Hybrid driving? Interesting or passing?
There are many ambiguities when it comes to hybrid driving, this raises questions. On the most frequently asked questions, ambiguities and whether hybrid driving is still interesting.
About hybrid driving
A hybrid is actually what the name suggests. A combination of driving on petrol and electricity. Hybrid cars automatically switch between the two fuel sources. The aim of hybrid vehicles is to increase efficiency, lower fuel consumption and reduce pollutant emissions compared to conventional fossil-fuel-only vehicles.
The versions hybrid cars
- Parallel hybrids: In these vehicles, the internal combustion engine and electric motor can simultaneously provide the driving power to the wheels. This is the most common type of hybrid found on the road.
- Series hybrids: In this configuration, the internal combustion engine drives a generator that in turn powers the electric motor, which drives the wheels. The internal combustion engine is not used directly to drive the vehicle.
- Plug-in hybrids (PHEV): A plug-in hybrid lets you charge the battery pack via a socket or charging station. These vehicles operate similarly to parallel hybrids, but have a larger battery. Thanks to these features, PHEVs cover longer distances before switching to the combustion engine.
Charging while driving
An advantage to most hybrid cars (regardless of variant) is that they can charge while driving. This charging while driving can be done by recuperative braking, for example. This releases kinetic energy during braking, this energy is used to power the electric motor. Should you have a plug-in hybrid, you will have a socket on the car where you can plug in a charging cable.
Is hybrid driving cheaper?
The electric motor supports the combustion engine, so you use less fuel and do your bit for a better environment. Charging your battery is much cheaper than a tank of petrol or diesel, so thanks to the supporting electric motor, your miles driven are much cheaper.
On average, you will pay €0.46 (average price over 2022 according to CBS) for 1 kWh with a fixed energy contract. A 15.3 kWh charge therefore comes to €7.04. So you spend relatively little for a refuelling session.
Is a hybrid still interesting?
If you want to go for a sustainable car, or at least greener than diesel or petrol cars, a hybrid is definitely worth buying. The combination of a combustion and electric motor provides a longer driving range and lower fuel consumption. Also, even today, the lower CO2 emissions of a plug-in hybrid makes it fiscally very interesting for companies.
