Hybrid cars are on everyone’s minds these days. $20, $30, $40 or even $50 for a tank of petrol? Who in their right mind really wants to pay that sort of money? But, frustrated, the petrol consumer sighs, but pays up. However, hybrid vehicles are being applauded for the little amount of fuel they need to operate, and they are flying off the lots of car dealerships each and everyday in ever increasing numbers.
However, what about a plug-in hybrid? Most drivers have heard that these cars are great as well. So, someone might be asking him or herself, what exactly a plug-in hybrid is? How they work, and what the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid is?
Plug-in hybrids are capable of running solely on batteries, but they can use petrol also. These sorts of hybrid cars have some of the characteristics of hybrid vehicles. They are also very similar to all-electric vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles need to be charged externally by plugging them into an electrical power source. The combustion engine of plug-in hybrid vehicles is engaged only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if so desired, but it is to be expected that these kinds of hybrid cars are recharged every day.
Hybrid cars can go just as many miles as a conventional car. Designed to go the extra mile where fuel-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the highway, in cities, or wherever else a person needs to drive.
On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are meant to handle commuter-length distances, meaning between twenty and sixty miles. Used in this way, the plug-in hybrid does not have to make use of its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using fuel as well.
Hybrids help to reduce pollution, but they do still pollute the atmosphere. Compared with plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars still have a long way to go as far as pollution is concerned. Because plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don’t have to emit waste fuel emissions at all.
Plug-in hybrids actually do fight against greenhouse gas emissions and plug-in hybrids use virtually no oil imported or not. Studies have shown that electric hybrids emit at least 67% less greenhouse gases compared to petrol cars. Since the electric used to power plug-in hybrids is renewable, the difference in greenhouse gas emissions may be even greater than the study indicated.
So there you have it – those are the main differences between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It could make a big difference, but you would be surprised at how little it actually matters at the moment, but that’s only because plug-in hybrids are not being marketed to consumers yet! But this article should make you excited about the fantastic plug-in hybrid car, coming soon to a forecourt near you.
And it’s going to be a spectacular debut too. People already really like regular hybrid cars, but they haven’t seen anything until they see the new plug-in hybrid cars. However, for now, maybe they should just be satisfied with what they have, because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars come out, something even better might be introduced onto the market.