The question of what kind of car should I buy? Electric, hybrid, conventional gas or diesel?
There are so many announcements lately, this company or that company going full electric on such and such day in the very near future. Really?
Let me begin with the fact I have been driving 3 kinds of hybrid predominantly in the last 8 years so I have some idea about it perhaps.
The Full Electric Car Conundrum
Should I or shouldn’t I jump the ship and go full electric? Both feet in, kind of just do it. Right?
Going electric has it’s advantages and some disadvantages. Let’s see what are the cons and the pros.
The pros are: The electric car will need less service as there are a lot less components to be dealt with. A full electric car will cost less money to run, to “fuel” or fill up and to maintain it.
Correct, these are the pros, providing it’s made half decently, it should be fine for a while.
How long? The battery pack has an 8 years manufacturer warranty so your battery pack should be fine for 8 years mostly worry free.
Keep one thing in mind it’s your responsibility to maintain a decent level of battery charge. Meaning you can’t just leave and have your car sit for months on end.
It must be plugged in to get replenished or maintained, if you leave your vehicle for an extended period of time for any reason.
Also, a full electric vehicle is better for the environment over its entire life cycle than a gas-powered vehicle.
Electric cars, during everyday use, lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than gas-powered vehicles. The electric vehicle, biggest environmental impact is produced during manufacturing.
Cons are: You will need to work with the battery range on board and the time to have it recharged. It could take considerable time and some effort especially in the winter when range anxiety is a real thing.
Electric cars have numerous different charging rates from basic 110 v to 800v systems. The higher the voltage the faster the charging rate is in direct correlation.
Electric BMW i4
Hybrids
Hybrid propulsion, which is both often convenient and has a very reasonable gas mileage, depending on the size of the battery. You may use only the electric motor, especially for quick local trips like going shopping or for groceries.
There are myriad different hybrids, so you will need an expert’s advice or need to study the subject vehicle as each has their specific traits like pros and cons.
Plug-in hybrids are very convenient and will cut your fuel cost substantially. They are fairly complex. Having dual propulsion is inevitably more complex than having one.
Most electric and hybrid vehicles will have a sub 12 volt system. Which will require a traditional battery replacement every 4 to 5 years or so, to keep the on board consumers working properly.
Electric or high output hybrids have a separate high voltage system. Mostly 380v or higher predominantly to provide the electric motor with large quantities of stable electricity when required.
The traditional consumer operated systems are 12v only at this point onward to prevent high voltage systems getting near the occupants of the vehicle at all times for safety reasons.
Pros and Cons for Hybrid Cars
Pros of the hybrid cars are ease of use and convenience. In most cases, if you run out of electricity the vehicle can continue on the on board gas engine. Some electric cars have similar set up for instance the i3 which has a REX on board.
Cons are: You have the complexity of the dual propulsion and have a battery to deal with as well. No special interaction required except if it’s a plug in hybrid. If you drive a plug in hybrid, than you are encouraged to have it plugged in to be recharged, as soon as possibly can.
Again just like an electric car, you can’t leave the vehicle unplugged for extended periods of time, or the battery pack will be damaged. All you need to do is plug it in into the wall and forget about it for storage purposes.
Repair and Maintenance
Finding a hybrid or electric vehicle specialist in case you need it, might not be simple. Especially if you live somewhere in a small town or in a small city.
Conventional Gas or Diesel Vehicles
Then there are the conventional gas or diesel vehicles which have been through a tremendous change in the last decade or so and still going on as we speak.
Pros and cons for the conventional gas or diesel vehicles are numerous. The pros are: Ready to repair and maintain anywhere. Easy to refuel and quick to do so. The network to repair and maintain the vehicle is straightforward, no special procedure and minimal preparation required for long term storage.
Cost of maintenance spread out over time, unlike say a lithium ion battery replacement on an electric vehicle.
Cons are: Emission is greater than hybrid or electric. Maintenance is more prevalent, requires periodic fluid and component replacement. Need to refueling to keep it mobile and tend to be noisier than hybrid or electric vehicles.
There are many other advantages and disadvantages of all of the electric, hybrid or traditional consumer operated systems. I can talk about them for hours.
At the end, you have to make the decision: Which one to buy? It’s totally up to you and your needs and maybe your location where you live.
Your decision should be based on your needs. How are you going to drive that car? Short trips, long drives, or just leisure driving?
Any questions? How may we help? Telephone: 905.795.0419
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