• driverless cars

    Driverless Cars and Accident Liability

    The media has recently been awash with news that driverless cars could soon be driving on the roads in the United Kingdom. Although they are not expected to be in public use for at least another decade, the government is sure that these vehicles are going to take the country by storm. Various manufacturers in […] →

    November 15, 2016
    [post_comments zero="No Comments"]

  • Electric Vehicle Trends in the United Kingdom

    New research has shown that the United Kingdom is now the third largest buyer of electric cars in Europe. The popularity of hybrid vehicles is expected to continue to rise in the country as the government continues to offer subsidies to consumers to provide incentives to buy alternative fuel vehicles. Reports show that there will […] →

    November 10, 2016
    [post_comments zero="No Comments"]
  • car insurance

    How will Driverless Cars Affect Insurance Premiums?

    It’s extremely likely that driverless cars shall be operating on our roads within the next decade. Technology is developing quickly and various areas of the UK have already legislated that testing of these vehicles will be permitted. Once driverless cars become more commonplace on our roads, it is possible that insurance providers will have to […] →

    October 25, 2016
    [post_comments zero="No Comments"]
  • invest

    Why Should the Government Invest in the Hybrid Vehicle...

    It has recently been announced that the government of the United Kingdom are intending to invest £35 million into improving the electric and hybrid vehicle industry in this country. Some critics have argued that this money could be better spent on other things, like healthcare or defence strategies. However, proponents of the hybrid vehicle industry […] →

    October 17, 2016
    [post_comments zero="No Comments"]
  • vehicle emissions

    Vehicle Emissions Standards in the United Kingdom

    European directives require vehicles to meet certain emission standards. Although the United Kingdom is planning on leaving the European Union, it is likely that these standards will continue to impact on vehicles which are made or sold in the United Kingdom. Most vehicles which are made in the United Kingdom are likely to be designed […] →

    September 30, 2016
    [post_comments zero="No Comments"]

The Pros and Cons of Hybrid Vehicles

Buying a new vehicle is a commitment, but it takes even more thought and energy if you are planning on buying something which is outside of your comfort zone. Choosing a plug-in hybrid vehicle is a big step for many consumers, because these vehicles utilise relatively new technology and go against the grain. Before you buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle, you may want to consider the pros and hybrid chargingcons of buying one.

Pros of buying a Hybrid Vehicle

• Energy Efficient

Hybrids are designed to be as energy efficient as possible, and vehicle manufacturers take this task seriously. These cars include loads of features that are designed to conserve and convert energy, so that very little energy is wasted. Hybrid vehicles also include loads of features to help you to drive as efficiently as possible. Spending time driving a hybrid can actually help you to pick up good habits which will transfer back over if you have to drive a standard powered vehicle again.

• Great City Cars

Hybrid vehicles are perfect if you need to make a lot of short journeys, such as journeys around a town or city. The way that hybrid vehicles work helps them to make huge savings, compared to petrol and diesel vehicles being driven around the city. With a petrol or diesel vehicle, the type of stop-go travel that is expected in the city will use up a lot of fuel; however electric hybrid vehicles use regenerative braking technology which actually helps to capture and reuse some of the energy which is spent on slowing the vehicle down.

• Reduced Emissions

Hybrid vehicles produce fewer emissions than traditional fuel vehicles. Although some emissions are likely to be created at the point where the emissions are produced, they are not as high as the levels which are produced by the internal combustion engines of cars. Most of the major players in the hybrid vehicle market claim that their vehicles are between 60% and 80% cleaner than today’s average petrol-powered vehicles. Taking the emissions away from the vehicle itself also helps to reduce air pollution hotspots, such as those which tend to occur in big cities. Reducing emissions in these areas can help to reduce the number of air pollution-related health problems that are suffered by the people who live there.

• Incentives

At present (2016), the government is able to offer certain grants and incentives to people who are thinking about buying a new hybrid vehicle. These grants can help eligible people to save thousands on the cost of buying a new car. Visit the UK Government’s website to see whether you are eligible and what you might be able to spend the grant on.

• Quieter

Hybrid vehicles are known for being much quieter than traditional fuel vehicles. These cars can run almost silently, so they offer motorists a really peaceful drive. Some motor enthusiasts and pedestrians actually see this as a negative aspect of electric vehicles, because they prefer cars to make a sound. Some motorists enjoy the guttural sounds that internal combustion engines traditionally make and they love the sounds that normal engines make when the car changes pace and direction. A few pedestrians have also commented that they do not like hybrid vehicles because they are much harder to hear, and therefore they are less aware of the presence of these cars.

Cons of Buying a Hybrid Vehicle

• Slower

Hybrid vehicles have a much slower top speed than traditional fuel vehicles. What is more, hybrid vehicles tend to be less efficient when they are driven more quickly. If you like driving quickly then a hybrid vehicle may not be the right choice for you.

• Range

Most hybrid vehicles have a range of less than 50 kilometres when they are being driven under electric power mode. Although it is possible to continue driving after this distance by switching to the secondary power source, you will not receive any of the emissions benefits when using this mode.

• Infrastructure

The hybrid vehicle infrastructure in the United Kingdom is still in its infancy, so you may not be able to charge up your battery every time that you would need to. This may mean that you have to rely on the traditional fuel engine more often than you would like. However; the government has recently announced that it is planning on spending £35 million on improving the infrastructure in the country. A major autocare provider has also announced that it plans to train its staff members so that more workers are able to provide support, advice and servicing for hybrid models.

• Cost

Hybrid vehicles tend to be more expensive than traditional fuel models. However, incentives are available to help people to purchase these vehicles and fuel savings over time can help to reduce outlay costs.