Under pressure from governments and climate activists around the world, the majority of automakers have pledged to pivot toward greener technology in the coming years. Hybrid tech has been around since the turn of the century, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, over 800,000 hybrid units were sold in 2021. Meanwhile, electric vehicles have also seen a huge surge in popularity, moving around 450,000 that same year.
The writing on the wall is clear: electrification is the way of the future. Still, buyers leaving the old-school internal combustion engine behind are met with a crucial question: what’s the real difference between hybrid and electric cars?
Read on, and we’ll try to help figure out if you should you buy an EV or a hybrid.
Hybrid vs. EV Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick rundown of where they both excel and where they fall short.
Hybrid Electric (HEV)
Pros:
Cons:
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Battery Electric (EV or BEV)
Pros:
Cons:
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Hybrid vs. EV: Head-to-Head
Now that we’ve seen some general pros and cons, let’s investigate the finer points.
Hybrid vs. EV: Price Tag
Comparing new hybrid cars vs. gas cars, a hybrid will cost a bit more money right out of the gate—typically between two to five thousand clams. For instance, as of this writing, the 2023 Honda CR-V EX has an MSRP of $31,060, whereas the Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid runs an MSRP of $32,400. The reason is that hybrid motors are more expensive to manufacture, but it’s also worth noting that the Honda hybrid gets 10 more combined miles per gallon than the ICE (internal combustion engine) version, so if you’re a person who drives a lot, the fuel savings will likely outweigh the initial cost within a couple of years.
The difference in price of EVs vs. gas cars is much more dramatic. EV technology has gotten cheaper over the last decade or so, so it is possible to buy a good electric car for around $30k, but pretty much all these models have pretty poor range compared to more expensive ones, mostly around the 250-mile mark. If you want an EV with competitive range, you’re probably going to be looking at more like $50K+.
EVs will surely become more affordable as they get cheaper to manufacture, but we probably won’t see prices that can compete with hybrids for a few years.
Hybrid vs. EV: Maintenance Costs
Electric vehicles may cost you a lot more up front, but most experts agree that EVs have the potential to save hundreds of dollars per year on service bills.
There are a couple reasons for this. The most obvious is that EV motors are way simpler compared to hybrid motors, which still have thousands of mechanical parts that can malfunction or wear out over time, much like gas-only engines.
EVs also don’t require certain routine maintenance like oil changes, which means that hybrid cars are more expensive to maintain. Electric vehicles do still require maintenance, though—tire rotations, coolant recharges, and brake replacements all still have to be dealt with.
Regardless of the hybrid cars vs. electric cars debate, both come with one potentially hefty maintenance bill lurking in the future: battery replacement. Hybrid batteries have a typical lifespan of about 10 to 12 years, and it’s estimated that it can set you back anywhere from two to eight grand to get a new one put in. EV battery packs, on the other hand, are even more eye-watering; they can be well into the five-figure range, depending on the make and model. Battery health can also be affected by things like climate and charging habits.
Most hybrid and EV makers offer some pretty robust battery warranties to counteract this, so be sure to keep that in mind when you go to buy. If you’re purchasing pre-owned, bucking up for the best battery coverage can be well worth it.
Hybrid vs. EV: Range, Refueling, and Recharging
One of the biggest deterrents against buying an EV is the dreaded ghoul of range anxiety. As we mentioned a minute ago, most affordable EVs have a range of around 250 miles, and that’s brand new off the factory floor—no matter what you do, overall range will slowly deplete over time. On average, EV batteries are predicted to lose about 2 to 3% of total range per year. Pricier extended-range EVs currently have a more impressive range of 300 to 350 miles, but total range is just one piece of the puzzle.
Infrastructure is a key issue as well. According to the Department of Energy, there are currently around 60,000 public charging stations in the United States, most of which are located in urban areas. Only about 8,000 of these are listed as DC fast chargers, which is the kind you need if you want to charge your EV quickly. New initiatives like the North American Charging Standard are making it easier to find EV chargers everywhere, but if you live in a more rural community, finding a convenient charger away from home can be anywhere from difficult to downright impossible. In that instance, the only solution is to install a level-2 charger at home, which costs a couple grand and can take 6 to 8 hours to charge your battery.
Hybrids, on the other hand, simply don’t have this problem. The number of gas stations in the U.S. has been steadily declining for years now, but they still far outnumber EV charging locations. Filling a car up with gasoline also only takes a few minutes, whereas even the quickest superchargers can take about 45 minutes to bring an EV battery back to life.
Hybrid vs. EVs: Tax Rebates
Folks who sing the praises of EVs are always keen to point out that EV buyers stand to receive a heck of a bonus from Uncle Sam come tax time: the full rebate amount is currently a whopping $7,500. This is sure to offset the higher cost of buying an electric vehicle compared to a hybrid, which doesn’t qualify for any federal incentives.
Not all EVs qualify for a rebate, though. The current law stipulates that a certain percentage of battery components must be manufactured in the U.S., and a percentage of the minerals inside the battery must meet free trade requirements. These percentages go up every year. The upshot here is that if you’re looking to buy an EV that doesn’t meet these ever-changing provisos, you may not qualify. You can check here to see which vehicles are up for rebates, or contact your local dealership.
What About Plug-In Hybrids?
Of course, there is a third option on the table: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Basically, these cars, trucks, and SUVs are considered to be sort of halfway between classic hybrids and full-on electrics.
PHEVs have your standard hybrid engine, which is supplemented by a small electric motor, and this allows for all-electric driving like an EV. When the battery cell is fully charged, a PHEV can travel a certain distance—usually between 20 and 30 miles—without burning a drop of gas.
In terms of hybrid vs. plug-in hybrid gas mileage, it gets a tad bit complicated. Regarding raw miles per gallon, hybrid engines actually tend to get better gas mileage. However, plug-ins also have a MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating, much like an EV, which also factors into fuel economy. So, it’s hard to make a direct one-to-one comparison without doing a little bit of algebra. Your mileage may vary depending on the kind of driving you do, and how easily you can access at-home or public charging. Still, Hybrids and PHEVs can be considered pretty much equal.
Aside from slightly different fuel economy and the supplementary battery pack, the only major difference between hybrids and plug-in hybrids is the cost—most PHEVs are a few grand more expensive than their hybrid equivalents, and this inflated sticker price is their biggest downside.
The difference between plug-in hybrids vs. electric is much more significant, because PHEVs still have a tank full of gas to back up the electric motor, which effectively eliminates any range anxiety. PHEVs are a fantastic solution for people who aren’t totally sold on EVs, because they can give a decent little glimpse into what it’s like to drive fully-electric without any of the downsides of having an electric vehicle. As a little cherry on top, many PHEVs qualify for federal tax rebates, too.
Hybrid vs. Plug-In Hybrid vs. Electric: The Bottom Line
Electric vehicles are showing a ton of promise, and we have no doubt that they’ll become better and better as tech improves, but going EV just isn’t feasible for many Americans, so a hybrid or plug-in hybrid is still the best choice—for now.
We may still be a couple years away from an electric Honda CR-V, but with the release of the all-electric Honda Prologue EV next year, things are looking really good for the future of green car development.
Still not sure where you fall on the plug-in vs. hybrid debate? Give Roper Honda a call at (417) 625-0800, and we’ll be happy to tell you all about the best hybrid SUVs and cars on the market.