The question we posed for discussion on Thursday 15 January was : “EV, Hybrid, Petrol, Diesel – which car should I buy?” In a world of climate change where we need to reduce carbon emissions, car manufacturers are being pushed to switch from internal combustion to to electric engines. Today, we have several competing technologies. Which one is the best buy?
The main types of electric car are:
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), running purely on electricity
These are not yet very popular in Spain due to high cost, the patchy distribution of charging stations and “range anxiety” (there’s no fallback if the battery goes flat). Repairs can be expensive and the batteries add weight to the vehicle leading to increased tyre wear. You can obtain a lump sum subsidy for scrapping your old car and buying a BEV, but the process is complicated and drawn out.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), which have both electric and petrol motors. With this technology, braking systems charge a heavy duty battery so that the vehicle can run on electric power thereby reducing petrol consumption. These seem to be the most popular type of EV at present.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Like a Hybrid, but the battery can be charged from mains electricity. These are attractive to people who have solar powered homes and can park the car close by, but they are not recommended if you live in a high rise apartment block!
Mild hybrid (MHEV) uses a small electric motor and battery to assist a petrol engine, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, but it cannot drive on electric power alone; the system captures energy during braking to power the motor for smoother starts, acceleration boosts, and to run accessories, effectively acting as a power-assist system that doesn’t need plugging in.
In Europe, car manufacturers must stop selling any new cars which use petrol by 2035 (that includes hybrids). This cut-off date was originally 2030, but was pushed back at the insistence of the manufacturers.
Car manufacturers have now paid the upfront costs in building the factories and infrastructure for assembling electric and hybrid cars, so we should be seeing cheaper models on the market soon.
With regard to the market share of competing technologies in Spain, we asked Google Search AI which said: “Traditional hybrids (HEVs) and mild hybrids (MHEVs) were the most popular.., taking about 42-44% of the new car market by year-end, a significant jump from 2024.”
With regard to cost: While Hybrid models often have a higher upfront cost than petrol or diesel models, they offer lower operating costs, and in some cases, are becoming competitive in price.
With regard to pollution: If you believe that a Hybrid is less polluting than a petrol car – you may be under a false impression! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/16/plug-in-hybrids-pollute-almost-as-much-as-petrol-cars-report-finds Analysis of 800,000 European cars found real-world pollution from plug-in hybrids nearly five times greater than lab tests.
Old drivers, new cars
All new cars, whether electric or petrol driven, have electronic sensors, modern controls and interfaces and almost all are connected to the motor manufacturer via the Internet. Some cars are very minimalist with touch screen controls, which can be challenging to drivers who are used to levers and buttons, and there are safety concerns about touch screens: “Studies comparing older cars with physical controls to those with touchscreens have revealed significant differences. One study found drivers using traditional controls completed tasks in 10 seconds, covering around 300 metres at highway speeds. Those using touchscreen systems took up to 45 seconds, which means travelling more than a kilometre without looking at the road. Even brief use of a touchscreen led to several seconds of diverted attention, greatly affecting awareness.” https://theaussiecorporate.com/blogs/pickandscrollnews/touchscreens-in-cars-found-more-distracting-than-alcohol Some manufacturers are re-introducing knobs, switches and levers.
So, which technology to go for?
Currently, new cars of all the above technologies are available from major motor manufacturers. Important things to consider are:
- Your budget – Internal combustion engine (petrol and diesel) cars are still the cheapest. However, some manufacturers have been offering discounts on Hybrid models because they have been unable to meet their sales targets. Note: EVs are expensive to insure.
- Presence of local dealerships and importantly, repair and maintenance facilities (Hybrid and electric vehicles require specialist mechanics and equipment)
- Warranty – the batteries of most Hybrid and electric cars have an 8 – 10 year warranty. They are very expensive to replace outside the warranty period.
- Your driving habits: – long distance or local? Do you wish to drive into the centre of a major city? These are increasingly restricted to low pollution vehicles. Cheaper EVs have a limited range before you need to recharge the battery, which may take 30 minutes or more.
- Your age – New regulations mean that Spanish driving licenses may specify that you should not drive further than 30km from home. In which case, you won’t have to suffer from “range anxiety” if you buy an EV.
- Can you wait ? – It seems likely that cheaper Hybrid and electric models are on the horizon.
Autonomous vehicles (driverless cars): These are being rolled out in many countries, particularly China and the States. Maybe we won’t need a driving license in the future? Information about accidents involving self-driving cars is interesting! Autonomous Vehicle Accidents: NHTSA Crash Data (2019-2025) https://www.craftlawfirm.com/autonomous-vehicle-accidents-2019-2024-crash-data/
Three students killed in EV crash: Are China’s self-driving cars safe enough? https://www.thinkchina.sg/technology/three-students-killed-ev-crash-are-chinas-self-driving-cars-safe-enough
Perhaps I’ll buy something second-hand to see me through the next few years…
Chris Betterton-Jones – Knowledge Junkie