Electric car or hybrid: which should you buy?

There is no single right answer: it depends on where you park, how far you drive and whether you can charge. The quickest way to decide is to ask two questions. Can you charge at home or at work? And how often do you drive further than an electric car's range in one go?

The three types in plain words

Electric-only figures for hybrids and plug-in hybrids are from the RAC. Range figures vary a lot by model and by weather, so check the official figure for the car you are looking at.

Hybrid

A regular hybrid charges its battery from the engine and by recovering energy when you brake. The US Department of Energy says it cannot be plugged in. The motor helps the engine, so the car uses less fuel, especially in stop-start town traffic. For example, the Department of Energy rates the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at 50 mpg (US) combined, against 35 mpg for the regular petrol Corolla.

• Good: drives like a normal car, no charging needed, good fuel economy in town.
• Less good: costs more to buy than the petrol version, and the RAC notes it can be less economical than a diesel on long motorway runs.

A mild hybrid is a lighter version: a small motor assists the engine and lets it switch off at stops, but it cannot drive on electricity alone. It saves less fuel than a full hybrid.

Plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid has a much bigger battery. According to the Department of Energy, it usually runs on electricity until the battery is nearly empty, then switches to the engine automatically. If your daily driving fits within its electric range and you charge every night, many trips can be all-electric.

• Good: electric driving for short trips, with a petrol engine as back-up for long ones.
• Less good: costs more to buy, and the RAC warns it becomes costly to run if you do not recharge it, because you are carrying a heavy battery around on petrol.

Electric car

An EV has no engine at all. You charge it at home, at work or at public chargers. See how long it takes to charge an electric car for real charging times.

• Good: the Department of Energy says energy costs are generally lower than for similar conventional cars, and the RAC says EVs are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars for most people. No tailpipe emissions, quiet and smooth.
• Less good: usually a higher purchase price, charging is harder without off-street parking, and public rapid charging costs much more than charging at home.

Who each one suits

Choose an electric car if:

• You can charge at home or at work.
• Most of your journeys are well within the car's real-world range.
• You are happy to plan a charging stop on occasional long trips.

Choose a plug-in hybrid if:

• You can charge regularly, and most of your daily driving fits within its electric range.
• You also make regular long trips where you would rather not stop to charge.

Choose a regular hybrid if:

• You cannot charge at home or work.
• You do a lot of town or mixed driving and want better fuel economy with no change to how you refuel.

Running costs compared

Without knowing your mileage and local energy prices, honest comparisons are qualitative:

• Fuel or energy: an EV charged at home is usually cheapest per mile; public rapid charging is much more expensive. A plug-in hybrid is cheap when charged and run on electricity, but not when run mostly on petrol. A regular hybrid uses less fuel than a similar petrol car, with the biggest savings in town.
• Purchase price: hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs usually cost more to buy than an equivalent petrol car.
• Maintenance: the RAC lists low maintenance costs as an EV advantage. An EV has no engine, so there is no engine oil to change. Hybrids still have an engine to service.
• Battery: all three have long battery warranties on many models. See how long EV batteries last and hybrid battery replacement cost.

To compare specific cars with your own mileage, fuel and electricity prices, try our cost of ownership calculator.

Before you buy

• Test-drive each type if you can, and check the real-world range in winter, not just the official figure.
• If you are thinking about an EV or plug-in hybrid, check where you would charge, and what a home wallbox would cost to fit.
• Check tax rules and incentives where you live; they change often and can tip the balance.
• Buying used? Ask for a battery health check and see how much battery warranty is left. Our used car checklist covers the rest.