Since charging stations are not widespread here in Sri Lanka, having an electric vehicle is not that feasible for prolonged travelling. We can’t be knocking on peoples’ doors asking for their electricity now, can we? So, the market for hybrids will keep on growing. With their reduced dependency on gasoline and higher mileage capability, what’s not to like? If you’re tired of paying for expensive fuel and then waste it away by idling in traffic 75% of the time, it may be time you considered a hybrid. 

There are four different kinds of Hybrid Powertrains available as of now: 

• Series Hybrid 
• Parallel Hybrid 
• Series/Parallel Hybrid 
• Plug-in Hybrid 

They all use very different methods and configurations of an electric motor + battery and a small internal combustion engine. But the end result is better fuel economy and less impact on the environment. 

If you live or work in Colombo, you’re no stranger to streets stagnant with vehicles during peak traffic times or during protests, where walking will get you farther and faster than if you’re in a vehicle. When you drive a hybrid vehicle, the automatic start/shut off feature will turn the engine off when the car comes to a stop, turning back on with you press the accelerator. You’re not wasting valuable energy when stuck in a jam, making a very real difference in the amount of fuel used. You would even be leaving a lesser carbon footprint. 

And against certain myths, the battery or batteries in a hybrid are designed to run for a long time, they last about 10 years according to manufacturers. So, you don’t have to worry about replacing it for a long time. 

Lastly, emissions. Sri Lanka still uses “Euro”-2 quality petrol introduced to the country almost 14 years ago, (92 octane, 90 octane), while the current world standard is “Euro”-4, while unleaded petrol of 95 Octane grade is imported, and is meeting “Euro-3″ standards. Since we don’t usually use the best of fuels, our emissions are going to have an impact. This means more pollution, and it has already affected our country in a myriad of ways. One way to curtail this is by using Hybrids. We will use less fuel and produce less emissions from the get go. 

If you have the extra income to pay for a hybrid and then for insuring it, you are doing your bit in saving the environment. It’s a good pay off, because we’ve got to take care of this one planet that we have. Every little step helps.