With many car manufacturers now producing hybrid and electric cars, there are several options now available. From Tesla and Porche to Seat and Kia there is a make and model for everyone. You may have never even considered a hybrid or electric car, instead only considering petrol and diesel cars. However, there are lots of reasons why a hybrid or electric car could be the perfect next car for you.

Environment 

One of the main reasons people opt for hybrid and electric cars is the fact that they are greener, cleaner and better for the environment. Plug-in hybrids when driven in electric mode and fully electric cars emit zero tailpipe emissions.

This, therefore, helps to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gasses. This is particularly the case in towns and cities where traffic often builds up and smog forms.

Running Costs & Maintenance 

Hybrid and electric cars can be initially more expensive than their petrol and diesel counterparts. This of course depends on the make and model you opt for. However, if you look at their lifetime running costs, they can work out to be a lot better value for money.

There are a number of tax incentives and special government grants which add to the appeal of electric cars. One of the main being the fact that pure electric cars are exempt from first-year road tax and cars with CO2 emissions less than 100 g/km, do not have to pay road tax for subsequent years either.

Electricity is also cheaper than petrol and diesel. Therefore charging your car is more cost-effective than filling up a non-eclectic car's tank.

Also as electric cars are designed to be as efficient as possible there is usually only the on-board charger, inverter and motor used to power and run the car. This means services are often less frequent due to less pressure on the motor and therefore less wear and tear on the car altogether.

Home Charging

One of the most convenient reasons to have a hybrid or electric car is the fact that you can charge it at home, meaning if your car is fully electric - no more visits to the filling station. 

If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a £350 government grant to cover the cost of installing a home car charger and an OLEV installer to actually install it. Once installed charging your electric vehicle at home is simple and fast. All you need to do is plug your car into it while you are parked. 

Most electronic vehicles can be charged fully in between 8 – 12hours. If you opt for a rapid charger the charging process is a lot faster. Some can charge your car up to 80% in less than one hour.

Driving experience

Another great reason to choose an electric vehicle is the driving experience that they offer. 

Hybrids and electric cars are almost all a lot quieter than petrol and diesel cars. Many often find that this gives them a more relaxing driving experience. 

Electric cars are also great for city driving as they have instant torque, meaning you get an instant response from touching the accelerator pedal. Therefore they allow you to deal with traffic and make city driving a lot easier and allow you to do it in comfort.