For example, a Hyundai Tucson PHEV costs $5,550 more than the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, but is eligible for a $6,587 federal credit. PHEVs carry a higher price tag than regular hybrids, though many are eligible for tax credits that reduce or eliminate the difference. Some new vehicles are offered in gas, hybrid, and PHEV versions, and you can readily compare their efficiency and the costs of fueling them at. When the battery charge runs low, the vehicle automatically switches to hybrid mode by starting the gas engine.įor trips made mostly or entirely on battery power, little or no gas is burned, making these vehicles quite thrifty. Hyundai For Shorter All-Electric Trips, a PHEV Does the JobĪ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) extends the original hybrid idea, installing a higher-capacity battery to provide 15 to 40 miles of electric-only driving, depending on the model. They require no special treatment and are well-suited to families that have long commutes or regularly take extended trips. Hybrid vehicles have proved durable and dependable in the two decades since Toyota introduced the Prius.
A more powerful, but less efficient, gas-only engine adds $1,085 to the price – and costs $700 more each year to fuel. There are exceptions: the lowest-priced version of the Ford Maverick pickup is a hybrid rated at 37 combined mpg. The Honda Accord Hybrid costs $1,200 more than the gas-only version, but its EPA-rated 47 combined mpg handedly beats the Honda Accord gas model’s 33 mpg, potentially saving the owner $550 a year. More Expensive at First, but Cheaper in the Long RunĪlthough hybrids generally cost more than their non-hybrid counterparts, better fuel economy makes them cheaper to drive. It’s enough for some hybrids to drive about a mile at lower speeds on electricity alone. Some energy is stored in a small-capacity battery. Keeping a hybrid fueled is much the same as any gas vehicle-no need to ever plug in, as normal driving generates the energy for the electric motor. In contrast, gas-only cars burn substantially more fuel in urban use.
Notably, those are combined averages, as many hybrids are more frugal in city driving than they are on the highway. Hybrids can deliver remarkable fuel economy, with some midsize sedans getting over 50 mpg and a few popular crossovers giving 40 mpg or more. Hybrids Are Most Like the Cars You’re Used ToĬonventional hybrids, which pair a gas engine with an electric motor and a battery pack, are the stingiest on gas among vehicles that don’t need to be plugged in. Understanding the differences, benefits, and potential drawbacks among the electrified vehicle types-hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electrics-is an important step toward a happy ownership experience. Vehicles powered by electricity, either as hybrids teamed with a gasoline engine or as purely electric models that depend on batteries, are today’s least expensive cars to run in terms of energy costs.
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