Gas vs Hybrid vs Electric: Quick Guide for an Easy Choice | FinnyBits
So I’ve owned a gas, hybrid, and electric vehicle. I have no agenda to push, I’m just here to tell you my experience and maybe itll help you with your new vehicle choice. So Let’s not waste any more time. First off, a quick overview of what a gas, hybrid, and electric vehicle are.
A gas vehicle uses fossil fuels, or gas, to power it’s engine and transmission. These vehicles have an Internal Combustion Engines and multiple moving parts. An electric vehicle uses batteries to power it’s transmission, or motor. The battery get it’s electricity from either fossil or coal-fired power plants, or renewables,
Like hydroelectricity, solar, and others. Most electric vehicles have regenerative braking as well, which provides free electricity back into the pack everytime the car brakes. A hybrid, like the name implies, is a mix of both worlds with an internal combustion engine
And battery. Need gas? Fuel up. Want to charge? Go ahead! Going down a hill? Free energy baby! There’s a few types of hybrids though, full, mild, and plug-in-hybrids. Full ones can run on either gas and/or battery. Mild can run on either gas OR battery,
But not both at once. Plug-ins have this giant battery with a fuel tank so you have more range and variety when you choose how to power your vehicle. Nice. So, what’s a good choice? Well, everybody’s different, so here’s a chart. I’ve listed,
In my own opinion, through my own experience, what I think would be a nice choice. So, no one-size-fits-all, but in my opinion, if you prioritize these, you might like gas vehicles more, these for full/mid hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and an electric vehicle. Basically, If you’re unable to get a home or apartment charger,
Are impatient on long roadtrips, don’t want to pay a high upfront cost and insurance, or simply a fan of a roaring, reliable engine, then you might like a gas car. Why? Because these companies have multiple decades of experience making the internal combustion engine vehicle pretty and efficient. And insurance companies
Have higher premiums for cars outside of the century-proven ICE vehicles. If you checked the previous boxes, but are ok with higher insurance, probably less attractive exterior, and may want the government to fund part of your car, then a full or mild hybrid might be a cool pick.
These vehicles are a newer concept which might be a reason why they have a higher insurance premium. And because they emit less harmful gases, the government has funds to incentivize people to get these vehicles. Mild hybrids typically get less incentives than plug-in hybrids,
Who typically gets less incentives than fully electric vehicles. Basically, the less the vehicle pollutes on the road, the higher the chance the government will pay more for your car. Or if you’ve checked the previous boxes, but are able to get a personal charger, can afford a high
Upfront cost, want to save time, fuel, and maybe anxiety, then you might like the plug-in hybrid. Getting a personal or apartment charge is a huge plus, it makes your life so much easier. And finally, if you’ve checked the previous boxes, are tired of paying for so much maintenance,
Plan to use your vehicle for over 3 years, and are a fan of silence when driving, and just really care about the environment, then a fully-electric vehicle may be a nice choice. If you’re into whether EVs do help the environment, check out our emissions video if you’re into that.
After owning all of these vehicle types, I personally prefer electric, especially in california where the price of gas is way above the average and there’s chargers everywhere. I also hated taking time out of my week waiting to fill up gas. I managed to get a personal charger and nearby destinations typically have multiple
Electric chargers on the way. I’ve saved a boatload of time and money from not driving to and paying for gas the past few years, and not needing to do maintenance. But of course, everybody’s different. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have reliable charging nearby.
However, I think one of the most important parts of getting a plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle is getting yourself a personal charger and charging infrastructure. I know it’s optional but it makes your life so much easier, and possibly cheaper. If you’re still conflicted,
Feel free to drop down your situation in the comment section below and I’ll do my best to respond with my opinion. Thanks for watching finnybits! See you in the next video.
Are you torn between a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle? Join me as I share my firsthand experience with each type. No biases, just practical insights!
🚗 TLDR:
Gas vehicles run on fossil fuels with internal combustion engines
Electric vehicles use batteries and can draw power from various sources, including renewables
Hybrids combine internal combustion engines with batteries, offering flexibility in fueling
🌟 Vehicle Decisions:
Gas: reliable engines, lower upfront costs, and insurance, ideal without a home charger
Full/Mid Hybrid: Government incentives, higher insurance, and a mix of fuel options
Plug-in Hybrid: Personal charger advantage, upfront costs, and environmental benefits
Electric: Silent, low maintenance, eco-friendly, best with reliable charging infrastructure
🤔 What’s Your Best Fit?
Gas: If reliability, lower costs, and a powerful engine appeals to you
Hybrid: balancing government incentives, mixed fuel, and insurance considerations
Plug-in Hybrid: Personal charger, environmental consciousness, and fuel savings
Electric: Silence, eco-friendliness, and minimal maintenance for long-term use
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:08 Different Between Gas, Hybrid, and Electric Vehicles
1:04 What’s a Nice Choice?
2:46 My Preference from Experience
3:33 Thanks for Watching!
💡 After owning all types, I prefer electric in California for cost and charging convenience. But your choice may vary! Everyone is different! Consider a personal charger for plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles, enhancing convenience and potential cost savings.
🗣️💬Still conflicted? Share your situation in the comments, and let’s discuss your best choice!
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