As the war in Ukraine rages on, many people are wondering if now is the time to buy a Hybrid or EV.
With fuel prices rising and tensions running high, it’s understandable that people would want to save money wherever they can.
Also, people are becoming more worried about the prices of purchasing new EV’s will increase.
They believe that the price of buying an EV will be considerably higher than before.
But is buying a Hybrid or EV really the best option right now?
There are a few things to consider before making a decision.
Firstly, EV’s are still more expensive to purchase than traditional fuel-powered cars.
Secondly, with fuel prices ever on the rise, and no end in sight to the current conflict in Ukraine, buying a Hybrid or EV right now could be one of the wisest investments you make.
Not only will you be doing your part to help the environment, but you’ll also be saving money on fuel costs in the long run.
So if you’re thinking about making the switch to a Hybrid or EV, there’s no better time than now.
The Benefits of buying a Hybrid or EV
The benefits of owning an EV or Hybrid are not only environmental, but also economical.
Many people are concerned about adapting to the new EV’s.
They are now starting to have concerns about the higher costs when charging their EV’s against the price of petrol.
However, there are many places around the cities in the UK that have free charging points.
Many drivers charge their EV whilst at work, free of charge and they are benefiting from this.
Another benefit of EV ownership, is that EV’s tend to hold their value better than fuel-powered vehicles.
This is because EV’s are still a relatively new technology, so they’re in high demand.
As battery technology improves and EV’s become more common, their values are likely to increase.
On average how much money will I save by going Fully Electric?
The rise in energy prices is not the only thing that is increasing in price.
The price of petrol and diesel has also increased.
EV’s are significantly more cheaper to run than petrol and diesel vehicles.
Drivers can save up to 70% on fuel and save 40% on maintenance.
For example; a car travelling, 13,700 km per year could amount to an annual fuel saving of £750.00 or more.
This example is based on the EV being charged overnight on an off-peak tariff.
Overall, going Fully-Electric is the best option to save money.
With the Governments plan getting closer and closer, it’s a better option to buy now.
The prices of EV’s are at a reasonable price at the moment and are very affordable.
It is best to take advantage of the Governments grant, as it won’t be available forever.
My advice is to have a good think about purchasing an EV now.
Now is the best time to take advantage of the EV grants that are available from the Government.
Also the Governments grant for installing a charging point at your home.
How much an Electric Vehicle saves on fuel will depend on theses factors;
⦁ The amount of miles you do per day/week/month and year
⦁ City driving or long distance driving
⦁ If you currently own a petrol or diesel vehicle, as the prices are different for each type of fuel
⦁ Which EV make and model you purchase
All Electric Vehicles have different distance range, so when purchasing your EV, keep this is mind.
The disadvantages of buying an EV now
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, but there are still some disadvantages to buying one – especially if you’re considering doing so in the midst of a global conflict.
EV batteries can be expensive and have a relatively short lifespan compared to fuel-powered engines, meaning that you may have to replace your battery sooner than you would need to replace a traditional engine.
EV charging stations are also not as widely available as fuel stations, so you’ll need to plan your routes carefully if you’re driving an EV.
And although EVs produce no emissions, the electricity required to charge them often comes from power plants that do release emissions into the atmosphere.
With the price of electricity rising, manufacturers are taking a hit when making the new production of the new EV’s.
It has become more costly to make them and this has a knock on affect on the price when purchasing an EV.
The cost of charging your EV, will rise, due to the energy prices at the moment.
The main disadvantage of EVs is their range.
Unlike petrol or diesel cars, which can typically travel for hundreds of miles on a single tank of fuel,
EVs generally have a much shorter range – often around 200 miles, increasing as new batteries are being produced.
That means that if you’re planning on taking long trips in your EV, you’ll need to carefully plan your route and make sure you have access to charging stations.
Another potential downside of EVs is their price.
Although prices are gradually coming down, EV still tend to cost more than comparable fuel cars.
It’s said that, there are often government incentives available that can offset some of the upfront costs.
Charging points are also a concern at the moment, as the Government is gradually installing more charging points across the UK.
The Government plans to install at least 2,500 high powered charging points across the road network in the UK.
The Government will also install 6 rapid charging points at every motorway service area in 2023-2024.
Furthermore, the current conflict in Ukraine has the potential to affect the production of Electric Vehicles.
There are a lot of moving parts in the auto industry, and significant changes have already happened.
If the conflict spreads across the country and into other sectors, it will certainly disrupt EV manufacturing considerably more.
Production delays for EVs may result from a lack of supply, which could raise the price of Electric Vehicles or delay their release.
Is it better to purchase a Hybrid or Fully Electric Vehicle?
Normally, Hybrids have lower battery ranges than Full-Electric Vehicles.
Electric Vehicles battery range varies depending on the make and model.
There are some Hybrid Vehicles that offer an Electric-only driving mode.
They are normally only for low speeds, for example, driving around the City or short ranges.
This question isn’t easy to answer.
It all boils down to the distance you travel and what you use your car for on a daily basis.
If you only drive to work and back, then an Electric or Hybrid Vehicle are both a good option.
However, if you do long distance driving on the motorway, a Hybrid is a better option as the battery recharges itself.
In saying that, this depends on the make and model of the Electric vehicle.
The new Electric Vehicles have more range and can travel a good distance before needing to be recharged.
Difference between Plug-in Hybrids & Electric Cars
The very basic difference between the two is that the Plug-in Hybrid vehicles have both the regular petrol combustion engine and the electric battery as well.
The Plug-in Hybrids have a larger capacity.
They come with a larger battery along with the petrol combustion engine.
The battery is massive in its capacity in terms of recharging.
They also function on the basis of the regenerative brake.
Hence, they need to be plugged in, as the name denotes.
This large battery of the Plug-in Hybrid vehicles allows the car to travel much faster than a complete hybrid on the electric motor alone.
The 100% electric capacity of the Plug-in Hybrid depends on the model of the vehicle.
The capacity is usually less than 30 miles and a max speed of 70 mph.
Then after the car reaches a certain pinnacle, the main combustion engine takes charge of the vehicle.
In this way, emissions are significantly reduced.
This also ensures an efficient and economic consumption of the fuel.
On the other hand, pure electric vehicles are fully powered by electric batteries.
There are 100% dependent on electric batteries.
They offer zero emissions, this is the best thing about them.
When it comes to contrasting the two, the models are compared on the following two key factors.
Range
In the Plug-in Hybrids, the range totally varies on the model.
However, the Plug-in Hybrids can generally achieve around 300 to 400 miles per hour with both power sources, electric and petrol.
When it comes to EVs, it also depends on the model along with driving style as well.
An EV with a battery of 100kW battery, it can achieve 350 mph in a single go of charge.
Cost of Purchasing
This factor largely depends on the model, manufacturers and the features or specs of the vehicle.
This is applicable in both cases, in the EVs and the Plug-in Hybrids.
A basic Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle has a starting price of £25,400.
On the other hand, an entry-level EV can cost around £18,500.
The EVs are noticeably less expensive than the Plug-in Hybrids.
However, some EVs come with a mandatory monthly rental cost.
Most of them come with the battery cost included in the price.
In that case, the purchase becomes pricier.
When it comes to making the decision, the above two key factors must influence your decision.
Some other factors are your motivation behind it and the nature of usage.
For short distance driving, EVs are the best.
For long routes, plug-in hybrid vehicles are suitable. EVs are more recommended because of the zero emissions.
However, the EV technology has a long way to go when until becomes capable of long-distance driving range.
Want more knowledge about EV’s or Hybrid’s?
Here at MTC, we offer a variety of courses that can give you the information you need about electric and hybrid vehicles.
Hybrid Training Course, Level 1 – Raise Awareness
Hybrid/ EV Training Course, Level 2 – Light Vehicles
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – Buses
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – HGV’s
Hybrid Training Course Level 3 – Cars
The Level 1 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is to raise awareness of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. This course is aimed at anyone that may come into contact with Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.
Level 2 Hybrid and Electric Light Vehicle Training Course, Level 2 HGV Training Course and Level 2 Buses Training Course. The Level 2 course is aimed at mechanics and car valeters.
The Level 3 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is aimed at technicians and mechanics.
Our trainers are experienced in the field and can provide you with all the knowledge you need.
