{"id":976,"date":"2022-08-31T13:38:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T13:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.driversadvice.com\/?p=976"},"modified":"2023-09-11T10:27:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T10:27:29","slug":"problems-with-hybrid-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.driversadvice.com\/problems-with-hybrid-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems with Hybrid Cars\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you aware of problems with hybrid cars? <\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, many companies have started producing electric and hybrid vehicles to limit the effects of automobiles on the environment. These vehicles use two engines. One of the engines is a conventional gas-powered engine, and the other is an electric engine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These cars are becoming common and more accepted in America. They are an important investment because of their better fuel economy, low emissions, and efficient design. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cars like Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius are hybrid vehicles that not only help you to save fuel but also generate less CO2 emissions<\/strong> and are considered cheap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problems With Hybrid Cars<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Even though owning a hybrid vehicle is a great investment, many people are unaware of the drawbacks or potential problems with hybrid cars. <\/mark><\/span><\/p>\n

They do not know how it works nor the merits of hybrid cars over gasoline-powered ones. But since it is eco-friendly, it is a good idea. Yet some drawbacks are overlooked. Let us look at some of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Complex Design\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    One great feature of the hybrid vehicle is its double engines. These two engines work together to power the vehicle at different speeds; when the vehicle is at low speed and requires less energy, the electric engine powers the car and ensures that it gives off less <\/span>CO2 emissions.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    O<\/span>n the other hand, if the vehicle reaches a speed of over 40 mph, the gas engine kicks in to generate more power and ensure that the vehicle maintains its speed.[<\/span>1<\/span><\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, the presence of double engines increases the possibility that your hybrid vehicle will need repairs<\/strong>. Conventional vehicles with one engine require routine maintenance from time to time. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Still, in the case of hybrid vehicles, their complex design means that routine checks are more expensive and inconvenient.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    This is mostly because most service shops and mechanics do not have the tools or technical know-how to work on or run diagnostics on hybrid vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This means that owners of hybrid vehicles will need to take their vehicles to the manufacturers for repairs or servicing, which is usually more expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Higher Initical Cost<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Hybrid vehicles have huge price tags<\/strong>. Their prices range from around $20,000 to upwards of $100,000. More so, if you compare the disparity in the fuel bills of a hybrid and a conventional vehicle, the difference doesn’t justify the high cost of purchasing a hybrid.[<\/span>2<\/span><\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. Battery Issues<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        One of the many criticisms of hybrid vehicles is their batteries. Batteries are too heavy and weigh down the car. They also need to be recharged often, sometimes within two weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Some batteries pose a problem<\/a><\/span>, especially the ones that use <\/span>nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)<\/span><\/a> batteries. These batteries use high voltages and can blow up if there is a collision, resulting in possible death or injury to the driver and occupants of the car.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        1. Too quiet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Many people may view the quietness of a hybrid vehicle as an advantage or cool feature. Still, it poses a serious threat to large segments of people. <\/span><\/p>\n

          Many people, especially visually impaired pedestrians, have noted that hybrid cars are too quiet. This increases a pedestrian\u2019s risk of colliding with a hybrid vehicle.[<\/span>3<\/span><\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n

          Blind people rely on sound and their power of hearing to navigate their environment, and the soundless approach of a hybrid vehicle could pose a safety issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

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          1. Recalls<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Toyota recalled almost 148,000 Lexus hybrids and Priuses<\/a><\/span> in the United States because of issues with their <\/span>anti-lock brakes system<\/span>. It can be argued that hybrid cars are relatively new technology and still have glitches and technical difficulties. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Still, this number of recalls has affected the sale of Toyota even though the company’s Chief Quality Officer for North America, Steve St. Angelo, has assured that all the safety issues have been efficiently addressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            Do Hybrids Have More Problems?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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            Suppose you wonder if hybrid cars have more problems than the ones mentioned above. Then the answer is yes. But these problems are specific to car models and not common. They are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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            1. Less Power<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Hybrid vehicles use a combination of gas and electric engine, with the gas engine operating as the main power source. As a result, none of the engines works as strongly as they would have if they were purely electric cars or gas cars. <\/span><\/p>\n

              However, a hybrid vehicle is a great choice for daily users who want to drive around the town.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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              1. Pricey to Buy<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                As stated earlier, the price of a hybrid vehicle is sure to burn a hole in your pocket. Brand new hybrid vehicles cost $100,000 or more and are more exorbitant than traditional vehicles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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                1. Higher Running Costs<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Hybrid vehicles are not as easy to maintain as conventional vehicles. This is because they are a new technology, and most mechanics are not equipped to work on their engines. <\/span><\/p>\n

                  Therefore, every routine check and repair must pass through the manufacturer, which naturally increases the repair cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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                  1. Poor Handling<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Hybrid cars are made with more machinery than regular cars, which adds more weight and limits fuel efficiency. To solve this, hybrid vehicle manufacturers make smaller batteries and engines to reduce weight. <\/span><\/p>\n

                    Unfortunately, this only reduces the support of the car’s body and suspension and the car’s power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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                    1. Electrocution Risk<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Hybrid vehicles have batteries that often contain high voltage and can electrocute drivers and passengers if an accident occurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Toyota hybrid problems\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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                      Toyota hybrid cars play a forerunner role in the hybrid car industry, being in existence since the 1990s. But it has exhibited some problems you’d think should not exist in the vehicle seeing how far they have come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Some of the issues include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Battery issues<\/span><\/h3>\n

                      Like almost all hybrid cars, the Toyota car models<\/a><\/span> have battery issues. The problems with Toyota hybrid batteries are the most outstanding and the main reason people are skeptical about buying the car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      That aside, the batteries are also very costly to replace, requiring about $3,000 to $8,000. Imagine experiencing a battery failure when you are broke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Inverter Malfunction,<\/span><\/h3>\n

                      Another problem with Toyota hybrids is the <\/span>malfunctioning of the inverter<\/span><\/a> after hitting the 100,000 miles warranty. This is also expensive to fix and requires almost $4,000.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Braking inconsistently\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                      Because the Toyota hybrid vehicle uses the regenerative braking system, there are times you might experience inconsistent braking. This can be quite intermediating but can be resolved if your car model is from 2010 and above.<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Other problems of Toyota hybrid cars include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n