Electric and hybrid vehicles are making a firm dent in the automotive industry, with an increased number of people seeing the benefits they bring.
However, as with any other type of car, there’s much to consider when looking to buy the perfect hybrid or electric car for you.
That being said, we’ve put together this article to outline some of the most important things to consider, so you can find the best electric or hybrid vehicle for you.
Read below to find out more.
Consider your car insurance
One of the best ways to help you choose your next electric or hybrid vehicle is to first consider your car insurance – click here for more on insurance for electric cars.
As a general rule of thumb, insurance premiums for electric and hybrid vehicles are going to cost you more than that of standard petrol or diesel cars.
This is for a variety of reasons, but is mainly due to the more evolved technology and designs involved in hybrid and electric vehicles. Any services or repairs will usually need to be carried out by a specialist mechanic, and this adds to the cost should you be involved in any accidents.
Despite this, electric vehicles usually contain less components, and this could therefore save you money in the long run.
It’s also worth noting that hybrid vehicles can sometimes be cheaper than pure electric vehicles.
However, this can be combatted by certain discounts that your insurer might provide for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Whilst being more expensive to repair, these vehicles are in fact less likely to be involved in accidents due to their higher levels of safety, as well as general statistics on electric and hybrid claims.
This means that your insurer can incorporate this into your premiums, to give you a more accurate price based on your vehicle.
By taking this into account, you can best decide whether you want a hybrid or electric vehicle, and which insurance group you want your vehicle to be in.
How often will you use the car?
Another way to figure out which electric or hybrid car is perfect for you, is to establish how frequently you’re likely to drive and the type of journeys you’ll make in the car.
The range hybrid and electric vehicles can travel before needing to be charged can differ, so it’s important to consider the type of range you want in order to help you choose the right car.
There are two types of hybrid vehicle – a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
A hybrid vehicle uses the combination of a standard petrol or diesel engine, with a small battery and electric motor to boost range. This can give you an extra few miles on the electric range.
Plug-in hybrids boast a much larger battery to accompany the diesel or petrol engine, and this can add up to 50 extra miles on the electric charge alone. Also, when your electric charge runs out, your car can automatically switch to the petrol or diesel engine.
Pure electric vehicles can often be the most efficient and economical, but this will also depend on the specific model. Some electric cars can give you up to 300-400 miles on a single charge.
Ensure you consider how often you’re likely to drive, and whether each journey will be substantially long, as well as where the charging points are on your route, so you know which type of car is best for your driving and charging capabilities.
What’s your budget?
Budget is another important thing to consider when choosing the right electric or hybrid cars. Naturally, prices will vary with each model and brand you opt for, but there are average differences between each one.
Hybrid cars are often cheaper to buy than electric cars, since they have the inclusion of petrol or diesel engines – although they cost more than these standard cars alone. They also offer low tax due to their low CO2 emissions.
Also, plug-in hybrids are even more economical than hybrid cars, but they can involve a heftier upfront cost.
Full electric cars are the most expensive to buy, and will usually go to the higher end of your budget. However, the running costs are generally much lower than hybrid cars, and the tax is also the lowest – due to optimal environmental efficiency.
Therefore, be sure to contemplate all the different costs involved with each type of car, as well as the specific model you want, so you can weigh up which one fits best within your budget, whilst also giving you the perfect car for your new, eco-friendly lifestyle.
