Advantages of buying a Hybrid car in NZ

It’s a great time to buy a hybrid

Rising fuel costs and the government’s Clean Car programme have both had a huge impact on car buyers in recent times – because both can cost motorists a lot of money. In turn, hybrids have become an equally hot topic because they have the potential to really reduce the cost of owning and driving a car – and potentially even put some cash back into the consumer’s pocket.

Hybrids are known to be extremely economical and if you buy one in the right way, the government might even send you back a nice rebate for choosing a “clean car” (more on this below).

Enterprise Cars New Lynn Customer with her Toyota Aqua

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What’s a hybrid?

It’s become a real buzzword, but what is a hybrid? It’s a car that combines two different types of power: usually petrol and electric. It’s that simple.

The most common kind of second hand hybrid is a model like the Toyota Prius hybrid: a petrol engine, and an extra battery that powers an electric motor. The engine and motor can work together or separately, although the battery/motor can only go alone for a short distance – a few hundred metres to a couple of kilometres. Fortunately, the battery is also recharged very quickly by energy recovered when the car is coasting or braking – which is often called “regeneration”.

There’s another common type of common Nissan hybrid that has the same components, but the engine is only used to charge the battery, and only the electric motor drives the wheels. It’s often called a “range extender”.

And of course there are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which work in exactly the same way but have an even bigger battery that you can plug in (hence the name!) and go for longer just on electric power – upwards of 20km and often much more.

But no matter what type of hybrid, the idea is the same: to run primarily on petrol but use electric power to minimise how much you burn. A petrol-electric car like a Toyota Aqua hybrid will be at least 30 per cent more economical than an equivalent petrol one, and often much more.

Enterprise New Lynn Customer with Nissan Note Hybrid

Why buy a hybrid?

A used hybrid is an especially sensible purchase for many reasons:

1. The fuel efficiency is a huge draw, because a hybrid uses less petrol it will cost you much less to run day-to-day;
2. Finding a used hybrid for sale is not difficult because the technology has been around a long time (over 20 years) and there are plenty of models to choose from;
3. You can get a rebate from the government on your purchase;
4. Hybrids have dual power;
5. Reliable brands like Toyota or Nissan for example have proven that petrol-electric engines and motors work well together and are durable so a used car hybrid will be reliable (if you choose wisely) and
6. They are better for the environment as they produce less carbon emissions than a traditional car.

Enterprise New Lynn Customer with Mitsubisher Outlander PHEV

Hybrids and the Clean Car Discount

In 2021 the government introduced a scheme called the Clean Car Discount, which was designed to encourage car buyers to choose more efficient vehicles by offering a rebate for clean vehicles and applying fines to higher-emitting ones. 

The Discount is calculated on individual cars’ CO2 emissions (which is really the same thing as fuel economy, just a different calculation). The scheme started out being for electric vehicles only (including PHEVs), but from April last year it was expanded to all vehicles, new or used.

The good news is that if you are looking at hybrid cars for sale, most will qualify for a rebate because they are so fuel efficient. The amount you will get back varies according to individual models, so check with the dealer, as they will have the model-specific information. But it could range from a few hundred dollars to a few grand for a used PHEV. You apply for the Discount to the government directly, after you’ve purchased the vehicle.

Hybrids have more power

Hybrids tick a lot of very sensible boxes: they are thrifty, reliable and better for the environment.

But there’s something else about that hybrid for sale you might be looking at: it’s probably going to be fun to drive. While battery power is used to help reduce fuel consumption, it’s also always on hand to help with performance when required – giving a boost to the petrol engine for overtaking or big hills.

The combined power of the petrol engine and electric motor in a hybrid will usually be more than the lone engine of an equivalent conventional model, so when you really need that extra performance on the open road, every part of the hybrid powertrain can pitch in to respond. This makes the driving expereince a lot of fun as well!

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