The Difference Between Hybrid and Electric Cars

Electric cars have increased in popularity throughout the years, especially on the Toyota lineup. But, did you know that Toyota made a promise to launch 30 electric vehicles across the Toyota brand and Lexus (the luxury brand) by 2030, unveiling a dozen concepts and previewing some of those models. It’s safe to say that we can see a whole lot more of electric cars in our future. 

Here at Toyota of North Charlotte, we have hybrid cars rolling in daily! You might be wondering what is the difference between a N Charlotte hybrid car and an electric car anyway? Well, that's a great question that we would love to help you answer. 

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is a N Charlotte Toyota whose engine runs on both gasoline and an electric motor, with an attached rechargeable battery for specifically electric-powered driving. The hybrid engine uses both engines simultaneously, making your car's fuel economy better than just a regular gasoline engine. Hybrid cars are great options if you want to save money on gas and help lower gas emissions. 

What is an electric car?

These N Charlotte Toyota cars have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. This means that it doesn't need gas at all to power! However, you will need a wall outlet or charging equipment to charge your electric car to replace going to get gas. Electric cars are great options if you want to lower gas emissions from your car completely, 

What are the significant differences between the two?

• In a N Charlotte Toyota hybrid car, the batteries provide energy to your car by getting recharged while you're driving, while in electric cars, the batteries do not get recharged unless they are charged. 

• Hybrid cars are low-emission vehicles, while electric cars fall under zero-emission cars. This means that Electric cars don't produce emissions that are bad for the environment. 

• Electric cars mean you don't have to budget for gas. However, hybrid cars mean you will have to stop at the gas station to refuel. 

• Hybrid cars are used for extended periods since they run both on an electric and gasoline motor. Whereas an electric car only needs to be charged as the only energy option. 

• N Charlotte Toyota Hybrids are more flexible. They allow you to switch between fuel and electric in some cases. 

• The All-new Toyota 2023 bZ4X electric car gives you a driving range of up to 250 miles, whereas the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid gets a combined city/highway driving range of 580 miles, making it a better option if you're on a road trip. 

Both options are very great. Either way, you'll save money on gas and help reduce emissions. 

Test drive a hybrid by coming to Toyota of North Charlotte today! 

We would love to have you test drive a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Toyota Highlander Hybrid car. Call us at (704)875-9199, and we're located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville.