According to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales for 2019 amounted to more than 484,000 vehicles. Millions of hybrids have also hit the roads since they were first widely marketed by automakers nearly 20 years ago. "Hybrids," as these fascinating and innovative motor vehicles are more familiarly known, are also becoming more popular by the year, and for a good reason. Hybrids are more fuel-efficient than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, trucks, and SUVs. Many hybrid vehicles also get at least 50 miles per gallon of gasoline, using just one-third of that fossil fuel than their ICE-powered counterparts. Plus, hybrids depreciate at a slower rate over a longer timeline than do conventional-powered motor vehicles. With a slower depreciation rate for a hybrid SUV, your upfront cost to lease it or your expenses over time to purchase it will also be less. So if you're thinking of spending some of your hard-earned money, make sure you keep these facts in mind when you buy a hybrid.
A hybrid car, truck, or SUV features a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Typically, a hybrid's gasoline engine is also smaller than in conventionally-powered siblings or similar competitors. A hybrid vehicle's gas engine doesn't need to be as large as the one found in a conventional version, though, because the electric motor in the hybrid adds its energy to the mix. The gasoline engine and the electric motor in a hybrid vehicle also produce much the same energy level found in a conventionally-powered version. Additionally, hybrid motor vehicles often work on just one of their two energy sources, meaning their gas engine or electric motor. The ability to go with one or the other energy source adds to a hybrid vehicle's fuel-sipping nature.
When a hybrid vehicle comes to a stop, it automatically shuts off its gasoline engine. It then automatically restarts its gas engine once you press the accelerator pedal. Some conventionally powered cars these days also feature an "automatic engine cutoff" feature. Still, hybrids make the entire process so seamless it's unnoticeable. Once you accelerate away from a traffic light, your hybrid vehicle's gas engine smoothly restarts. In many cases, too, your hybrid is being propelled solely by its electric motor and battery combination, especially at low speeds.
Today, many automakers offer lifetime battery warranties on their hybrid vehicles. Admittedly, current hybrid vehicle battery technology may be a bit costlier when compared to the tech found in conventionally powered cars, trucks, and SUVs. However, some automakers are now offering more substantial warranties even on parts not directly related to a hybrid vehicle's battery, engine, and motor systems. In short, the savings associated with a hybrid vehicle's warranties could be significant.
If it does develop a problem, repair costs for a hybrid vehicle are now mostly in line with repair expenses found in similar conventional cars. Hybrids' increasing popularity also means that more mechanics than ever are now routinely trained to diagnose and then repair hybrids. With more mechanics now more familiar than ever with a hybrid's inner workings, repair turnaround times are shorter. In other words, your hybrid likely won't be spending a long time in the repair shop.
A common myth about hybrids is that they need to be plugged in at night to recharge their batteries, but that's not the case. KThe energy created when your hybrid vehicle slows while breaking generates enough power to help replenish its high-voltage battery pack. A hybrid's battery is also automatically charged by its gasoline engine while it's in operation.
