Hybrid vs. Electric Cars

Shopping for a used vehicle near Blue Springs gives you so many options now. In addition to cars, trucks, and SUVs, there are high-performance, luxury, hybrid, and electric models from many automakers. Hybrid and electric vehicles allow you to save on refueling costs and lower your carbon footprint. They can also lower your overall maintenance costs!

Take a look at our inventory of hybrid and electric vehicles. We’ll also answer any questions you might have regarding hybrid vs. electric cars with our guide from the team at Aristocrat Motors Lee's Summit. We think you’ll love one of these fantastic vehicles for your Independence drives!

Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: Our Complete Guide

The debate between hybrid vs. electric has come to the forefront now that more and more automakers are building more fuel-efficient vehicles. Before we discuss the benefits of hybrid vs. electric vehicles, we’ll dive into the core differences between hybrid cars vs. electric cars. You may find one style is better for your lifestyle than the other.

Hybrid vs. Electric Car: Basics of Hybrid Vehicles

Our first stop in the hybrid vs. electric vehicle debate is the basics of how hybrids work. These vehicles combine gasoline and electric power by having an ordinary internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor. The battery power typically works during city driving while the gasoline engine works better during highway driving. So, you might see better fuel economy in Kansas City rather than driving fast on the highway. The hybrid battery on a standard hybrid vehicle, which is larger than your standard 12-volt battery that runs your vehicle’s accessories, doesn’t need to be recharged like all-electric vehicles because the gasoline motor recharges it automatically.

Some hybrids are plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs). They recharge by plugging the vehicle into an outlet in your garage or at a public charging station. You can drive anywhere from 20 to 50 miles on a single charge with a PHEV, depending on your model. Once the battery runs out of power, the gasoline motor takes over. Charging a PHEV battery usually lasts a couple of hours through a specialized charger an electrician installs in your Blue Springs garage.

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars: Basics of EVs

An electric vehicle (EV) runs on pure electric power using a huge pack of batteries, usually anywhere from 80 to 110 kWh. The battery pack is much larger in EVs versus hybrids, and it’s typically underneath the car and well-protected by a hardy steel enclosure.

Electric vehicles can be plugged into a home or public charging station to charge the battery. The range of EVs depends on the size of the battery, how much electricity it uses to propel the EV, and the amount of charge in the battery. Typical ranges are between 230 and 310 miles per charge. 

Hybrid vs. Electric Car: Benefits of Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid cars let you drive normally, filling up at a gas station, without having to worry about a public charging station. Fuel efficiency may get around 40 mpg or more, depending on the vehicle. PHEVs, as we stated, need in-garage charging to make the most of your new vehicle ownership.

Other benefits of hybrid cars include:

• The battery charges itself
• You can stop and fuel up at any gas station
• Hybrids are often more affordable than EVs at the moment
• Great for long commutes

Hybrid vs. Electric: Benefits of Electric Vehicles

EVs completely eliminate gasoline use, significantly lowering your refueling costs by as much as 40 to 60 percent using your home charging system. EVs don’t have as many moving parts, so your maintenance costs will be less, too.

Common benefits of EVs include:

• Zero tailpipe emissions
• Quieter ride with no engine noise
• No money spent on gas 
• Fewer maintenance costs (no oil changes or engine upkeep)
• Potential EV incentives based on your location and the model purchased
• Flexible charging options, including home and public stations
• Great for short commutes and city driving
• Ideal for longer drives to large urban centers with plenty of public charging

Compare Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars for Sale in Lee's Summit

We’ve compared hybrid vs. electric vehicles in our guide. Do you want to investigate further? Contact us or call if you have questions or want to take a test drive. We’ll help you in any way we can! If you want to save some money on an EV, consider purchasing a used luxury vehicle from our lot in Lee's Summit.