Hybrid Cars: Explained

A great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Pollution from vehicles contributes to 22% of the total UK emissions of CO2. Not quite ready to go fully electric? – consider going hybrid first! 

What Is a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car is a car that is powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor (and battery). It aims to maximise the efficiency of the car combining battery power and combustion power to operate the car. The first hybrid car was created by Ferdinand Porsche who began the Porsche car brand with an electric car before creating hybrids.

Types of Hybrid Cars:

There are a few different types of hybrids which all work a little differently from each other. The three types of hybrids are MHEVs, FHEVs and PHEVs.

• MHEVs (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles) – Mild hybrids use their electric power to give a small boost to the vehicle’s internal combustion engine - usually assisting it when accelerating from a dead stop. MHEVs don’t operate solely on battery power and don’t need to be plugged in to charge. They charge by using power from the internal combustion engine and regenerative braking.
• FHEVs (Full Hybrid Electric Vehicles) – Full hybrids have a more powerful battery than mild hybrids and can operate for some time solely on battery power. They are charged by the internal combustion engine or through regenerative braking. There are two types of systems that a full hybrid can have:
  • Parallel – The wheels are powered by either the engine, the electric motor or both working together.
  • Series – The wheels are only powered by the electric motor and in turn the engine powers and charges the battery. The internal combustion engine never will directly power the wheels themselves.
• PHEVs (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles) – Plug-In Hybrids have a battery power that is much greater than MHEVs and FHEVs. The battery can be charged by an external source (similar to a fully electric car) as well as an internal source like regenerative braking. As they can be charged externally, this means their electric-only range lasts much longer.

Pros Of a Hybrid Car:

• Warranties – When it comes to your car warranty, most hybrid cars come with an 8-year warranty. To compare, the industry average for a petrol or diesel car is around 3 years of coverage. A hybrid car warranty covers the entire hybrid system which can become expensive to repair.
• Less Fuel & Oil – As hybrid cars add the benefit of battery and electric power, hybrid systems reduce the amount of fuel and oil required over some time when compared to a normal petrol or diesel car.
• Fuel Efficiency – As hybrid vehicles reduce the amount of fuel required, you won’t have to fill your car up as often improving your fuel efficiency.
• Less Noise – Hybrid cars are quiet because of their electric motors and therefore are much quieter than petrol or diesel car.
• Tax Benefits – Car tax is calculated according to the amount of CO2 emissions the vehicle gives off. As hybrid cars reduce the amount of CO2 emissions thanks to the use of the electric motor, you may end up paying less tax for your car. There are greater car tax savings for plug-in hybrids than mild hybrids but changing to a hybrid car will guarantee you to save money.
• Eco-Friendlier – Although not 100% eco-friendly, hybrid cars produce fewer carbon emissions than normal fuel cars as they use less fuel thanks to the electric motor.
• No Range Anxiety – When comparing an all-electric car to a petrol car, many people experience range anxiety which is the worry that the electric car’s battery will not provide a large enough range for their journey; leaving them stranded on the side of the road. With a hybrid car, you don’t have to worry about the battery range because there is always an internal combustion engine to provide power – you just have to make sure it is filled with fuel.

Cons of a Hybrid Car:

• More Expensive – Hybrid cars tend to cost more to buy upfront when compared to petrol or diesel-powered car. Although you can make a lot of savings with a hybrid vehicle, you should expect to pay more for a hybrid version of your favourite car.
• More To Repair – Generally, hybrid cars will require less maintenance than an ICE car but if maintenance is required, it can be much more expensive for parts – especially if you require a new battery.
• Lower Performance Stats – Hybrid cars were manufactured with efficiency and eco-friendliness in mind not power or acceleration. They have slower top-end acceleration and can feel heavier when driving around corners – due to the addition of a battery.

How Do I Charge My Hybrid Car?

Mild hybrid cars and full hybrid cars don’t need to be charged externally as they use features like regenerative braking to charge themselves. Plug-in hybrids use these features but can also be charged externally as well similar to fully electric cars.

They can be charged using a three-pin plug socket, a wall charger or a public charging station. You are responsible for the facilities you may require when it comes to charging your plug-in hybrid. When leasing a plug-in hybrid car, you should make sure you have the space required for any home charger you would like to install.

You can follow this link to Zapmap.com (https://www.zap-map.com/live/) which gives you the locations of all the public charging stations in the UK so that you can plan your enroute charging if necessary.

There are two types of charging cables for plug-in hybrid cars:

Plug-in hybrids will come with a charging cable, but they won’t all come with the same one. They can come with either of the above so make sure to check which one your lease hybrid will come with so you can prepare in advance for how you will need to charge it.

Why Lease a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car has many benefits when it comes to leasing. You don’t have to worry about making a hefty upfront cost to purchase the vehicle, you only have to make a fixed monthly payment across your contract term before handing the vehicle back at the end. This means you can take advantage of new hybrid technology or move on to leasing an electric car instead. Leasing is a great opportunity If you are wanting to go green but aren’t quite ready for an all-electric car!

Facts About Hybrid Cars:

• Hybrid technology has been used for decades in trains, trams, submarines and mining trucks to name a few. It took until 1997 for it to find it's way back to cars and vans.
• The first commercial hybrid car was the Toyota Prius which was launched in the UK back in 2000.
• When the Prius was revealed to the US, a bunch of Hollywood celebrities purchased the Prius like Jennifer Aniston, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about hybrid cars, give us a call at 0345 350 3776, email us at enquiries@willowleasing.com, or send us a message on our live chat service. If you wanted to get started on leasing a hybrid car – check out our hybrid car leasing page!