Fully electric vs. hybrid: These are the most important differences in comparison
E-car, hybrid car or plug-in hybrid? Here you can find all the answers about range, acceleration, price and batteries.
Electric cars and hybrid cars both run on electricity, but differ in their different drive systems. Both types of vehicles have an electric motor, but the hybrid cars have an additional combustion engine. It kicks in when the battery of the electric motor is empty. This increases the range of hybrid vehicles by hundreds of kilometers and makes electric cars appear to be the worse choice. But the myth that a fully electric car has to be recharged after just a few kilometers is often not true at all. Most fully electric cars are just as suitable for everyday use as a hybrid vehicle. A distinction must be made between plug-in hybrids and standard hybrid cars: Plug-in hybrid cars have a larger battery that can be charged via a plug and promises more range. Standard hybrids recharge their small battery through the kinetic energy when braking.
Who creates more reach?
Hybrid cars (HEV for short, for Hybrid Electric Vehicle) have a range of only 20 to 50 kilometers due to their small battery. This is at least enough for purely electric journeys in the city. When the battery is empty, the hybrids switch smoothly to gasoline. When braking, the electric motor becomes a generator and feeds the kinetic energy back into the battery – thus recharging the battery.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs for short) have a larger battery and an additional charging plug that can be used to charge the battery. It is optimal if the electric range of the plug-in hybrid is sufficient for daily journeys, for example to work and back. Current plug-ins combine the information from the navigation system with the drive control system: If the electrical energy is not sufficient for the planned route, the electronics optimise the drive according to the driving profile. For example, it can withhold electricity for the last few kilometers through the residential area. Even when driving on the highway over hilly terrain, the system can plan in advance when the combustion engine will be needed and when it can be absent. In combination with the petrol tank, most hybrid cars and plug-in hybrids have a range of between 600 and 800 kilometres.
Acceleration and consumption in comparison
The hybrid Toyota Prius is considered one of the pioneers among hybrid vehicles. The battery is designed for a range of 25 kilometers and is therefore smaller than in newer models. On the other hand, the Toyota is extremely economical with 2.1 liters of gasoline consumption (standard consumption value) – three to four liters are realistic in practice. The Prius needs around eleven seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. At its peak, a top speed of 180 km/h is possible. In the meantime, there is also a Prius as a plug-in hybrid: the top speed is slightly lower here at 162 km/h. If the hybrids run on gasoline, however, they consume slightly more fuel than a comparable car because of the heavy battery.
That's why electric vehicles often accelerate faster
Hybrid and electric cars provide great driving pleasure due to their brisk acceleration. This is because normal cars with combustion engines only have a high torque above a certain speed range. Electric motors, on the other hand, have the highest torque right from the start. This is why hybrid vehicles and pure electric cars can often accelerate faster. Tesla's Model X and Model S reach the 100 km/h mark in less than five seconds. The Opel Ampera-e also needs only about seven seconds.
Premiums and base prices for hybrid cars and electric vehicles
The good news first: Whether hybrid or fully electric – the German government is subsidizing both vehicle types with a premium. From 2018, the bonus will be 2,000 euros for hybrid vehicles, and 3,000 euros for purely electric cars.
The base price for electric vehicles is usually around 50 percent higher than the price of a comparable gasoline car, according to calculations by the ADAC. Hybrid vehicles are always cheaper than plug-in hybrids because they have a smaller and therefore cheaper battery. The Toyota Prius, for example, is available as a standard hybrid for just under 27,000 euros, as a plug-in hybrid for around 37,000 euros.
On the other hand, the maintenance costs are significantly lower for purely electric cars: oil changes, problems with the clutch or exhaust - none of this is available in the fully electric electric car. The brakes also do not wear out as quickly as in a conventional vehicle.
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Electric vehicles: Consider the service life of the batteries
When it comes to electromobility, you should always consider the service life of lithium-ion batteries. It is the most expensive thing about the car. Over the years, the battery performance drops significantly. Tesla, for example, promises its customers that after 80,000 kilometers or after five years, 70 percent battery capacity will still be available. Many other car manufacturers have also published similar figures. So you can expect less range and slightly more frequent recharging in a few years. This does not cause any problems with hybrid vehicles, after all, you can continue to drive on gasoline.
For pure electric cars, battery replacement could be a solution. However, a battery change takes several hours and a new battery usually costs well over 10,000 euros. For Tesla's Model S, even 25,000 to 30,000 euros are due. At Renault, they only rent the battery and pay in the standard rate depending on the distance traveled. Frequent drivers can also pay a rental flat rate in a second tariff, regardless of the mileage. If the battery capacity decreases over time, you get a new battery. Other manufacturers give customers guarantees: For the Opel Ampera-e, the warranty period is eight years or 160,000 kilometers. BMW gives an eight-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty. Before deciding on an electric vehicle, you should definitely take a closer look at the warranty conditions.