Should you go for a full electric car or a hybrid? This is a question that often pops up in car buyers’ minds. Let me make a qualification here – by hybrid, I mean the plug-in hybrid version, which has a much higher electric range than the normal hybrid.

Think of plug-in hybrids as a bridge between gasoline cars and pure electrics. They’re equipped with two engines – a conventional gasoline engine and an electric motor. There is a rechargeable battery that can give a driving range of 30-80 km when in pure electric mode, and it has to be plugged into an external power source to recharge.

The primary advantage of hybrid is its longer driving range as compared to pure electric. Plus there is the flexibility of filling it up with gas, which is available everywhere. However, you will still be emitting plenty of carbon through the tailpipe and your fuel bills will be higher than pure electric.

The fully electric car does not have a conventional engine. It is powered solely by a battery and has an electric motor. There are big savings in fuel bills and zero emissions to boot. However, pure electrics are more expensive than hybrids, and there are two main concerns for the buyer – range anxiety and availability of charging infrastructure.

Carmakers in India are taking different bets in their electrification strategy. The Japanese, viz. Maruti Suzuki and Toyota, have put all their eggs in the hybrid basket as of now. Tata Motors on the other hand is committing to full electrics only.

If we look at the global sales of electric cars in the first half of 2022, about 73% of the sales were all-electric cars, with a year-on-year growth of 75%. The share of hybrids was 27%, with a growth of 37%. The reasons for the increasing adoption of full-electrics are the higher driving range offered by new models, better charging infrastructure, and improved price offers.

For the individual, there is no right or wrong answer when you are choosing between hybrid and electric. If you have long-distance commutes, or don’t have charging stations around, a plug-in hybrid is a better choice for you. If your commute is mostly within the city or short distances, you have chargers at home or work and you are committed to reducing your carbon footprint, you’re the ideal candidate for an all-electric car.

Which one would you prefer?