Are hybrid cars good for short distances?
Hybrid vehicles have been present since the early 2000s. They represent a mix of electric-powered cars and internal combustion cars (ICE). The main purpose of hybrid car is to save money on fuel and reduce emissions for the duration of your drive.
Hybrid cars and their power trains
Before going further you need to know the difference between different hybrid systems and how they work. The first one is a mild hybrid. This system uses a small battery and electric motor that helps the car accelerate and increase efficacy.
However, the system only has a supportive rule, it’s not possible to drive only on electric power. [1]
The second one is a standart full hybrid. This system comes with larger batteries and electric motors. It could be used for short-distance driving – commuting around the city.
The last and best option in our opinion is PHEV – a plug-in hybrid vehicle. This system has the strongest batteries and electric motors. It’s the closest that you can get to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) while having a combustion engine inside. This car could be driven purely on electric power, throughout the whole day.
Are hybrid cars good for short distances?
Yes, they are, especially if you consider PHEVs such as Toyota Prius Prime. The electric range of PHEVs makes them great for short distances.
Short trips in a hybrid vehicle include a lot of stop/go periods which should add some mileage to your battery because of frequent braking.
The second thing is that you are driving slow enough that you will be going only on an electric motor.It’s much cheaper as your car won’t use any fuel that’d otherwise be consumed for the short trip.
The effectiveness only increases when you consider that vehicles can often spend extra fuel for short trips due to constant stops and starts during the drive.
Using exclusively battery power to run the car only becomes better if there are charging stations near the destination you are traveling to. The car will charge up while you are out and about, leaving it in top shape for the ride home. Charging stations also extend the overall range of the vehicle by allowing a quick refill in between locations.
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What are the advantages of hybrid cars for short distances?
Driving with the hybrid’s electric option, we will save quite a bit of money. As is the case, driving with electric energy is far cheaper than gas. This benefit of electric power is growing as prices of fuel keep escalating. Considering how fuel can often be expended in larger quantities during short rides, the electric variant gives us even more worth.
Though harder to refill once outside, as the current infrastructure doesn’t conform to electric cars, the locations that are within our electric range won’t cause us any issues. Usually, longer drives will require a refill but the shortness of the trip will eliminate this problem with hybrid vehicles. [2]
Examples of the use of hybrid cars for short distances
An average hybrid vehicle has an electronic range between 25 and 40 miles. This makes the available locations limited to our city and its vicinity. If you plan to make a round trip without a recharge and the vehicle is on the lower end when it comes to range, the plausible distance will also be cut. However, some uses are generally easy to accomplish even with the lower average range. [3]
Shopping trips
Shopping trips can end up with quite a few bags to carry. Stashing them all into our trunk is always an easier solution than lugging them around. If your shopping area is within the car’s range, these trips are made even easier. Saving cash and making sure we don’t have to stop for gas.
Bus stations and airports
Needing to pick somebody up from a bus station or an airport will require us to turn our car on. However, if you live in a place where either is reachable with a short drive, it’s likely your electrical range can accommodate you.
This is often the more efficient way to transport your guests or family members than having them get into a taxi. Considering how easy it is to misunderstand directions. Additionally, you will spend very little money for a round trip due to your car using the electric range.
Work commute
Going to work will take a decent part of our day. Even when traffic isn’t too bad, driving to and from work eventually piles up the fuel costs that we have to face. Instead of constant refills to make sure our vehicle keeps working, the electric range of our hybrid car is a safe bet for a quiet and reliable commute.
Though ICE cas will take in more fuel every time a car starts up, electric cars don’t have the same problem. Fueling electricity to the components in a generally even manner even if the vehicle stops and starts. Work commute is made much easier when the worry about our car’s current gas isn’t a concern. Just like with other examples, if your work has a place to fill up your battery, this form of transportation becomes even more viable.
Hybrids vs electric cars
Hybrids do run into a bit of competition with electric cars. Electric cars can spare a lot more space for batteries which allows them to last longer on electric charge. Electric vehicles also produce less emissions overall, including their production. [4]
However, fully electric cars can be harder to accommodate in the average infrastructure of a town. If we do run out of charge, the hybrid vehicles can still use their ICE powertrain to get used back home. Likewise, filling them up with fuel is much easier as charging stations for our battery may not be present in the vicinity.
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Conclusion
Using a hybrid car’s electric range for the sake of short trips is a good way to save money. ICE vehicles and the ICE part of a hybrid can often consume far more fuel in shorter, stop-and-start, distances.
With an electric range, we are safe from any use of fuel at all as long as we stick to the given range. Although electric cars can do a similar job, the ICE part of hybrids is easier to accommodate in the average town’s architecture.
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