Fuel Efficiency: Gas vs Hybrid vs Electric Vehicles

Gas has been the primary fuel source for vehicles since the beginning. It didn't take long for people to realize that keeping the gas cost low was important, but simply burning gas wasn't the best option either. The introduction of electric vehicles changed lives forever, and vehicle manufacturers looked to offer more efficient powertrains that also utilized electricity.

 

Gas Cars

A gas car's fuel efficiency is low compared to electric and hybrids. They require more power to drive. Chemical energy is converted into kinetic energy, which powers the vehicle and reduces drag.

 

Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are a combination of electric and conventional engines. Hybrid cars have been around for a while, but they've recently gained popularity because of their improved fuel efficiency. 

Hybrid cars have an electric motor that can be used to kickstart the engine when the battery is low on power. The electric motor also adds extra torque to help propel the car when batteries do not power it. The gas engine kicks in when you need more power and also provides better fuel economy because it's more efficient than an internal combustion engine (ICE).

 

Electric Cars

Electric cars are powered solely on batteries, which are stored in the vehicle's chassis. The fuel efficiency of an electric car depends on several factors such as the size of the battery, how much power it can store, and how fast it can charge. 

The EV charging cost is also negligible. The only thing is, if you want to get better fuel economy, then you’ll need a bigger battery or faster charging, but these two factors aren’t all that easy to come by.

 

Which Is Better?

A hybrid has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Its fuel efficiency depends on whether or not you use the electric motor during your trips, but not its size or charging speed. A small vehicle may have a higher overall fuel efficiency than a larger one because it has less weight to carry around with it when driving long distances.

 

Conclusion

Several factors influence the equation when it comes to choosing the most fuel efficient vehicle for your daily drive. Batteries and fires aside, one of the more popular arguments is which type of vehicle's fuel efficiency reigns supreme, gas, hybrid, or all-electric. We hope this article provided all the information you needed to make an informed decision on the vehicle type you’re looking to get.