18 Oct 2019
Who would have thought that we at Bolt would start talking about cars AND electricity? In this article, we’ll cover the differences between electric and hybrid cars. We will do some serious debunking on the most popular myths related to this topic. Interested? Good, let’s go!
There isn’t a major difference between electric and hybrid cars. At the same time, they’re not completely alike either. Confusing, right? Actually, it all makes perfect sense.
Now to the differences between them.
For fully electric vehicles, the content matches the name. They run solely on their electric motor and have a rechargeable battery built into the system. A fully electric vehicle is perfect for daily commuting and the occasional longer trip. For recharging, you can plug it into the same electrical socket you use at home. However this isn’t the fastest way to charge your car. We would suggest investing a special electric vehicle wall connector or using your local public charging network. Both of which are cost-effective options when compared to petrol at the pump.
The downside? When you run out of juice, you run out of juice. That’s it. Driving an electric car requires a little more planning, but not much. The average driver in the UK only drives about 21 miles per day, if you can charge at home or work you are good to go. For longer trips, a variety of fast-charging options exists in public networks.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have a rechargeable battery in them, but there’s a fuel tank for back-up as well. So, when extra power is needed, the car will start running on a standard petrol engine. A plug-in hybrid is perfect for drivers who drive very long distances regularly or for work.
There’s one problem though – you are carrying two technologies at all times. Squeezing in the battery and a fuel tank to a small space means that they have a very limited size battery. This, of course, provides limited electric range and less impressive electric motor performance. If you’re considering a plug-in hybrid, you most likely are experimenting with EV technology before going fully-electric.
An extended-range electric vehicle is like a plug-in, but it doesn’t have a big petrol engine built into it to keep you going for longer distances. Instead, there’s a small fuel-powered generator to top up the batteries when needed.
Sounds nice, but where’s the hook? You’re carrying the weight of the backup engine at all times and this decreases the efficiency of the vehicle and reduces the electric-only range. Plus, as with plug-ins, more moving parts which will eventually need servicing.
So, there you have it — the main difference between electric and hybrid cars in a very short and sweet manner. You’re welcome!
By the way, if you’re interested, here are the six most popular myths about electric cars
To be fair, it really comes down to your own preferences.
Going fully electric is surely good for our environment and your wallet. Driving in London the savings can be huge, no congestion charge and exemption from Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) fees. Non-premium electric cars even benefit from paying zero road tax. But, if you’re not totally convinced perhaps a hybrid variant will do the trick.
We at Bolt truly believe in a greener future with less pollution. This is why we made a promise to reduce the ecological footprint of Bolt as a company. It’s called the Green Plan. Our first step is to make all Bolt rides in Europe 100% carbon-neutral by supporting projects dealing with verified emission reduction, offsetting the CO2 emissions that Bolt rides create.
Read more about our Green Plan.
If you feel like joining the green movement, hop on board. All it takes is filling in a few short forms and you’ll be rolling on the streets as a Bolt driver in no time.
