Electric Vehicles vs. Hybrids — Which Is Right For Me?

Electric vehicles (EVs) seem to be appearing everywhere these days. They are being lavished with coverage and praise by much of the automotive media. At the same time, we’re also hearing about declining sales for some models like the Ford F-150 Lightning. Meanwhile, hybrids remain a compelling option that seems to offer the best of both worlds. 

In this article, Major World compares electric vehicles to different types of hybrids to help you decide what’s the right choice for your needs.

Should I Buy An Electric Vehicle?

Electric vehicles or EVs are getting a lot of attention lately, but does that mean an EV is a good choice for you? Maybe. The reality is we’re still in the beginning stages of EV development, so they can be a great fit for early adopter types depending on their needs. As of 2024, EVs are still eligible for tax credits (including used EVs like the Chevy Bolt EVs we sell). EVs have great off-the-line acceleration too, due to having 100% of their torque on tap right away. But EVs also have some compromises you need to be aware of before you decide. 

Pros of buying an electric vehicle:

• Tax breaks on used EVs like the great Chevy Bolt EV and EUVs we have in inventory. 
• Lower cost to power per mile than a gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle.
• Zero tailpipe emissions and lower carbon footprint than conventional vehicles.

Cons of buying an electric vehicle:

• Range may be less than a gas or diesel vehicle with a full tank.
• If you cannot charge at home overnight, charging takes longer than refueling.
• Not ideal for long-distance road trips due to charging times and range. 

Would A Hybrid Be A Better Choice Than An EV For Me?

If you’re looking for ways to lower your fuel costs and you do a lot of driving, a hybrid vehicle may be a more practical option for you. A hybrid vehicle combines a gasoline engine with a battery and electric motor to give you higher fuel economy without the need to charge. Hybrid vehicles are especially good at delivering much higher fuel efficiency in city driving. If most of your driving is at highway speeds, you might not notice as much of a difference in your fuel use versus a conventional gasoline or diesel vehicle. 

Pros of buying a hybrid vehicle:

• Plug-in hybrids are often eligible for tax credits, though less than electric vehicles. 
• Less expensive to drive per mile due to fuel economy, especially in city driving. 
• Helps the environment without the inconvenience of using charging stations (if you cannot charge at home)

Cons of buying a hybrid vehicle:

• Hybrid SUVs and cars tend to be a little more expensive than regular gasoline cars.
• Hybrid vehicles are a bit more complex than either pure EVs or conventional gas cars.
• A hybrid vehicle still produces some emissions and won’t get the tax breaks an EV will.

What Is A Plug-In Hybrid? How Is It Different?

Plug-in hybrid vehicles are hybrid vehicles that have larger batteries than regular hybrids. The exceptional Jeep Wrangler 4Xe we sell at Major World is an example of a plug-in hybrid.  A regular hybrid vehicle can only drive for short distances on battery power alone. For example, it may be able to use an electric motor alone in a parking lot or stop-and-go traffic, but most of the time it will run both the gasoline engine and the electric motor at the same time.

A plug-in hybrid can give you the best of both worlds, in a way. You can plug them in at home overnight (but you don’t HAVE to). They can drive further on electric power alone and often use very little gasoline. If you drive less than 30 miles a day, you may not use the gas engine very often in a plug-in hybrid vehicle. 

People like plug-in hybrids for the flexibility they offer. You can charge them, but you don’t have to. You can drive shorter distances on electric power alone, but you also get range more like a conventional gasoline car or regular hybrid. 

Pros of buying a plug-in hybrid vehicle:

• Plug-in hybrids are still eligible for partial tax credits (a bit less than EVs though). 
• Plug-in hybrids get amazing gas mileage, especially if you do a lot of city driving. 
• You CAN plug them in to charge, but you never NEED to do it. It’s up to you.

Cons of buying a plug-in hybrid vehicle:

• They are more expensive than regular hybrids or gas cars due to bigger batteries. 
• To save the maximum amount of money on gas, you usually need to plug in overnight.
• They still have some emissions, unlike pure EVs which are technically zero emissions. 

Major World For Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrids

Major World is all about offering you OPTIONS. If you want a 400+ horsepower V8, we’ve got them. If you want an advanced EV, we have those too. If you want the convenience of a gasoline engine but want to use a lot less fuel, we have excellent hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUV options for you. 

No matter what vehicle you buy from Major World, you can take advantage of the simplest, easiest financing process in the business. You can even start online before you get to our used car showroom and it won’t affect your credit at all. 

Check out our exceptional inventory through our online search portal. Don’t settle for less than the very best used car dealership near the NYC Metro Area. You deserve the Major World standard of customer care. Give us a call now at (866) 614-2884.