Should You Buy a Hybrid, Diesel or Electric Car?

What about those who live and in the city but spend their weekends and holidays escaping the hubbub of the urban environment? Consider a plug-in hybrid or extended range electric vehicle. Unlike normal EV’s these cars have a secondary power source to provide additional range once the electric battery is depleted.

In the case of the Toyota Prius Plug-in, Ford Fusion and C-Max Energi models, the cars use a powertrain much like a traditional hybrid but feature a larger battery. Charge these cars up and you get a limited range of continuous emissions free driving. Once that range is depleted, the car acts like a normal hybrid, using minimal fuel and recapturing energy from deceleration to use with the car’s electric motor.

Another option is the Chevrolet Volt or soon-to-arrive BMW i3, which both use an on-board gas generator in order to recharge electrical battery.

All of these options are capable of staying fuel-free within the confines of your daily commute, should you charge them every night. However, you can use the secondary power source to tackle longer trips.