6 Reasons to Drive a Hybrid Car

We’re a car company, but we’ll be the first to admit: with a climate emergency on the cards for the next few decades, owning a car isn’t the most eco-friendly choice around. 

That being said, there are many good reasons to buy a car in Singapore. You might live in an estate without a train station. You might have kids to ferry back and forth to school and tuition classes. Or you might have an elderly family member with regular appointments at the hospital. Whatever your personal circumstances, you might just be in a situation where owning a car becomes a necessity rather than a luxury. 

So what is the ethical consumer to do? Well, you can still do your part for the planet even if you have to drive. Why not consider something more eco-friendly for your next car––like a hybrid?

Hybrids: What are they? 

A typical car has a single internal combustion engine, but as the name suggests, a hybrid vehicle combines two engines: an electric motor, along with the fuel-using engine. 

Why drive a hybrid?

Honda Freed © ST Auto

Lower emissions

The hybrid runs on both electricity and fuel. For short journeys using electricity, that means 100% renewable energy and no emissions. Of course, when you’re driving on fuel, the emissions are the same––but overall, you’ll burn less fuel than the average car, and emit fewer pollutants like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide. (No one likes choking on the exhaust spewing out from a diesel-guzzling car!) 

In short, this is better for your health, the planet and your wallet. 

Toyota Yaris 2017 © Kārlis Dambrāns

Way more efficient than a regular car

Being stuck and idling in traffic sucks and wastes petrol and emits extra emissions even when you’re not moving––at least for regular cars. Hybrids, however, are designed to switch back and forth between battery juice and petrol when the car is idling or has stopped moving. It’s fuel-efficient, and you won’t be spewing pollutants into the air!

(Unfortunately, we can’t do anything about the stuck-in-traffic part. Sorry.)

Hybrids also have another nifty trick up their sleeves––a regenerative braking function. (Why does this sound like something a zombie manual would contain?) 

When a regular car brakes, that energy is lost in the form of heat. The hybrid has a mechanism which captures the energy that would have been lost, and uses that to charge the car battery, extending its energy lifespan and helping your car run longer. If that isn’t efficient, I don’t know what is. 

Toyota Prius C 2018 © RL GNZLZ

It’s cheaper in the long run

Singaporeans, we’re a pragmatic lot, and we like a bargain. Hybrids are a great choice on that front: because they’re fuel-efficient, they need fewer fuel stops, and cost less to run. They’re especially great for slow-speed or urban travel due to the ability to switch between fuel and electricity. Perfect for the city state of Singapore, where no car journey will ever be super long! As a bonus, they’re far more responsive to drive. 

Depending on the exact car you’re after, the upfront cost of a new hybrid model might not be the cheapest (okay, they can be pretty expensive once you add all the fees in Singapore), but think of all the cash you’ll save on fuel and engine maintenance costs in the long run! 

Toyota Alphard © Teddy Leung

They’re quieter than regular cars

You heard that right––or rather, you didn’t! Hybrids are typically quieter than their petrol counterparts. Don’t underestimate how pleasant it is to drive in a quiet car without the sound of an engine constantly rumbling in your ears! That kind of sound will only stress you out in the long run; humans weren’t designed to be surrounded by loud vehicles all the time. Noise pollution is a thing, and greener cars like hybrids are part of the solution. 

Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid © Dennis Elzinga

Good resale value 

Not only are hybrid cars much more affordable than they used to be, hybrids perform better in the resale market. Your car is a depreciating asset, but hybrids are also pretty popular these days (see all the reasons above). That means you’re likely to get a better deal on your car when you’re selling it off. 

Short of an EV, the only way to top a new hybrid in green car points is to buy a pre-loved hybrid! Hybrid or not, a used car means none of the pollution generated with building new cars. Not only is a second hand car easier on the budget, you’ll be helping extend the life of a perfectly good vehicle by giving it a loving new home. 

Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (XW50) © Ya, saya inBaliTimur

They’re government-backed, too  

Don’t just take our word for it, of course. Addressing the climate emergency is also important to the government, so the Land Transport Authority has also encouraged a shift towards greener cars. Since 2018, the Vehicular Emissions Scheme has offered rebates for those who purchased more eco-friendly cars, which includes a number of hybrid models. 

For instance, if you’re buying a Honda Jazz or a Mitsubishi Attrage 1.2 CVT, you’ll be eligible for a $10,000 rebate until 31 December 2020.

Even better, rebates for those buying cleaner cars from 1 January 2021 onwards will increase by $5,000, which is a real incentive to look for a greener car. The rebates primarily apply to new cars. Practically speaking, this means potential rebates of $25,000 instead of $20,000. 

This move is largely geared towards encouraging more electric vehicle (EV) adoption by 2040. However, unless car-charging infrastructure improves in Singapore, switching over to EV is far less practical than plumping for a hybrid. We think hybrids will continue to be popular for a while yet! 

(While you’re here, why not check out the Toyota Corolla Hatchback Hybrid?)

Considering a hybrid? Head on over to ST Auto for a test drive with our friendly sales staff. Call +65 6464 9098 or email us at enquiry@stauto.com.sg