-200 to replace your car’s battery, owning a hybrid might give you a bit of sticker shock in this area.  Because they serve a more complex function than traditional car batteries, replacement hybrid batteries can easily cost $1000 or more.  That’s still a bargain compared to replacement EV batteries, which can run as much as $20,000.  Depending on how common your hybrid is, you may be able to track down an aftermarket battery as a less expensive option. 

Final Thoughts 

So there you have it – plenty of perks and drawbacks of green cars to consider!  If you’ve driven a hybrid or electric vehicle for a while, feel free to drop your experience in the comments.  As always, if you have questions that this post hasn’t answered, feel free to reach out to us.