Published on Friday, 20 November 2020 at 8:38:45 AM
In October we ordered our first Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) a Toyota RAV4 AWD. This is an exciting opportunity to explore the viability of electric vehicles.
HEV’s are sometimes considered the stepping stone between cars with conventional internal combustion engines and pure electric vehicles (EV).
HEV’s essentially combine the two and therefore consume less fuel. The electric motor drives the wheels for part of the time, especially from a standstill or at lower speeds and assists for the rest of the journey. Hybrids in EV mode have no harmful emissions from the exhaust.
Pure electric vehicles struggle to perform well in regional areas because when the electricity runs out they have to be recharged. This can take from 30 minutes to 24 hour recharge time, depending on power source and battery size. Recharge stations are not always readily accessible.
When the electricity runs in the HEV, the combustion engine takes over in running the vehicle, and this recharges the electric engine. This gives HEV’s greater range, and avoids the possibility of the battery going flat miles from a recharge station.
Vehicle production factories are still catching up on back orders following COVID-19 closures. The new vehicle is expected to arrive in January 2021. If you are interested in considering a HV you might like to check out the RAC website here.
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