Advantages Of Plug In Hybrids Over Just A Hybrid?

[MattA777]

We have an ‘aging’ Toyota Auris Hybrid and considering replacement…..Any suggestions- in the Toyota Range. We don’t drive high mileage…

[1ozzy]

Don't know what Toyota offers up there, but if you're a low mileage driver I'd suggest any reputable brand, full electric

[Hopkirk]

The advantage is that you can top up the battery cheaply by plugging it in.
If you can then do your limited mileage mostly on electric only, your petrol costs will fall dramatically.

[DTCwordfan]

I was talking to the BMW folk down here on Tuesday and they think the life of electric cars is only to 2030 and something else will take over like H2 or syn-petroleum (current fuels made out of concentrating CO2 from the air, reacting it with green H2 and using hydroelectric or nuclear for the energy zap). Effectively no new electric vehicles or distribution needed and use the existing infrastructure....the CO2 coming into the plant to the exhaust pipe exit on the car acting as a sink. Problem at the moment - cost @ $4/litre to make - however as to learning curves, look where wind and solar was 15 years ago and Porsche have a project in Chile with Bosch gearing up a plant to make 550 mln litres. The problem for tricity with me is that the car engine may be more efficient than petrol or diesel (so they claim) but no one talks about what it takes to make the tricity and at the moment 65% of the UK's generation is through oil and N-gas....(with the energy loss there!). I'm in favour of hybrids and thing like DRS from Formula 1 that are coming across.....

[DTCwordfan]

Anyway, must go have a good one.

[bhg481]

It's not the number of miles a year you drive so much as how you drive them. For 10 miles a day electric is fine; for a single 300 mile trip once a month electric could be iffy. Like DTC I can see no long-term future for electric vehicles. Charging for people living in urban terraced housing, where you can't guarantee to park outside your own front door, is a real problem. 10 years ago our local bus company bought a load of electric hybrid buses; they replaced the engines when the batteries started to fail.

[MattA777]

Thanks for all the info guys…..I’m thinking plug-in, maybe full tricity-we have a drive and external power. I think heated seats all round would sway my wife regardless of type! (We live in Scotland)
bhg481: Bus batteries 10 years ago are a bit behind current designs(no pun intended)
But thanks to all responses- your time appreciated!

[dave50]

Get a diesel.

[MattA777]

Dave50 “get a diesel”
- Not a chance Dave- I think they’ll be phased out before petrol….
Diesel pumps out 4 times more pollution than petrol ( not sure if that’s in a driving mode or when they are parked)
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/fact-check-are-diesel-cars-really-more-polluting-than-petrol-cars/

[davebro]

I'm gonna keep my current (diesel) for as long as it's reliable & fixable, which may be a long time with a RAV4.
Dunno what my next might be - a C-Hr or Yaris hybrid or I may go completely left field & get a good old classic!

[Hopkirk]

Not only will your petrol costs fall dramatically, but also your emissions. That is probably more important.

When I next change my car, I plan to go full electric. I do a fair mileage so it's sensible and potentially economic for me. However as they are very expensive to buy, I will lease it. Luckily I can park outside my house and charge it there.

[MattA777]

Hopkirk,- That’s our plan too- to lease.
Dave50- Please (unlike most diesel users) switch off when the car is idle/waiting/parked….There are many like me who have a lung condition. Thank you.
Again thank you all for your answers….