The Big Question: Plug-In Hybrid or Pure Electric

As my friends and I toured around the North American International Auto Show last week in Detroit this question kept popping into my head.  Regular hybrids have been on the market about 13 years now, ever since Toyota introduced the Prius.  The government (aka, you and me) is legislating the heck out of the manufacturers to bring down their corporate average fuel economy (CAFÉ) or else they won't be allowed to sell any product in the marketplace.  What better way to increase fuel economy than to not use gasoline at all.  That is the argument behind pure battery electric powered cars.  But it is a huge leap of faith for much of the population to jump from a gas powered car with 600 kilometers range and a gas station on every corner to 150 kilometers range and charging at home.

Volkswagen Cross Coupe - Diesel Electric Hybrid

So the plug in hybrid electric car makes sense for all those trying to do their part for the environment, without sacrificing utility.  Most of the plug-in hybrids will travel 20 to 60 kilometers on their high tech lithium ion batteries, but if the driver has to go further than this, either on their commute or for a special trip the car will run on gasoline for as long as you keep filling it up.

The Detroit show had a large selection of plug-in hybrids on display. The new Cadillac ELR moves the Chevy Volt into the luxury category.  The gold standard of mid size cars, the Honda Accord, is now available in a plug in hybrid version. Volkswagen, known for bringing diesels to North America, showed its prototype diesel electric hybrid Cross Coupe.

Of course you pay a premium for these plug in hybrids because you have added an electric motor, batteries, controller unit, on-board charger etc. to the existing gasoline engine drive train. There are government incentives available that help minimize the financial leap for early adopters.  One story I read yesterday demonstrated that with government incentives, the plug in Honda Accord was actually cheaper than the regular gas powered version, depending on trim level.  So as always when choosing a car it pays to do the math for the total cost of ownership, and not just compare their MSRP’s.

There is no doubt the world must wean itself off fossil fuel.  And if you have $100K large to spend on a luxurious electric car like the Tesla S, you will never buy a drop of gas again.  But until we have inexpensive, mainstream, pure battery powered cars capable of greater distances, maybe the plug in hybrid is the bridge technology many of us have been waiting for.

A blog by Ron Groves, Manager of education and Outreach.