Pros & Cons of Plugin Hybrids

Plug-in hybrids are the newest generation of environmentally friendly cars. More gas-efficient than traditional hybrids, plug-ins rely primarily on electricity and use only the smallest amounts of gas. Only a handful of companies are making plug-in hybrids, but the vehicles are gaining in popularity among environmentally conscious consumers. Before buying a plug-in hybrid, be sure to take into consideration both the advantages and drawbacks associated with these cars.

Pro: More Environmentally Friendly

Traditional hybrids have lower emissions than regular gasoline-only cars. Plug-in hybrids have fewer emissions than traditional hybrids, making them the cleanest cars available. Since plug-in hybrids use electricity as the main power source running the engine, they consume less gas than traditional hybrids. And as the electricity grid itself becomes cleaner and greener, so do plug-in hybrids.

Pro: Cheaper to Run

Since plug-in hybrids run primarily on electricity, their gasoline tanks are smaller and need to be filled less often than those of traditional cars, both hybrid and gas-only. The electricity the cars run on is also far cheaper than gas. Most plug-in hybrids are designed to be plugged in at night, so owners can take advantage of cheaper electricity rates since plug-ins are using off-peak electricity.

Con: More Expensive to Purchase

In general, plug-in hybrids are 10 to 20 percent more expensive than traditional hybrids of a similar size. Since traditional hybrids are already more expensive than gas-only cars, the price may be outside the average consumer's price range. Environmental groups are lobbying state and federal governments for incentives and subsidies, but the price of a plug-in hybrid is currently higher than other comparable cars on the market.

Con: Limited Battery Lifespan

The plug-in hybrids available today perform as well as other cars, yet they do not last as long. The batteries used in plug-in hybrids are expected by car manufacturers to last an average of 10 years before they need to be completely replaced. Since those batteries are much more expensive and integrated into the engine system than those of traditional hybrids or gas-only cars, these replacements are quite expensive.