Hybrid cars have been on the market for a while now. While they have seen an increase in popularity, the overall figures fall short of traditional petrol or diesel car sales. However, in May, plug-in hybrid cars saw a 73% increase in sales, with hybrid cars gained a record 5.8% market share overall. Most of this share was taken from the diesel car industry which has continued to decline due to environmental and economical concerns from consumers. With the increasing demand for hybrid cars, we have outlined five reasons why so many people have made the switch.
Related: What Does the Petrol and Diesel Ban Mean for Cars?
1. Road Tax and Incentives
It’s widely understood that hybrid cars cost you less in car tax because they produce fewer emissions compared to regular cars. However, what some may not know is that - for certain models - the government will actually offer incentives to hybrid car buyers. This can help to offset the higher cost of a hybrid compared with a typical car, which is often the main reason for people avoiding hybrids.
2. Lower Fuel Costs
As hybrids run off their battery at lower speeds, they are great at saving fuel. In turn, this means that you can drive further for less money. It is true that some newer cars do get a higher mpg than regular hybrids, but the introduction of plug-in hybrids offers drivers the ability to drive further using just the car's battery using no fuel. Essentially, this lets the driver travel for free for up to around 30 miles before the engine has to take over.
3. Higher Resale Value
Due to their modern technology, hybrid cars retain their value much better than petrol or diesel alternatives. Whereas traditional cars will depreciate in value drastically as soon as you begin to drive them, this is not the case with hybrid cars. Should you decide to trade up to a newer hybrid then you will get a much better resale price than you would with a petrol car.
4. Urban City Life
With their ability to run solely on electricity at low speeds, hybrid cars are the best option for city life. The average urban commute involves crawling along and continuously stopping and starting along the way. Not only will a hybrid run on electricity for the majority of this type of journey, but it will repeatedly recharge itself every time you are forced to break during your commute.
Additionally, in cities where there is a congestion charge (such as London), hybrid drivers continue to make savings by paying much less or nothing at all to drive through these zones. With Birmingham considering a ‘clean air’ zone in its city centre, the hybrid option becomes ever more attractive to keep the cost of driving down.
5. Long Term Savings
We’ve established that hybrid cars are generally more expensive than their petrol counterparts and, in some cases, the petrol options get a better mpg. However, with reduced tax, government incentives and lower fuel costs, the longer term savings made when buying a hybrid are clear to see. A car is a long term investment and so you should try to consider the cost of that vehicle over the entire period you will own it. Fuel prices will inevitably continue to rise in coming years, as will taxes. As more and more people invest in hybrid cars, the cost of them should fall alongside the rise in demand.
Related: The Best Hybrid Cars in 2018
Will hybrids ever become the norm? Is it time you made the switch? We have an excellent range of hybrid cars including Toyota, Hyundai and Volvo. Should you decide to trade in your old car, contact us today to find out what you can get for your current model and how you can get behind the wheel of you new dream car.
