Buying a new car, electric or hybrid?
With tax policies, traffic infrastructure, and car prices in Vietnam, many Vietnamese customers are confused about whether to choose an electric car or a hybrid car when buying a new car.
The electrification race is taking place vigorously among automakers, creating more and more electric vehicles as well as hybrid versions in the Vietnamese market. In just the past 2 years, automakers have launched dozens of different electric vehicle models. Along with the Vietnamese automaker VinFast, Chinese automakers have also launched many new electric vehicle models to test the tastes and anticipate the trend of switching from gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles among Vietnamese people.
Along with battery-powered electric vehicles that need a charging station system, hybrid vehicles are considered suitable for the traffic infrastructure system... and are becoming more and more popular in Vietnam. In particular, Japanese car manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki... are showing their dominance by successively adding hybrid versions of internal combustion engine vehicles that have already created attraction in the market.
Toyota has added hybrid versions to many models in its vehicle catalog in the past 3 years. Honda has also launched the CR-V e:HEV or most recently the Civic e:HEV using a hybrid platform. Suzuki has also eliminated the XL7 version using an internal combustion engine to replace it with the XL7 version. In addition, Korean car manufacturers such as Kia and Hyundai have also launched hybrid versions of some models in their product catalog in Vietnam.
The increasing presence of electric and hybrid car models in the Vietnamese automobile market makes many people who buy new cars or want to change their cars confused about whether to buy an electric car or a hybrid car to use. Because in reality, with tax policies, traffic infrastructure as well as product prices in Vietnam, each car model has its own advantages and limitations.
Hybrid cars don't have to worry about charging stations, but the price is quite high.
Basically, a hybrid car is understood as a car that uses a powertrain that combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This combination provides powerful performance and saves more fuel than cars using internal combustion engines. The advantage of a hybrid car is its smooth performance and fuel economy... on long trips, users only need to refuel, so they don't have to spend too much time or worry about charging the battery.
In addition, hybrid car technology is more stable and reliable than electric cars. This helps drivers feel confident about its durability. According to iSeeCars, a company specializing in researching and surveying the used car market, hybrid models account for the majority of positions in the list of 10 cars that consumers buy new and use the longest. Most of them are Toyota hybrid models such as Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Prius, etc.
However, the limitation of hybrid cars is that the selling price is quite high compared to versions using internal combustion engines and still depends on fossil fuels. For example, Honda CR-V, the standard version CR-V G costs 1.029 billion VND, while the hybrid version - Honda CR-V e:HEV RS costs up to 1.259 billion VND. Hybrid cars in Vietnam currently have many different types, including mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hybrid.
Electric cars are economical and powerful but take time to charge
Meanwhile, cars that run entirely on electric energy are considered environmentally friendly and do not cause pollution. The advantages of electric cars are smooth, powerful operation, fast acceleration and lower operating costs than hybrid cars. In addition, electric cars are also integrated with many modern technologies and features by manufacturers. In Vietnam, electric cars are enjoying a policy of exempting registration fees.
However, electric cars take time to charge. Especially when driving long distances, users rely on charging stations. Charging an electric car also takes longer than refueling a hybrid.
Should I choose an electric car or a hybrid car?
Each car line has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for the needs of each customer group. Hybrid cars are generally suitable for those who do not want to worry about charging the battery. Hybrid cars can be used as the only car in the house, suitable for long trips without having to find a charging station or calculate the battery charging. Moreover, in the current Vietnamese market, most hybrid cars come from Japanese manufacturers. Suitable for those who do not want to change cars often.
Meanwhile, electric cars are suitable for daily use in the city or on routes with charging station infrastructure, especially for those who like to access new technology and diverse features.
