Electric Hybrid Cars
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular as we all strive to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our monthly commuting costs.
Electric cars encompass any vehicle that is powered by electric energy of some kind, whether that’s pure electric power or a mixture of electric power and a conventional petrol engine.
Hybrid cars have a wide range of benefits in their own right, and are often suited to certain circumstances, so it’s important to establish what kind of electric car is best suited to you.
Difference between Electric and Hybrid cars
The main difference between Electric cars and Hybrid cars is that Hybrid cars use a combination of energy sources to power the vehicle, whereas Electric cars just use the power stored when the vehicle is charged, either using a home charging port or a public, rapid charging port.
If you aren't yet decided on whether an electric or hybrid car is best suited to your requirements, you might want to know which is cheaper to own. A hybrid car would offer lower running costs if you make shorter journeys, whereas electric cars would be cheaper overall if you make longer journeys.
The Hyundai Ioniq and Hyundai Kona are two of the cheapest electric vehicles you can buy on the market today.
What is a Hybrid car
Firstly, let’s explain what a Hybrid car is in more detail. A Hybrid car can be any of the following:
Self Charging Hybrid
A self-charging hybrid don’t require the car to be plugged in to the mains in order to power the vehicle, instead energy is created using regenerative braking and power generated from the engine. Self-charging Hybrids can travel a short distance, usually around 20-40 miles purely on Electric energy, before needing to use the petrol reserves. Self charging hybrids are much more convenient than plug in hybrids, as you don't need to remember to charge the car battery via a home or public charge point.
There are three self-charging hybrid models in the Hyundai range; Kona, IONIQ and Santa Fe.
Plug-In Hybrid
A Plug-in Hybrid requires the vehicle to be charged in the same way as a pure electric vehicle, with energy being transferred by an electric charging port, either using a home or public charge point. Plug-in Hybrids can run on pure electric energy on medium range before the car will switch to the petrol reserves, meaning you can achieve emission free driving on short journeys. Plug-In Hybrids have a larger battery than Self-Charging Hybrids so have a longer range, ideal for those who will be travelling further.
Mild Hybrid
Mild Hybrid, as the name suggests, is less reliant on the Electric charge to power the engine and the car cannot run purely on Electric energy, it only assists the engine. Mild Hybrids usually have a 48v hybrid system.
What Hybrid cars are available at BCC Cars
Here at BCC Cars, we have a range of Hybrid cars available in our range:
Hyundai Kona – Self-Charging Hybrid
The Hyundai Kona is the perfect option if you need a compact SUV that can switch seamlessly between city driving and weekend adventures. The Kona is a well-designed SUV with cutting edge technology.
Interior
The interior of the Kona offers a modular design with plenty of space for the whole family. There is a 60:40 split when the rear seats are folded down, meaning you can easily transport large or awkward sized items such as furniture or sporting equipment.
The standard boot space is around 374 litres so there’s plenty of room for shopping, pushchairs and hobby equipment, leaving more space for the passengers.
Technology
As standard, the Hyundai Kona comes with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Kona N-Line
If you opt for the N-Line model, you can benefit from an immersive 8 speaker system with external amplifier and subwoofer, a 10.25” touchscreen and a wireless phone charging pad in the centre console.
Inside the N-Line, there’s also a leather steering wheel alongside red accent stitching around the seats, steering wheel and gearshift.
Hyundai IONIQ – Hybrid
The Hyundai IONIQ is a self Charging Hybrid and offers environmental and economic benefits without compromising on the performance you would expect from a conventional petrol or diesel car. There’s also a plug-in hybrid option which means you can charge the car from the comfort of your own home.
Interior
The interior of the Hyundai IONIQ is incredibly spacious and simple, meaning the driver and their passengers have plenty of comfort during journeys.
Technology
The IONIQ is not short on technology features, with Bluelink technology, allowing you to connect your smartphone to your vehicle, so you are 100% connected. Bluelink let’s you unlock the door remotely, search for a destination which then links to your car for navigation and also view the diagnostics of your vehicle from your smartphone.
With the Hyundai IONIQ, you can benefit from Hyundai’s LIVE Services, which includes rear time traffic updates, petrol station locations and even weather information.
Hyundai i20 – Mild Hybrid
If you’re looking for a car with a sporty design and incredible performance, the Hyundai i20 Mild Hybrid is both sophisticated and refined.
Interior
With a really simple layout, everything is within easy reach and the range of storage options are designed to give the driver and their passengers a comfortable and enjoyable drive every time.
With SE Connect models, there’s an 8” touchscreen display, whereas the Premium and Ultimate models have a 10.25” touchscreen display with integrated navigation.
Technology
There’s a wide range of technology features that come as standard with the Hyundai i20, as well as features that come with SE or Premium models. The digital cluster tells you everything you need to know about your vehicle, all at your eye level so you can keep your eyes firmly on the road.
If you opt for the Premium and Ultimate models, you can benefit from a rear USB port, allowing your passengers to charge their technology devices. The Ultimate models have wireless charging on compatible devices as well as a Bose sound system that boasts 8 speaker and a sub-woofer.
Hyundai i30 – Mild Hybrid
The Hyundai i30 is incredibly practical for families, with a generous 295 litres of boot space. It fits seamlessly into any city environment whilst also providing an economical weekend adventure car.
Interior
The interior of the Hyundai i30 is incredibly stylish, with a stunning dashboard that has everything you could want at your eye level.
If you prefer luxurious upholstery, you should look at the Premium models which are made up of part-synthetic leather/part-cloth seats, which are also heated in the front seats.
The heated steering wheel adds additional comfort, especially in the Winter months.
Technology
The Hyundai i30 comes in three different trims; SE Connect, N Line and Premium.
The SE Connect model has alloy wheels, a reversing camera and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
If you opt for the N-Line, you can expect 18” alloy wheels, sportier bumpers, twin exhausts and multi-zone air conditioning.
The Premium trim has the addition of wireless charging and a powered driver’s seat.
Hyundai Kona – Mild Hybrid
The Hyundai Kona is the perfect option for those who want a compact SUV and don’t need the amount of space that comes with larger SUV models.
Interior
The interior of the Hyundai Kona is incredibly practical and modular, meaning you can adapt the interior space to your requirements.
The boot space offers up to 374 litres of space, with a 60-40 rear seat formation allowing you to transport awkward sized items.
Technology
There’s no shortage of technology with the Hyundai Kona, with a 10.25” touchscreen and 10.25” digital driver’s display available, as well as a reversing camera, front and rear sensors and wireless charging. You can benefit from heated and ventilated front seats for added comfort.
Hyundai Tucson – Mild Hybrid
The Hyundai Tucson is a large, spacious SUV with plenty of room for a family of 5. If you’re likely to be driving off road or on rough terrain often, the Hyundai Tucson would be an ideal option for you.
Interior
There’s up to 620 litres of boot space available with the Hyundai Tucson, allowing you to travel with plenty of luggage without taking up any of the passenger area.
The Black Leather Seat Trim adds that bit of luxury to your car, offering a much more comfortable journey every time. The Hyundai Tucson has heated seats (Premium models) which makes it a great option for Winter months,
The panoramic sunroof brings in additional natural light which is beneficial in Winter when sunlight is at a premium.
Technology
The Hyundai Tucson is packed with technology as standard, including a 10.25” instrument cluster, 10.25” touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as keyless entry, a parking camera and a heated steering wheel.
There’s a wide range of safety features as standard including Smart Adaptive Speed Control, Stop and Go Function and Blind Spot Collision Warning.
If you’re ready to make the move to an electric vehicle, speak to the knowledgeable team here at BCC Cars who would be happy to arrange a test drive for you.