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361-304-8044
Call Now6802 S. Padre Island Drive • Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Get DirectionsOpen Today! Sales: 9am-9pm
Open Today! Service: 7:30am-6pm
Open Today! Parts: 7:30am-6pm
If you’re in the market for a fuel-efficient car or SUV, you might already have your eye on a hybrid or electric vehicle. The class has grown in recent years as new innovations make vehicles more efficient than ever before, and hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs all have their own advantages. What exactly is the difference between a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an electric vehicle? The distinctions can influence their overall performance and efficiency, so let’s take a closer look at each one.
Hybrid vehicles are powered by gasoline like conventional vehicles, but they also incorporate electric motors for power in certain situations, saving fuel while remaining in motion. Hybrid models also use regenerative braking to save energy – when you apply the brakes in a hybrid car, that energy is stored in an onboard battery to be utilized the next time you accelerate.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles, or PHEVs, feature much larger batteries than regular hybrid models. This enables PHEVs to temporarily run solely on battery power before fuel consumption needs to kick in at all. While PHEVs utilize regenerative braking like other hybrids, they can also be plugged in to a power source to fully recharge their batteries.
Electric vehicles do away with the gas tank altogether, running on pure electric power. They rely entirely on a battery and electric motor for motion, and some models feature two electric motors, with one dedicated to each axle. You won’t need to stop for gas, but you’ll still need to charge your EV’s battery on a regular basis.
If you’d like to learn more about what a hybrid can do for you, come see us at our dealership. At Mike Shaw Kia, our team would love to speak with you about efficient options like the comfortable Kia Sportage Hybrid or innovative Kia Niro. Have a look around our hybrid and EV selection, then drop by our lot at 6802 S. Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412.
