If you’re not ready for your next car to be fully electric but still want to reduce gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, a hybrid can be a great compromise.
While sales of EVs have stalled, a 2024 AAA Northeast survey indicated that 1 out of 3 U.S. adults would be interested in purchasing a hybrid.
What some consumers may not realize is that not all hybrids are the same. Learn about the differences and determine which option may be right for you.
Hybrid 101: To Charge or Not to Charge?
The two types of hybrids on the market are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Both HEVs and PHEVs have a gas engine, an electric motor and a battery, but they are powered a little differently.
HEVs do not require an external charging source to charge. The gas engine generates enough electricity to charge the battery while driving, which also gets a boost from regenerative braking, a process in which the brakes utilize momentum to create electricity when the car coasts or decelerates.
PHEVs get some of their charge from regenerative braking, too, but as the name suggests, can also be plugged into a power source. PHEVs have larger batteries than HEVs and can travel as far as 40 miles on electricity alone. They don’t take as long to charge as a full EV and can power up on a 120-volt house current, so installing a home charger is not necessary.
Fully electric or battery electric vehicles do not have an engine and get all their power from an externally charged battery.
Weighing Costs and Savings
Better Is What’s Best for You
Your ideal hybrid comes down to lifestyle, driving habits and how much you want to spend.
“The question is: Do you want to be green or save green or both?” said AAA’s Car Doctor John Paul.
For someone who is looking to go electric but has range anxiety, a PHEV can be an excellent choice.
“If you’re an average commuter or work-from-home person, the PHEV offers the EV experience but with the option to gas up on long trips, without the hassle of finding an EV charger,” Paul said.
If your driving habits consist of mostly shorter trips and you can charge at home, even with standard house current, a PHEV fits the bill. Although you do need to factor in the additional upfront costs.
To find out and compare the total cost of ownership for a specific car, try our EV Cost Calculator.
“If pure fuel economy is what you are looking for, the HEV is the winner,” Paul said. “The conventional hybrid is best for people who can’t charge at home or work but still want very good fuel economy. A conventional hybrid is cheaper, still has low emissions and has slightly simpler technology that, over time, may be cheaper to repair.”
Ready to shop for a hybrid? See our list of Top Hybrids to Consider.
AAA’s Recommendation: Whether you own an electric vehicle or a gas-powered car is up to you – and you should consider lots of factors in making that choice. No matter what type of vehicle you’re choosing, we recommend visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.
