Mythbusters: Hybrid Vehicles — how much do you really know?

You’ve seen them in your Y favorite movies and TV series. You’ve read about them on popular websites and magazines. They’ve created buzz on social media. And no, we’re not talking about A-List celebrities, though many stars drive around in one. We’re talking about hybrid cars, especially the uber-popular Toyota Prius. Globally, Toyota’s hybrid cars have established themselves as reliable choices for amazing fuel economy. It’s no wonder why you see Hybrids almost everywhere in most other countries. It’s a very different story, though, here in the Philippines, where there’s still a lot to be understood about hybrids. Here we’ll address the top myths to hopefully clear the air (pun intended) about these environment-friendly vehicles.

MYTH #1 - Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric Vehicles are basically the same

THE TRUTH: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) operate on only one power source (electric motor) while Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), as the name “hybrid” suggests, runs on a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor. They’re similar in that they both have electricity as a power source but different because hybrid vehicles also have a second power source — the petrol engine.

MYTH #2 - Hybrid cars need to be charged before use

THE TRUTH: Hybrids do not need to be plugged in to be charged. They are self-charging through the motion and braking of the car. This is called “regenerative braking” and is what makes hybrids unique and extra convenient as electrified vehicles. This makes them ideal for the Philippines since there’s no need for added infrastructure like charging stations.

MYTH #3 - Hybrids are difficult to maintain.

THE TRUTH: Similar to regular cars, hybrids just need to be brought to your local car dealer for preventive maintenance service (PMS). While usage circumstances still play a key role, hybrid batteries don’t need any special maintenance on top of PMS.

For added piece-of-mind, Toyota provides a 5-year warranty on the hybrid battery alongside the standard 3-year warranty on the vehicle itself. Moreover, you won’t need to replace the battery after 5 years as, with proper care and maintenance, Toyota’s hybrid batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the car.

MYTH #4 - Driving hybrids in flood will cause you to get electrocuted

THE TRUTH: No, you definitely won’t get electrocuted! The power shuts off once in contact with water. In terms of safety, it is no different from a conventional vehicle since both hybrids and conventional vehicles have their engines at similar heights from the ground.

MYTH #5 - Hybrids are expensive

THE TRUTH: Hybrids are a lot more affordable now and are priced competitively with their conventional counterparts. And since Hybrids are very fuel-efficient, you’ll also save a lot on fuel expenses in the long run.

MYTH #6 - Hybrids are hard to drive

THE TRUTH: If you know how to drive a conventional vehicle, then you know how to drive a hybrid. Hybrids actually have the smallest learning curve among electrified vehicles. You just need to gas them up like your conventional car — though not as often. The hybrid system is very intelligent and automatically switches between EV and gas mode to give you the most out of your fuel!

Hybrids may be thought of as the future, but they’re also the now!

Toyota Motor Philippines offers several hybrid models available now, ready to be driven on Philippine roads. No need for charging stations. No worrying about running out of juice in the middle of a trip. Reduce your emissions today and start saving on fuel.

Toyota now has many hybrid offerings, from the iconic Toyota Prius to hybrid variants of the Toyota Corolla Altis sedan and the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Visit http://toyota.com.ph/hybrid to discover more about Toyota’s Hybrid vehicles.