Why Buy an Electric Car Instead of a Hybrid or Petrol/Diesel?

There are many key differences between an electric car (EV) and a hybrid, and even more between an EV and a petrol or diesel car (ICE). Electric cars still only have a minority share of the new car market, so you might not be convinced about buying one over a more traditional fuel source right now.

However, that market share is growing rapidly, with 14.4% of all new car sales in 2022 (to June) being battery-powered models. This is up 56% on 2020. What’s more, all new cars will be electric in the near future.

But there are plenty of reasons why buying an electric car is the best option for you. Read on to find out how an EV differs from ICEs and hybrids.

 

What is an ICE?

An ICE is defined as any vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. It uses a traditional fuel source (petrol or diesel), a refined form of crude oil. This means ICEs are powered by fossil fuels, so can be highly polluting.

 

What Are the Disadvantages of an ICE?

• More Expensive to Run. If you buy one of the most polluting new petrol or diesel cars, you can pay over £2,000 in vehicle tax for the first year. You can also pay £600 a year in road tax if you buy one of the most polluting vehicles registered before 2017. In contrast, electric cars pay no road tax.
• Oil is a Finite Resource. Eventually, we will run out of petrol and diesel, making ICEs obsolete. This scarcity and the refining process make fuelling an ICE more expensive than recharging an EV.
• More Maintenance is Needed. There are more working parts in a combustion engine, which increases the need for routine maintenance. It also means there are more parts that can go wrong. Even though maintenance costs may currently be lower than an EV, you pay them more often.
• Highly Polluting. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, such as CO2. This contributes to global warming as well as hundreds of excess deaths each year in urban areas. This is due to smog and other air pollution.

 

What is a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car uses two different fuel sources to power the engine. This is usually an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Every hybrid uses the electric motor to make the internal combustion engine more efficient, but many can run solely on electric power.

Alongside the standard type of hybrid car, you can buy a:

Mild Hybrid. These have a very small battery pack which only provides a limited amount of electrical power. This means mild hybrids cannot drive on battery power alone. It is only there to make the ICE more economical.

Plug-in Hybrid. These work like any other hybrid but also have a built-in charge point. This allows you to recharge the batteries with a home or public charging point rather than only relying on ‘regenerative braking’. This also means that a Plug-in Hybrid can travel further in 'fully-electric' mode than a standard hybrid.

Range Extender Hybrids. These are all-electric cars that have a small ICE fitted to charge the battery or power the electric motor when you run out of charge. Even though the ICE doesn't power the wheels, its presence nullifies many of the benefits of electric cars.

 

What Are the Disadvantages of a Hybrid When Compared to an ICE?

• Less Power. The engine must be smaller to fit an electric motor in the engine bay as well. This means it produces less horsepower and torque.
• Poorer Handling. A hybrid carries plenty of extra weight because of the electric motor and battery pack. This would impact fuel economy if manufacturers didn’t offset it somewhere else. This is usually within the suspension and body, so the car is less stable.
• Higher Maintenance Costs. A mechanic needs special qualifications to service and repair a hybrid because of the electric motor and batteries. According to the IMI, only 6.5% of UK mechanics hold this qualification. Less choice means more demand, and more demand means higher prices.
• More Expensive. The extra technology in a hybrid makes them far more expensive than standard ICE models.

 

The Differences Between ICE, Hybrid & Electric Cars

	Electric Cars	Hybrid Cars	Petrol/Diesel Cars
Power	Battery power only	Multiple fuel sources	Internal combustion power only
Transmission	Fully automatic with no traditional transmission	Available in both automatic and manual. Require a traditional transmission.	Available in both automatic and manual. Require a traditional transmission.
Mechanical Parts	Far fewer working mechanical parts	Hundreds of working mechanical parts	Hundreds of working mechanical parts
Maintenance	Specially trained mechanics needed for servicing	Specially trained mechanics needed for servicing	Any qualified mechanic can service them
Emissions	Zero exhaust emissions	Reduced exhaust emissions	Often quite high exhaust emissions
Refuelling	Can recharge them at home overnight	Some models can be charged at home overnight	Have to visit a petrol station to refuel
Congestion Charges	Exempt from Congestion Charge	All drivers must pay Congestion Charge	All drivers must pay Congestion Charge
Clean Air Zone Charges	Exempt from Clean Air Zone charges	Some drivers may have to pay Clean Air Zone charges	Drivers of old or high-polluting vehicles must pay Clean Air Zone charges

 

When Do All Cars Have to Be Electric By?

It will be illegal to sell new petrol and diesel cars in the UK after 2030. This means that manufacturers must make their range completely electric by then.

The deadline differs in different countries. However, to achieve 95% electrification by 2050 (as set out in previous climate agreements), all new cars must be electrified by 2035 at the latest.

You might want to get ahead of the game and buy an electric car sooner. 

 

Read More

How Far Can an Electric Car Go?

‘Range Anxiety’ is a big factor in deterring drivers from electric cars. Many worry that the batteries don’t have enough range for their normal driving habits. Find out how far electric cars go between charges here.

 

What Electric Cars Are Available in 2022? (And Which Should I Buy?)

If you’re looking to buy an electric car, you'll want to see all your options in one place. In this guide, you'll discover which brands offer electric vehicles and see a full list of the EVs available in 2022.

 

How Much Does an Electric Car Cost?

How affordable is an EV? Will your budget stretch to owning one? Well, you can discover the average cost of an electric car as well as the price range of all UK models in this article.

 

When Will All Cars Be Electric in the UK?

Electric cars are growing in popularity. In fact, many experts predict that they will hold a majority market share long before the 2030 ban on new ICE sales. Learn more about when all cars will be electric in the UK in this guide.

 

Are Electric Cars Really Better For the Environment Than ICEs?

Even though there are plenty of environmental advantages to driving an electric car compared to other fuel types, the way we build them doesn't differ too much. Plus, there are a few other issues that means the lifecycle of an EV might not be as green as you think. Learn more about the issue in this guide.