Remember to ask about some factors when negotiating hybrids with sellers. It can change prices and even your intentions.
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You may have heard about hybrid cars and the hype. The car’s typical selling point is how it can save a lot of money on fuel by switching to electric when the car is travelling slowly or stuck in traffic in a busy city like Lagos.
To clarify, all the above points are true, but there are pitfalls. Despite the benefits it offers, it also brings many problems. So let’s discuss them.
Initial Cost
It is well known that hybrid vehicles are generally more expensive than other models in the same segment and horsepower range. This can save you some money in the long run, but the initial cost can leave a big hole in your pocket. Imagine buying a hybrid car for N12,000,000 compared to a gasoline-fueled car for N8,000,000. The disparity between these two cars’ prices is large, and at first glance, a buyer might not want to buy one.
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It defaults while in use
It automatically switches to electric when slowing down, but that’s where the main running cost lies. Hybrid car batteries cost between 300,000 and 400,000, so you might smile when you finally get your hybrid but probably cry when you need to replace the battery, I guess.
How often should the battery in a hybrid vehicle be replaced? Therefore, in addition to worrying about the dangers outside the car, you should also pay attention to the disconnection inside the car.
Extreme Vulnerability to Flooding
In a country with a hot climate such as Nigeria, where rainfall is constant and even floods occur, electric vehicles are not an ideal option. If you’re really lucky and have never been in an accident, your car’s bodywork may be intact and protected from water. However, if you have to travel to flooded areas frequently, the electrical circuits inside can short out and die. In the worst case, you may get an electric shock.
Limited Power
As a rule of thumb, getting an engine that is both fuel-efficient and power efficient (and cheap!) is impossible. It’s understandable that a hybrid engine would need to produce far less horsepower to offset its higher fuel efficiency. That’s why speed enthusiasts prefer to opt for sporty cars that are fast but have much lower maintenance costs.
For old-school petrol fans, the idea of a car other than one with an internal combustion engine might seem like a farce. I’m not saying it’s right, but over the years, cars have become a misleading measure of masculinity: the louder the growl and noise they make, the more gasoline they consume, and the more macho they are. Such a spirit makes the mere idea of leasing a hybrid look like old-school blasphemy to Gashead. Fortunately, that image has changed, but for some reason hybrids always have a low coolness index.
Towing and Hauling are not the best for hybrid cars
A hybrid vehicle can handle almost any driving situation. There are hybrids to suit almost everyone at various price points. Unless you need to tow something, like everything. Hybrids are not designed to generate the power needed to move cars, people in them, boat trailers, or beds.
Some hybrids can tow a small trailer to a garbage dump or less than a small table. In 2016, Toyota started offering a towing package for the Prius. This was considered groundbreaking. No one really thought the hybrid would pull anything. But it can tow about 1,600 pounds (725 kilograms), which is the lower end of the lightest camper on the market.
Battery drainage
Drivers may worry that their electric vehicle’s battery will drain. However, hybrid and EV batteries typically last much longer than traditional car batteries.
A common problem with EV and hybrid batteries are that they can lose charge if left unused in very hot or very cold weather. However, you can manage this by driving your car regularly to keep your battery from running out of charge and by keeping your car neither too hot nor too cold.
Conclusion
Buying a hybrid car is mostly seen as an investment, but when most people think of the cost of the initial purchase and maintenance, they tend to forgo it for the benefit it brings for fuel savings, the lack of technicians or professionals that can handle the engine, and the usual wear and tear of the rough Nigerian roads. So at the end of the day, you might end up hating the hybrid you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a hybrid car work?
Can a hybrid car run on gas only?
Is it cheaper to buy a hybrid car? Currently, hybrid cars cost more to purchase than traditional cars. However, they have a lower running cost since they use less gas.
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