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Want a way to save on the overall costs of vehicle ownership? Have you considered a new hybrid vehicle to put in your Racine garage or driveway? We’ve got plenty of new hybrid vehicles on our lot, including the impressive Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid and the Niro plug-in hybrid. Or go the more conventional route with a Sorento hybrid! You’ll save on gas with any of these three SUVs.
Hybrids are gaining in popularity, mostly because of fuel efficiency. All new hybrid models are powered by a combination of gasoline-powered engines and quiet electric motors. However, there are different perks that come from hybrid vs. plug-in kia models.
Learn more about the differences between hybrid vs plug-in hybrid vehicles with this helpful guide from the team at Frank Boucher Kia of Racine!
What are the main differences between hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles? Conventional hybrid vehicles use a gasoline engine and electric power in sync with each other. These types of hybrids rely on their internal combustion engines to keep their medium-sized batteries charged using a special generator that turns when the vehicle moves forward.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), as the name implies, utilizes a larger battery charged through a 120-volt household outlet or a 240-volt charging unit in your garage. Plug-in hybrids start each drive with electric power and switch to gas when the battery runs out completely. A plug-in hybrid offers an outstanding choice if you have a short commute to work or need to run errands nearby.
The way a hybrid vehicle works feels similar to driving a gas-powered vehicle in Kenosha. As you travel, your vehicle will be powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor working in conjunction with each other. This drastically improves fuel economy and allows your gasoline engine to recharge your battery as you drive.
For example, the electric motor might stay on if you’re traveling 30 mph or less. When you travel faster, the internal combustion engine comes on, and it charges the electric battery. You will hardly notice the difference between the motor types as you drive. Hybrid vehicles typically see better gas mileage on city roads when the electric motor runs. You’ll notice this on the EPA-estimated gas mileage figures for hybrids.
The way traditional hybrid vehicles propel themselves offers the benefit of improved gas mileage without the need to stop and recharge the battery. This can be a major advantage since you can drive with improved fuel efficiency without any major disruptions to your existing driving habits.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles also work with a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Rather than the vehicle automatically switching between gas and electric, a plug-in hybrid deploys the electricity first as you pull out of your Lake Geneva garage after a night of charging. Once the battery is fully drained, the internal combustion engine will take over until you recharge the battery.
Rather than the two power sources working in conjunction, plug-in hybrid vehicles treat the gasoline engine as a backup plan after the battery drains completely. You can drive on the battery’s all-electric range until it’s empty of power. Once your vehicle reaches that limit, you’ll need to plug your car in to regain battery power. Luckily, your plug-in hybrid will easily charge overnight in your garage!
One main advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that you can run on pure electricity if you have short commutes. Your daily drives can be environmentally friendly with zero carbon emissions! Since you can pre-charge your vehicle overnight, many plug-in hybrid cars offer the range you need to run errands around town and get to work without running on gas at all. Many plug-in hybrids can run for up to 30 to 50 miles on electricity alone. If your daily commute is 15 miles or less (one way), consider a plug-in hybrid for your driving needs. You might not need to fill up the tank for a few weeks if you just commute to work and do things around town.
Now that you’re familiar with the differences between hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, it’s time to sit behind the wheel of one. Contact us or call (262) 240-6103 to schedule a test drive with our team. We’d love to put a new hybrid in your Burlington driveway.
If you’re ready to buy a new hybrid from us, apply for financing to jumpstart the car-buying process. We’re happy to help in any way we can!
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