Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: Which Is Right for You?

If you’re looking to leave gasoline power behind and give your St Louis commute a serious upgrade, you might be considering a new hybrid or electric vehicle! Hybrid and electric cars used to be expensive and hard to find, but these days, they’re more affordable and available than ever. Whether you’re looking for a sporty two-door coupe or a full-size SUV, you can probably find a hybrid or electric variant! If you’re on the fence deciding between a hybrid vs. electric car, you’ve come to the right place. Check out the guide below to learn a bit about the benefits of each.

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars: The Basics

Before we get into comparing the benefits of hybrid cars vs. electric cars, let’s go over the basics of how each powertrain works:

Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are powered by a combination of gasoline and electric power, using both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. These systems work together to improve your performance and efficiency on the St Peters roads! Traditional hybrids (also called series or parallel hybrids) have a self-charging battery in the motor, while plug-in hybrids have more powerful batteries that have to be plugged in to recharge.

Electric Cars

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are powered entirely by an electric motor. As such, the battery is much larger than in a hybrid because it provides all of the power, so it has to be plugged in either at home or on the go to recharge. Electric vehicles enjoy excellent performance specs, a near-silent ride, and plenty of environmental benefits thanks to almost zero carbon emissions. They’re also wallet-friendly, since many EVs qualify for state and federal tax incentives!

Benefits of Hybrid Vehicles

If you’re looking for a smooth transition to a new class of vehicle, a hybrid may be perfect for you. You can take advantage of all the benefits of electric power while still having gasoline as a backup, so you don’t really have to change your driving habits. Here are some key benefits of driving a hybrid:

• The battery charges itself
• You can stop and fuel up at any gas station
• Hybrids are often more affordable than EVs

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

EVs don’t require any gasoline to run, so you’ll never have to stop at a gas station again! Not only is this better for the environment, but it leads to serious savings in the long run. When you drive an EV, you’ll also enjoy performance benefits like near-instantaneous torque and acceleration. Here are some other benefits:

• Low or 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
• Flexible charging options, including home and public options

Compare Hybrid vs. Electric Cars at Suntrup Volkswagen

Interested in seeing how our hybrid and electric cars stack up on the Webster roads for yourself? Contact our office to set up a test drive! We’ll take care of everything and get you behind the wheel in no time. You can also contact us or check out our model research to learn more about the vehicles in our lineup. If you’ve made up your mind and want to move forward with the buying process, our finance center is a great place to start!