To Hybrid or Not to Hybrid?

Cars, trucks, vans and SUVs have come a long way in the past decade or so. For decades the only options consumers had for types of engines was gas or diesel. That was then, this is now.

Nowadays there are seemingly endless engine options, from the standard gas engine, to full electric and hybrid models. Hybrid essentially means the vehicle has two motors, an electric motor that handles the majority of the work and a gas engine that kicks in to either assist the electric engine or take over completely when the battery runs out of juice. Toyota has a wide range of vehicles to choose from, including the Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid and others. So, what exactly is a hybrid and should you be driving one?

To help you decide, here we break down the ups and downs to hybrid vehicles:

Environmentally Friendly

By limiting the use of the gas engine, hybrid vehicles tend to be much more efficient and environmentally friendly in comparison to solely gas or diesel engines.

Financial Benefits

Depending on your driving patterns and how far you need to drive, Hybrid vehicle can save you money at the gas pump. In most cases, you will need to refuel a lot less assuming you’re mostly using the electric motor.

Higher Resale Value

With hybrid vehicles becoming more and more popular, there has been a trend of hybrid vehicles retaining a higher percentage of their resale value than their standard gas counterparts. By keeping your hybrid in good running order, when you go to trade and upgrade to something newer, you’ll likely get a generous return for your trade.

Less Power

Generally speaking, Hybrid vehicles tend to have less power than some gas or diesel models. Since the gas engine in a hybrid vehicle is small, few hybrid vehicles are meant for heavy towing or similar tasks. As engine technology progresses, this will change, but for the time being if you’re in need of a big, rugged vehicle - go with a gas or diesel truck.

Price

The price of hybrid vehicles has dropped dramatically in recent years and Toyota’s line-up is among the most affordable hybrid line-up available today. Still, because hybrids have two engines and a whole lot of technology packed into them, they do tend to be a bit more expensive.

Do the benefits outweigh the slight price difference? It depends on the person and their unique situation. Contact a member of the Castlegar Toyota team today to help you make the right decision.

Where do I plug-in?

Generally speaking, most hybrid drivers recharge their electric battery at home (although in some models the gas engine will gradually recharge the electric battery). Throughout Canada there is still a limited number of public electric charging stations. It will take a bit of planning if you want to primarily use the electric engine in your hybrid.

Charging stations are popping up all the time, though. Check the PlugIn BC website for a map of all public charging stations in the province.

Decided on whether or not to go with a Toyota hybrid model? Contact us today for advice on hybrids and whether or not they’re right for you.