Judging by news headlines over the last few weeks, the love affair with diesel engines may well be over. As the fuel had only recently begun to take off in the United States, the impact has been felt the most throughout Europe and the UK.
For long-distance motorists, such as sales representatives, lorry drivers, company executives, delivery and utilities van drivers and simply those facing a long daily commute, diesel is still the most sensible power source to turn to.
In part, this is due to its typically more favourable fuel consumption.
“People who mainly stick to driving in their local area, would do well to consider hybrid power”, suggests Alan Locke, Managing Director of AYCEN Group in Manchester. “For motorists who largely use their cars for the school run, the weekly supermarket shop and occasional trips to other local amenities, the ability to drive up to 20 miles after charging their cars at home may suit them perfectly”.
Once a fashion statement favoured by celebrities, hybrid models now appear in most car manufacturers’ line-ups and come in all shapes and sizes, from the Toyota Yaris hybrid to a Range Rover SUV.
Hybrid Vehicles: How Do They Work?
Hybrid means a combination of two power sources, an electric motor and battery working in tandem with either a petrol or diesel engine, combining their power for greater performance, whilst regenerative braking and similar technology tops the battery up from time to time.
“Some Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) can be charged by plugging them in,” explains Alan. “The Mitsubishi Outlander is a prime example and such cars give their drivers the ability to cover modest distances on electricity alone, without emitting any harmful pollutants into the atmosphere at all.”
Expensive battery technology and production costs used to make hybrid cars a little too pricey for many people. But just like diesel development, hybrid cars are now becoming more affordable.
Statistics from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) reveal that 53% of people looking to purchase or lease a new car in the next two years will be considering hybrid. This shows just how much the outlook has changed in such a short space of time.
It will certainly be interesting to see how the industry pans out once DieselGate ends up in the news archives.
Business Aspects Magazine would like to thank Alan Locke for his contribution to this article. You can read more of his views on hybrid vehicles by clicking on the link below:
Diesel Emissions Scandal: Will it Boost Hybrid Vehicle Sales?
