Hybrid Vehicles Still Have A Very Compelling Case

With such a hard push for an EV future, why would Toyota and other brands still push so hard for hybrid technology? Hybrids still make a very compelling case, and here is why.

It would seem that all you hear about in the automotive news these days is EV this and EV that. While the hype around EVs certainly is there, the "revolution" has not entirely derailed the rest of the car manufacturers from building vehicles.

Gasoline prices have risen significantly in the past year (everyone has their own theory on why). So driving an EV makes sense, right? Not necessarily. Hybrid vehicles still have a very compelling case, and I want to spell out why.

Hybrid Vehicles - The Versatile Solution
One case for hybrid vehicles is they are very versatile. What I mean is that when gas prices are high (like now), they will get you more miles out of every precious drop. I do not have to worry about selling off my daily driver or any other vehicles because I can take the Prius 90% of the places I go.

Another argument is that hybrid technology is very reliable. Sure, older hybrids do have failing batteries. Still, today, we can quickly get a used hybrid for cheap and repair or replace the battery.

I recently picked up a 2010 Prius with a failing head gasket. I will have it repaired and back out on the street before you know it. The total cost after everything will be around $3,000. Now I will have a car that will get 50 to 60 miles per gallon and give me well over 150,000 miles of good use.

Proven technology and relatively inexpensive repairs will land you with a vehicle that will save you money in the long run.

Conclusion
Not everyone will agree with me on the cost-effectiveness of hybrid repairs, but most consumers do not know all the tricks I do. I would encourage anyone who is looking for a cheap hybrid replacement to get one.

Even if you do end up spending 3 to 5 thousand on one and only get 100,000 miles of use, it would still be worth it. Just the fuel savings alone will make up for what you spent over time.

Hybrid vehicles bridge a needed gap between EV and regular gas/diesel platforms. They provide a more fuel-efficient option and typically have fewer issues than most standard cars.

You can fuel them anywhere (and most of the plug-in options you can charge anywhere as well). Hybrid vehicles are not going anywhere for decades, even with the huge push to get more EVs on the road.

EVs fill a specific need for us as humans to consume energy. All we are doing with hybrids and EVs is filling that need. Even FCA is now onboard with the new plug in Jeep. That is it; hybrids are still needed and will be around for a long time.

Thank you for reading. Remember, today's adventure is tomorrow's story.

What is Toyota doing by continuing to push ICE vehicles?

Check out this wild new battery tech that Tesla has and why it will forever change the auto industry.

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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporter.