Buying Hybrid vs. Electric: 5 Questions to Help You Decide

You recycle everything. You started taking shorter showers to cut down on your water usage. You stopped using K-cups, joined the community garden and turn off the lights before leaving the house. And you hate your gas guzzling, emission producing monster of a car.

You’re finally ready to take the plunge and invest in an environmentally-friendly vehicle. After doing some research, you’re left wondering which is better: hybrid or electric? You want to go totally green, but you think hybrids are more practical. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before deciding which car is right for you.

1 How long is your commute?

If you have a long commute or take frequent road trips, you may want to opt for a hybrid rather than an electric vehicle (EV). Most electric cars have a battery range of about 40-200 miles. For instance, the Tesla Model S can travel over 150 miles per charge and the Nissan Leaf can travel 107 miles per charge. On the other hand, hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt can travel 420 miles with a full charge and a full tank.

If you have a long commute or take frequent road trips, a hybrid is probably the best option to ease your mind. However, if you work around the corner from your house and rarely leave town, an EV might be your best option.

2 Do you live near a charging station?

In some states, fully electric cars have been met with a huge demand and popularity. Because of this, charging stations are more plentiful in these locations. If you live somewhere that doesn’t have charging stations nearby, you may be forced to install one at your home. (Keep in mind that most electric car owners have a charging station installed in their homes anyway.)

If you do a lot of driving, you may want to select a hybrid car. Though the process of charging an electric car is manageable, it is by no means speedy. For most models, electric cars must be left to charge for a couple hours before they are street-ready. If you have no opportunity during the day or night to charge your car, then it might be necessary for you to remain dependent on gas with a hybrid vehicle.

3 Do you have the option of installing your own charging station?

Many electric car owners find that it’s worth it to install a charging station at their homes. For them, the convenience of overnight charging is well worth the cost. However, many people don’t have this option, especially considering that the price of Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) costs around $600-700, reports Plugincars.

If you’re strapped for cash or you live in an apartment complex, you may want to purchase a hybrid car instead of a fully electric car. Though you’ll still have the option of charging, you’ll be more at ease knowing you can still drive when an outlet isn’t available.

4 Is it important that you have options when picking out a car?

Unfortunately, there’s not much to choose from if you’re looking to buy an electric car. The options are much more numerous if you’re searching for a hybrid vehicle.

Some EVs on the market include the Chevrolet Spark, Fiat 500e, Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S and the Volkswagon eGolf. Hybrid cars on the market include the Toyota Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, Prius V, Chevrolet Volt, Ford C-Max, Honda CR-Z, Lexus CT, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Porsche Panamera Hybrid.

If a variety of options is important to you when choosing your next ride, you may want to try out some different hybrid cars and see which one best suits your lifestyle. (Though you should try out the electric models as well. There’s always the chance that one of the available options is just what you’re looking for.)

5 Is leaving a small carbon footprint your #1 priority?

If you’re purely interested in reducing your emissions and you’re sure an electric car will fit your lifestyle, then you should get one. Though hybrid cars are certainly more eco-friendly than regular gas guzzlers, they still leave their mark on the environment. As Conserve Energy Future says, “Cars produce a lot of carbon emissions that are ejected into our natural atmosphere, leaving us vulnerable to things like pollution and greenhouse gases. In order to help positively the environment we live in, an electric car is a great step forward.”

Hopefully these questions help you figure out which vehicle is right for you. Whether or not you end up with a full on electric car or hybrid, you’re taking a small step in the right direction towards reducing your carbon footprint.