'Hybrid or non-hybrid Cars?' Which One Should You Get in Kenya?

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Fuel economy is one of the most considered specifications when buying a car. With the ever-changing fuel prices, a Hybrid or non-hybrid Cars that will promise constant fuel economy without hurting your pockets is always admired.

That’s where hybrid cars come in. With the help of a lithium battery, hybrid cars store power regenerated from the braking of the internal combustion engine.

This makes them very economical for town use Because, at speeds less than 30km/h, the battery pack powers the vehicle.

At speeds more than 30km/h the internal combustion engine kicks in. This means that a hybrid car is capable of returning up to 28km per liter, but at what cost?

There are things you should consider while choosing between a hybrid and a non-hybrid car.

1. Maintenance

A hybrid car will be more expensive to maintain due to added parts, the battery especially which has a lifespan of about ten years.

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With the foreign used cars we get from Japan, this means that the battery will have 2-3 years of life left before you start replacing its cells. Washing the car also needs carefulness as the battery can be damaged easily.

2. Price

A hybrid car tends to be cheaper, especially if it’s an option of a solely non-hybrid model. O.G. hybrid models such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight will tend to be more expensive compared to hybrid models of cars like the Fielder, Axio, etc.

3. Technology

When buying a hybrid car, it’s important to know what you are going for. Some hybrid cars have power-split gearboxes which means if the battery fails, you cannot drive the car. So keeping the battery healthy should be of uttermost importance.

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Here is Honda’s IMA system on the Civic and the insight comes in handy as you can still drive the car even with a dead hybrid battery.

4. Consumption

The technology of new non-hybrid engines has gotten better with time. This means that both hybrid and non-hybrid cars can achieve almost the same consumption depending on the engine technology.

For example, the new 2NR-FKE engine on the 2015 Sienta is capable of achieving 21km/l compared to the 24km/l you get on the hybrid option. You must compare what works for you before making the choice.