ELECTRIC VS HYBRID CAR

The electric ones, as the word itself says, have just an electric motor, while the second ones are also supported by a thermal engine. That means that even if they are greener than diesel and petrol cars, they still pollute a little bit, while electrical autos don’t produce any direct gas emission, but just the one related to the production of the car itself. Moreover it is possible to recharge them by using only renewable sources. A contra about it is that they need a long time to recharge completely and they are not fully adapted for long distance travels. Another pro from electrical cars is that they are really silent, therefore also convenient in terms of noise pollution.

When we talk about hybrid cars, we should consider that there are of different levels:

• Micro Hybrid: These cars are not equipped with an electric motor, but only with a Start&Stop device that allows to save fuel while the vehicle is stationary.
• Mild Hybrid: The auto is equipped with a little electric motor that supports some functions such as during the starting or that can employ regenerative braking, but is not able to move the car by itselfs.
• Full Hybrid: The electric motor can work in autonomie for some kilometers. in questi veicoli ibridi, grazie a un sistema di accumulo dell'energia, il motore elettrico può funzionare anche in autonomia per pochi Km. Furthermore, the energy produced by the internal combustion engine and by deceleration is used to recharge the battery, while it is not possible to recharge the battery with an external energy source.
• Plug-In Hybrid: This type of hybrid car is equipped with a battery that, in addition to regenerative braking, can be recharged at a charging station, thus allowing it to travel up to 50-60 km in 100% electric mode. 

One advantage of hybrid cars is that they are functional both for long and short travels, since they are not completely dependent on charging infrastructure. On the other hand they have a greater mechanical complexity than electric cars and higher maintenance costs due to the presence of two engines.

So in terms of environmental sustainability, electric cars are a better option, but they are not always so efficient if we need to travel long distances and can’t stop for much time.