This may surprise some, but the idea of a hybrid car is as old as the car itself. The first one was developed in 1899 by Lohner-Porsche (yes, that Porsche). It had an internal combustion engine designed to drive a generator that supplied Porsche-designed wheel hub motors with electrical energy. This machine, aptly named “Semper Vivus” (Latin for “always alive”), steadily evolved for at least five years.
However, as its evolution progressed, Semper Vivus hybrid capabilities diminished. Ferdinand Porsche and Ludwig Lohner, the duo who designed the car, came up with some interesting improvements. By installing smaller batteries (44-cell accumulator instead of 74-cell accumulator) and replacing two 2.5 hp ICEs (internal combustion engines) with a more powerful 5.5-liter engine, the Semper Vivus became a much more efficient car. These changes reduced the car’s weight, improved performance, and lowered its overall cost and complexity.
This short story history lesson about the hybrid car gave us the first answer to the question posed in the title. Added weight and complexity are the main disadvantages of the hybrid car over similarly engineered ICE-powered or electric-powered cars.
By definition, a hybrid car is a car powered by an electric motor (or several) and an internal combustion engine. Depending on the hybrid type (parallel, series, or a Plug-In hybrid), a car with a hybrid propulsion system can move using an electric motor, internal combustion engine, or combining the two.
In Parallel Hybrid systems, both an electric motor(s) and an internal combustion engine power the wheels. The most obvious example is the Toyota Prius.
In a Series Hybrid system, the internal combustion engine's main task is to recharge the battery, while the electric motors power the wheels. Example? The upcoming 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.
Compared to the other two types, the Plug-In Hybrid system utilizes a battery with far greater capacity. It offers recharging capability using an external source – like a standard household plug. Popular PHEVs include the Toyota Prius Prime and the Toyota RAV4 Prime. Both PHEVs can travel over 40 miles using the electric charge alone before the gas-hybrid engine kicks in.
With advancements in battery technology, hybrid cars have become a viable alternative to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Yet, the disadvantages of hybrid cars are still unavoidable when looking at the bigger picture. Apart from added weight and intricacies, hybrid cars can hide several other drawbacks.
Due to their higher complexity, hybrid vehicles are more expensive than their ICE counterparts. In addition to all the technology that is commonly installed in a conventional car, hybrid vehicles feature:
Apart from increasing the overall purchasing cost, added tech in a hybrid car can affect maintenance costs. To be specific, the maintenance might end up being surprisingly pricey if the hybrid system elements sustain any damage. Although car manufacturers offer comprehensive warranties for the hybrid parts (including the battery), with coverage for seven or more years, buying a used hybrid car still represents a particular risk.
With the larger hybrid battery comes additional weight which influences performance. A standard 12-volt car battery weighs 30 to 50 pounds. However, the battery in a Toyota Prius is almost 120 pounds.
As an example, let’s consider the 2024 Toyota RAV4 which comes as a standard internal combustion engine vehicle, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Thus, the hybrid adds over 200 pounds while the plug-in hybrid adds approximately 700 pounds. Although the overall curb weight is lighter than a comparably sized EV, it’s an added weight that can impact braking, acceleration, and handling.
Outside some high-performance exceptions such as the McLaren P1, Honda NSX, or the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Turbo S, hybrid cars are usually formed with one task in mind: improving fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. This usually puts the designers and engineers in a position to shape each part of the hybrid car to meet these goals. In short, hybrid vehicles sport low friction tires, a more efficient air-con system, a lower state of tune for the internal combustion engine, and a transmission precisely tailored for achieving the best possible fuel efficiency. With the higher mass, these solutions affect the overall vehicle performance. In reality, a hybrid vehicle will be slower compared to its equally powerful ICE contemporaries.
Battery replacement is a common cost consideration for a non-hybrid internal combustion engine vehicle. These 12-volt batteries typically cost $100 to $200 whereas replacement and installation of a new hybrid battery in a Toyota Prius can cost approximately $1,200. Fortunately, the battery is expected to last 8 to 10 years or 100,000-150,000 miles or much longer. In some cases, replacing a damaged or worn hybrid battery can reach $6,000 outside of the warranty (depending on the vehicle and type of the battery).
The added weight of a hybrid powertrain puts more pressure on the vehicle’s brakes. Tests have shown that hybrid versions of vehicles typically have longer stopping distances than their non-hybrid counterparts. Part of this is also due to many hybrids leveraging low-rolling resistance tires to save weight and improve fuel economy. While these tires may show a benefit in miles per gallon, they can contribute to longer stopping distances. A workaround is to consider fitting your hybrid with the same tires used on non-hybrid variants. But this would increase the cost of your hybrid.
Although the hybrid price premium has dropped, so have federal incentives. Unless you are purchasing a PHEV which may qualify for $3,750 to $7,500 in federal incentives, your hybrid will likely not come with any government incentives. Most of these programs are now reserved for EVs which also contain fewer parts and thus less complication.
According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University in 2013, hybrids do not make a lot of sense if your commute includes long highway driving stints. According to the survey, hybrid cars driven on the highways do the same damage to the environment as conventionally powered vehicles. On the other hand, hybrids do indeed release fewer pollutants in city traffic.
According to car insurance professionals, hybrid car insurance is $41 more expensive per month than the average U.S. car insurance rate. Car insurance professionals discovered that the main reasons for the increased car insurance for hybrid cars link to the increased purchasing price of the hybrid vehicles, the cost of complex hybrid technology onboard, and the nature of average hybrid car buyers. Hybrid car buyers generally live in urban areas with higher insurance rates. Also, repairs on damaged conventional vehicles are not as costly as hybrid cars' repairs, which plays a significant role in car insurance costs.
In colder temperatures, hybrid batteries need more time to reach operating temperature. That means that the chemical reaction inside the batteries that releases energy to the electric motor reaches its peak performance much slower compared to batteries in warm weather. Simultaneously, the internal combustion motor has to provide more energy released by the fuel combustion process, which is the main reason for the increased fuel consumption of hybrid vehicles in cold weather.
Modern hybrid vehicles have been on the road for about 25 years and work best in urban areas and warmer temperatures. And while their added complexity and weight present an apparent downside, their higher fuel efficiency in urban driving conditions and comprehensive warranty coverage can offset these disadvantages.
Matt Yantakosol is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and former consultant focused on the consumer aspect of the industry. He has traveled to New York, Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Tokyo Auto Shows to track and observe the newest industry innovations. In addition to JDPower.com, Matt's writing has appeared on Pcarmarket.com.
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