Benefits of Driving a Hybrid Car

Much has been said about the evolution of the electric, and now the hybrid, car, as an alternative form of motive power. Let’s take a closer look at the hybrid car pros and cons.

Hybrid vs. electric cars

The conventional car is powered by an internal combustion engine. The engine is either petrol or diesel-fueled and drives through a gearbox, differential, and onto the drive wheels.

The electric car is powered by an extensive bank of batteries, which power the electric motors. In modern electric cars, these motors are directly attached to the drive wheels. The batteries are recharged from an external power supply, either at the car’s base (home and/or work) or at power outlets in select service stations.

Hybrid cars are a combination of both. In these vehicles, an internal combustion engine provides power through a generating system to electric motors driving the wheels. Also, the generator serves as a charger for the battery bank.

The hybrid car can be run in electric-only mode for short trips or runs around town. For longer distances or when there is a need to recharge the batteries, the engine can be switched on to take over. The batteries on a hybrid car can also be charged using a plug-in external power source.

The benefits of a hybrid car

There are several benefits of an electric car over the fossil-fuelled version -- there are no emissions from the electric car, so it is good for the environment, and it’s quiet. But what are the advantages of hybrid cars?

No lengthy recharging periods

One of the downfalls of the electric car is the time it takes to recharge, which can be several hours. The hybrid doesn’t suffer from this problem, because when the battery charge is low, the engine can be engaged and the batteries get recharged while the car is driven under engine power.
In some newer models, other energy can also be harnessed to recharge the battery pack. Regenerative braking is one such method: The energy created while the car is braking is converted into electricity, which is used to charge the batteries.

Not limited by battery range

The other main drawback of the purely electric car is its limited range. The majority of these cars have a range of less than 200km.

If there is a charger, the hybrid is not limited by battery life, as the engine can be engaged to charge the battery.

Fuel-saving

The conventional car uses more fuel on short trips than on the open road. With a hybrid, you can use electric power around town and switch to engine power for longer trips. There will be a significant fuel saving. In addition to this, the hybrid’s emissions are far lower than a normal car, which is good for the environment.

Tax credit

Ownership of a hybrid car will also result in a saving on road tax. The lower emission of a hybrid, compared to a conventionally powered car, will allow the car to qualify for a much lower tax bracket, which means more savings.

The cons of a hybrid car

The only disadvantage of hybrid cars is that they are more expensive in terms of initial outlay. Maintenance costs are higher, but maintenance is required less frequently than on conventional cars.

A Closer Look at SEAT’s Hybrid Cars

At SEAT, we take the development of our hybrid cars seriously.

The SEAT Leon e-Hybrid is available in both hatchback and estate configurations. The e-Hybrid uses its electric drive as the prime power source, engaging the petrol engine only when extra power is required.

The engine also provides charge to batteries when they run low. The range is 60km on the battery or up to 800km when using petrol and electric power combined. The combined power output from the engine and electric drive is a decent 150kW, and regenerative braking provides additional charge for the battery pack.

The SEAT plug-in charging system will take the lithium-iron battery to full charge in under 3 hours and 40 minutes - almost half the time of the average electric car.

The Seat Leon Sportstourer e-Hybrid will take you to 80km/h from a standing start in just 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 220km/h, according to the e-hybrid test.

Conclusion

Hybrid cars are here to stay. They have the advantages of both electric and petrol-driven cars, without the drawbacks of either. Whether you are on the school run, on a trip to the shops, or on a long run across the country, the SEAT Leon e-Hybrid will adapt to the varying conditions.

Economical, environmentally friendly, and reliable, the new generation of hybrid cars make perfect motoring sense for both personal and business use.

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Benefits of Driving a Hybrid Car

Hybrid vs. electric cars

The benefits of a hybrid car

No lengthy recharging periods

Not limited by battery range

Fuel-saving

Tax credit

The cons of a hybrid car

A Closer Look at SEAT’s Hybrid Cars

Conclusion

Want to know more about Benefits of driving a Hybrid Car?

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