With interest rates, gas prices and the overall cost of living rising, it’s more important than ever to budget your expenses. If you are still driving a gas-powered vehicle with high CO2 emissions, it may be time to swap it for a greener, more affordable alternative.

Besides saving money on gas, driving a hybrid or electric vehicle can save you quite a bit in the long run. With fewer moving parts, EVs require less maintenance than traditional gas-powered cars.  

Selecting the right green car means knowing what technology is available to you. Although some people jump right into a fully electric vehicle, many want to transition slowly, opting to look at hybrids first.  

You’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed or confused about what’s out there. Hybrid and electric vehicle technology is new to everyone. Here are a few things to help you on your way to understanding the landscape of electric vehicles.  

Mild hybrid vehicles

Think of these as the entry-level form of hybrid vehicles. Mild hybrids use the smallest form of electrified assistance. Although they still require gas, energy from regenerative braking and accelerating power from the electric motor assists the combustion engine. Mercedes, for instance, uses mild-hybrid technology in many of its models, such as the Mercedes-Benz C180, C 200, C 300, C220d and C 300d.

Full/self-charging hybrid vehicles

Full hybrids (also called self-charging hybrids) are also powered by a combustion engine with the help of an electric motor. The main difference between a full hybrid and a mild hybrid is a larger battery, and the electric motor can work independently between itself and the internal combustion engine. Toyota’s line of vehicles, such as the Yaris, Corolla, C-HR, and RAV4, utilize this hybrid technology. Because these vehicles perform in a way that the motor is self-charged by the combustion engine, there is no need to plug in externally.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)

A plug-in hybrid car – also known as PHEV – lives between a complete combustion and fully electric vehicle. A PHEV offers electric driving for several kilometres, giving you zero emissions for shorter trips. A PHEV can run up to 60 km on electric power alone before the combustion engine needs to kick in. You’ll need to plug into an external power source to charge the battery. Depending on the vehicle, it can take several hours to get the battery back to 100%.

Pure electric vehicles (EVs)

If you’re looking for 100% zero emissions and saying goodbye to costly maintenance and gas prices, full-electric like a Tesla Model 3 is the only way to go. With no cylinders, pistons, fuel burning or exhaust fumes, EVs are the ultimate in planet-saving and money-saving vehicles. 

EVs offer a slightly different driving experience than traditional vehicles as they run on a single gear and offer up quite a bit of torque and an extra push when accelerating. There are EV charging stations almost everywhere these days, but you’ll also need access to an outlet for charging at home. 

With Canada’s mandate to have all light-duty cars and passenger trucks zero-emission by 2035, you’ll find a vast selection of electric vehicles from almost every major automaker. We’re seeing more and more models on the road, but for Pre-owned EVs, you’re most likely to see a Used Telsa, Nissan, and Hyundai. 

If you’re ready to save money by switching to an electric vehicle, check out EVsDirect.com. With the best selection of quality pre-owned electric cars and a ton of Used Teslas, EVsDirect.com can get you behind the wheel of the perfect EV for you. What’s better is you can skip the gas money and let us deliver it right to your front door. Now that is the ultimate way to save!