Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: What’s the Difference?

As hybrid and electric vehicles begin to show up regularly on the Akron streets, you may be thinking about ditching your traditional gas-powered engine. If you plan on dipping your toe into the electric market but aren’t sure where to start, Fred Martin Superstore is here to help! Learn the difference between the two most popular electrified vehicles — hybrids and electrics — and see which one will fit into your lifestyle!

Hybrid Cars vs. Electric Cars: the Basics

When comparing hybrid vs. electric cars, it’s important to know how they work and the benefits of each system. In the following sections, we’ll go over how hybrid and electric vehicle work and why you might choose one over the other for all your Canton drives.

Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars, like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, are still technically powered by gas engines. That said, hybrid vehicles are not fully reliant on the gas engine to provide all the power to move your car forward. Instead, the traditional gas engine works in tandem with a secondary electric motor, the motor constantly being charged by the power your gas engine creates while driving. This dual-powered system significantly improves your fuel economy without ever having to plug into an outside power source. 

Electric Cars

Electric vehicles, or EVs, run entirely on electric power. In place of a gas-powered engine, an EV has a large battery and electric motors to power your vehicle through the Medina streets. The battery in electric vehicles is much larger and, without a power source inside the vehicle to charge it, your electric vehicle battery must be plugged in to a home or public charging station to keep the battery charged. The amount of miles you can get per battery charge varies by make and model, but many EVs now get up to 200 miles of range on a full charge, making it easy to run errands or commute around town.

Benefits of Hybrid Cars

For Barberton/Norton drivers that are nervous about committing to a fully-electric vehicle, hybrids are the best of both worlds. With a gas-powered engine still inside the car, you don’t have to worry about running out of charge or installing a charging station in your home. Other benefits of a hybrid include:

• The battery charges itself
• No significant change in driving habits
• Able to stop and refuel at any gas station
• Improved fuel economy
• Potential lower upfront cost than EVs

Benefits of Electric Cars

EVs are entering the market at a quick pace due to their significant long-term savings and minimal environmental impact. If you’re willing to install a charging station and begin using the ever-expanding network of public charging stations for when you need to go out of town, you can reap the benefits of an EV, which include:

• Low or zero tailpipe emissions
• Low or no engine noise
• No money spent on gas
• Lower maintenance costs due to simplified construction
• Potential EV incentives based on your location 

See the Differences Between Hybrid vs. Electric Cars at Fred Martin Superstore!

Now that you’ve seen our head-to-head comparison of hybrid cars vs. electric cars, see some for yourself at Fred Martin Superstore! View our large selection of new inventory and see what hybrid or electric model is right for you. Once you’ve found a model you love, contact us to set up a test drive and see the difference between gas-powered, hybrid, and electric vehicles for yourself! Drive into the electric future with Fred Martin Superstore.