Whether you're shopping for a new car or a used car, you've got plenty of options in front of you. And more and more, we find that shoppers are looking for something fuel-efficient, something eco-friendly, or both. It's not always easy to wade through the seemingly endless options on the table in this particular arena, but our Orlando Toyota dealership is here to help. Today we're discussing the three main types of alternative fuel vehicles available to you so you can better decide which is going to fit your drive time needs.
Let's get started discussing the three main types of alternative fuel cars: electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hybrids. Here are the differences between them.
The three main types of alternative fuel cars
Hybrid cars are vehicles that are fueled by gasoline 100%. However, they do have an electric motor and battery under the hood that can also power the car when appropriate (like under certain speeds) as well as work together with the gasoline engine to improve fuel efficiency. The battery in these Orlando Toyotas is charged up by regenerative braking rather than an external power source (i.e. you don't have to plug it in).
Electric cars have a large battery that solely powers the vehicle. There is no gas tank or engine under the hood; these particular Orlando Toyotas do not use gas at all. The electric car battery is charged by plugging it into a special charging port in the wall.
Plug-in hybrids are a mix of electric cars and hybrid cars. They're gasoline-powered and have an engine under the hood, but they also have a much larger battery that allows them to rely on electric power, too. In fact, they run on electric power much more often than traditional hybrids. These larger batteries have to be charged by an external power source - plugging it into a wall like an electric car.
So which is going to be best for your drive time? Here are some pros and cons to consider when it comes to electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hybrid cars:
Hybrid cars offer tons of benefits. They're versatile - you can still drive long distances on the gasoline engine and don't need to worry about finding a charging port for your vehicle. They're also not as expensive as they used to be; the technology has been around for a while and is more common, which means it's also more affordable to repair them. However, they're not quite as fuel-efficient or eco-friendly as plug-in hybrids or electric cars, and you will still have traditional maintenance costs, like oil changes.
Electric cars also have perks. They're zero emissions and are extremely affordable to operate (electricity is much cheaper than gasoline). You also won't have to pay for traditional maintenance costs like oil changes (no oil under the hood), so car care will cost less.
Plug-in hybrids are the best of both worlds. They're very green and also exceptionally fuel-efficient, but you'll always have the peace of mind knowing that if you run low on charge or can't find a charging station, you have the backup of a gasoline engine on your side. And while these used to not be as common, more and more plug-in options are becoming available.
Call Toyota of Orlando today to learn more about our alternative fuel car options
Still not sure which electric car or hybrid is right for you? Call us today! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500 and we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. You can shop in person or online!
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