Hybrid and electric vehicles
Everything you need to know
Electrification is no longer the future of mobility. It’s here in the present. There are various ways to embrace electric mobility and simply electrify your fleet. However, understanding the distinctions between a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, a hydrogen vehicle and a fully electric vehicle is of vital importance. Let’s delve deeper into these options:
A hybrid vehicle is powered with a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. It only uses the electric motor when accelerating and at speeds of up to around 25 km/h, which makes it an ideal vehicle for urban driving. If the speed increases, the internal combustion engine kicks in. The electric motor charges every time you brake while driving.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor just like hybrid vehicles. PHEVs have larger batteries than hybrid vehicles and are primarily charged by connecting the car to a charging station, hence the name "plug-in hybrid". This gives plug-in hybrid vehicles a much greater battery range than hybrids.
A battery electric vehicle (BEV) relies solely on a powerful battery connected to at least one electric motor. There’s no petrol, natural gas or oil. BEVs are becoming increasingly widespread thanks to innovative technologies from companies such as Tesla, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Nissan.
Moreover, charging infrastructure and technologies are constantly developing and improving, and the charging network has grown exponentially over recent years in Greece as well as worldwide.
Fuel cell electric vehicles, often referred to as hydrogen vehicles, run on hydrogen, emitting only water vapour instead of harmful pollutants. Hydrogen cars, along with battery electric vehicles, are considered the most environmentally friendly transportation choices. However, it's worth noting that currently, approximately 99% of hydrogen is produced using polluting methods known as grey or brown hydrogen production. In terms of charging infrastructure, battery electric vehicles have an advantage because hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is not yet widely available.
Fully electric cars operate exclusively on electricity from batteries. They lack a fuel engine, relying on external power sources for charging. While electric cars are restricted by battery range, typically around 400-600 km on a full charge, they offer 100% CO2-neutral journeys and significant fuel savings. As technology and infrastructure continue to advance, electric vehicles are set to overcome range limitations and charging concerns.