Electric or hybrid cars:range
Most plug-in hybrids have a range of between 16 and 85 kms. The greater the range, the greater the CO2 emission-free driving. But longer range means bigger batteries and a higher price tag. Again, the most important consideration is you and the way you drive a car most of the time. If your plug-in hybrid has a range of 16 kms and you drive 6 kms round trip to work, you'll theoretically be able to drive for weeks without refueling your car and run on battery power alone.
The average French person drives less than 36 kms a day on average. In this case, you could drive a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV without using a drop of petrol. The driver only needs to recharge the car a few times a week. The car is therefore electric, as it will run almost exclusively on battery power.
In the case of electric cars, range is crucial when choosing an electric car. We generally want a car with a range of at least 300 kms. But let's be honest with ourselves: in most cases, you won't need to cover that distance in one go. The electric car is therefore perfectly suited to most needs.
Electric or hybrid car: driving style
A hybrid vehicle can be an excellent investment, depending on your driving needs and lifestyle. It's important to remember that although hybrid vehicles have an electric battery, it's smaller than that of an all-electric vehicle and will have a limited range.
In simpler terms, if you don't drive much, a plug-in hybrid might be a good option, as you'll be using the small battery for your commute.
Conversely, if your commute is long and you want to take your vehicle on longer trips, a hybrid vehicle may not make sense. With a hybrid vehicle, you won't have to stop as often to refuel. But you won't be able to avoid filling up, and you'll have to go to a service station to buy fuel. A hybrid vehicle is more efficient at saving money when your journey is short, and you can rely on the small electric battery for most of your driving time.
Electric or hybrid cars: the price
Total cost can be calculated in two ways:
- The cost of purchasing the vehicle from the dealer.
- Totalcost of ownership (TCO), which includes repairs, fuel, depreciation, insurance and other factors.
A plug-in hybrid generally costs less than a battery-powered electric car. A plug-in hybrid's battery is smaller, and therefore less expensive. But it also has a gasoline engine that requires fuel and maintenance. These costs are minor for an electric car.
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Subsidies
The various subsidies: bonus écologique, prime à la conversion and regional subsidies also play a role in calculating the total cost of a car. Electric cars are eligible for all government subsidies in France, while hybrid vehicles are less and less concerned by these incentives. The total amount saved can often be as much as €10,000 off the total price of the car, or even more in some regions of France.
Ecological bonus
Conversion bonus
| Eligible vehicles | Low-income households and "heavy drivers | Low-income households (reference tax income per unit less than or equal to €13,489) | Other households |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crit'Air 1 thermal vehicle or rechargeable hybrid with a range of 50 km or less |
5,000 (up to 80% of acquisition cost) |
2 500 € |
2 500 € |
|
Crit'Air 1 thermal vehicle or rechargeable hybrid with a range of 50 km or less |
3,000 (up to 80% of acquisition cost) |
1 500 € |
0 € |
Residual value
A second factor in this calculation is the vehicle's residual value, i.e. its resale value. At present, the price of used electric cars is underestimated. The fear of having to change the battery because of the loss of range is a key factor in this devaluation. Plug-in hybrids don't have this problem, which means they sell for more on the second-hand market. However, this is no longer the case: batteries are lasting longer and longer, and are selling for more than we'd hoped.
| Models | Battery warranty |
|---|---|
|
Nisssan Leaf e+ 62 kWh |
5 years or 100,000 km |
|
Hyundai Kona electric |
8 years or 200,000 km |
|
Kia Niro EV |
7 years or 150,000 km |
|
Tesla Model S |
4 years/km unlimited |
Electric or hybrid cars: recharging
Recharging is less of a problem for plug-in hybrids. If your battery runs out and you're far from a charging station, the internal combustion engine takes over. You can then continue on your way without worry. Not so for your electric vehicle. Without a battery, your car will be immobilized and you'll be stuck.
Electric and hybrid cars: running costs
Plug-in hybrids combine the best of combustion and electric vehicle technologies. But it inevitably inherits some of the shortcomings of combustion engines.
Fuel costs
A major difference between hybrid and electric vehicles is their fuel type. Both types of vehicle have a battery that can be recharged using electricity. Electricity comes from a wide range of production sources, from nuclear power to renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro power. With these two options, environmentally conscious car owners can choose to invest in renewable options such as residential solar panels to minimize their carbon footprint.
However, hybrid vehicles are flexible when it comes to fuel consumption - they can also run on gasoline. Depending on your driving habits, some hybrid vehicles can automatically switch from electric to petrol mode. This can be an excellent option, as a gasoline engine eliminates some of the stress associated with the (sometimes limited) range of an electric vehicle. It's much more likely that an electric vehicle will run out of battery than a hybrid, as filling stations are much more frequent than EV recharging stations.
When it comes to fuel costs, all-electric vehicles are much more economical. You no longer need to fill up with gasoline. Your "fill-up" costs you an average of €2/100km, which you'll only see on your electricity bill.
Maintenance costs
In addition to paying for gas, there are other costs associated with owning a vehicle. Maintenance costs, in particular, are a major expense for any car owner. Unfortunately, hybrids come up against many of the typical maintenance problems that combustion engines also face. For example, oil changes, a vital stage in the life of a combustion engine car, will no longer be necessary for an electric vehicle.
However, you won't escape certain expenses: tire changes, insurance and certain repairs in both cases. It's worth noting, however, that you'll incur more expenses with a hybrid vehicle. In fact, it shares many of the same features as a combustion-powered vehicle, and you won't be able to avoid certain expenses.
Both all-electric and hybrid vehicles are at risk of battery degradation. But this seems to be less and less of a problem: some manufacturers are so confident in their batteries that they guarantee them for 10 years.
Electric or hybrid cars: the range
The biggest drawback of plug-in hybrids is the lack of choice. There simply aren't many models to choose from, as most automakers have opted instead to develop all-electric vehicles. This is largely because drivers interested in an electric vehicle tend to want to enjoy the experience to the full, without using fuel and benefiting the environment as much as possible.
Electric vehicles are booming, with new electric models and innovative models in the pipeline.
Electric and hybrid cars: summary
It's clear that both technologies represent a major advance over combustion-powered vehicles. The choice depends on the buyer's budget, environmental awareness, needs and driving style.
Beev offers multi-brand 100% electric vehicles at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
