Hybrid cars are nothing new. Ferdinand Porsche – founder of
the eponymous make – was among the technology pioneers. He designed the
prototype Semper Vivus in 1900, which was launched a year later as the
Lohner-Porsche Mixte. A combustion engine powered a generator, which drove the
wheel hubs.
To say the least, it took a while for hybrids to catch on,
but today they are well and truly in vogue. Hybrids accounted for one in three
cars sold by Toyota in Australia in 2022. And their popularity is likely to
last a while, says James Whitbourn, founder and car broker at carhelper.com.au.
“Hybrids will be a key part of the transition to more
sustainable cars until pure electric vehicles [EVs] come down in price and
battery charging infrastructure can support the mass adoption of EVs,”
Whitbourn says. “Or, ultimately, until legislation forces the adoption of EVs
by banning the sale of new cars with combustion engines, which is set to happen
in some parts of the world from 2030.”
What types of hybrids are available?
All hybrid cars have a combination of an internal combustion
engine (ICE) and an electric motor. There are two main types:
Regular hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have a battery that
is charged through regenerative braking, or via the engine. They usually travel
in mixed mode, though sometimes in pure EV mode for short distances.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) have a larger battery,
allowing them to run in electric-only mode for longer, potentially making them more
fuel efficient. You can charge the battery by plugging it in.
(You can also now find mild hybrids, which get some help
from a small electric motor, offering fuel efficiency benefits. However, they
can’t drive in electric-only mode.)
HEVs generally cost just a little more than their ICE
equivalents (the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is $2500 more than the petrol version) and
tend to be significantly cheaper than PHEVs.
HEVs outsold PHEVs by 20 to 1 in November (though PHEV sales
are growing faster).
“The strong point of a regular hybrid is the ability to save
a substantial amount of fuel in city and suburban driving, without the large
upfront cost of a PHEV, or the range anxiety of an expensive pure electric
vehicle,” Whitbourn says.
How are hybrids likely to change in the years ahead?
Don’t expect a revolution in hybrid cars. “Changes to hybrid
technology will be quite evolutionary – such as more efficient, small-capacity
combustion engines, and incremental improvements to the batteries and
controllers that power the hybrid system electric motor,” Whitbourn says.
How much fuel does a hybrid car save?
The fuel savings of a regular hybrid vary from model to
model, Whitbourn says.
“For example, hybrid versions of the Subaru Forester use
6.5L/100km compared with 7.0L/100km for petrol-only versions, based on official
figures. There is a more worthwhile 28 per cent fuel saving in hybrid versions
of the Toyota RAV4, which use 4.7L/100km, compared with 6.5L/100km for an
equivalent petrol-only version.”
What should people consider if they’re thinking of buying a
hybrid?
Whitbourn says would-be hybrid buyers should ask themselves
three questions:
“Do you do your driving around a city and its inner suburbs
or on highways and country roads? Hybrids can save a lot of fuel in the city
and suburbs; however, there is less of an advantage over a conventional car on
highway and country roads.”
“Does the hybrid model you’re considering use substantially
less fuel than a conventional version? You can check by comparing the ADR
combined cycle fuel economy figures.”
“How much more does that hybrid model cost than a
conventionally powered model? Do some calculations and make sure a hybrid adds
up for you. Consider your driving and how far you’ll travel each year. For the
average driver, even the economical and well-priced Toyota RAV4 Hybrid could
take at least a few years to recoup the additional upfront cost through money
saved at the browser.”
