Should you choose a hybrid truck as your next workhorse? The arguments for and against hybrids aren’t nearly as clearcut as those for EVs.
Some automakers skipped a step when going from gas to electric. That skipped step is hybrid vehicles. Many drivers recognize the benefits that hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) bring to the road. These vehicles provide the blend of a combustion engine and the efficiency of an electric system that helps generate power without using gasoline. Should you trust a hybrid truck as your workhorse? Let’s find out.
Pro: Forget about charging
One of the most important benefits of hybrid vehicles is that you don’t have to charge them every time the battery runs out of juice. In PHEVs, the battery is much larger than in traditional hybrid models, and requires charging, but you can use the gas engine until you get back home to recharge the batteries. Traditional hybrids don’t require charging at all, which makes it easy to enjoy the benefit of these vehicles without every considering recharging batteries. This is the best of both worlds in one package for you.
Con: Hybrids cost more than gas-only trucks
The initial cost of hybrid trucks is higher than a traditional gas-powered truck. This extra cost is associated with the added parts and engineering that goes into adding hybrid components to the vehicle. The cost factor might turn some people away from choosing a hybrid over a traditional model. Some hybrids and PHEVs qualify for the Federal EV Tax Credit, but not all, and that savings doesn’t completely offset the added cost of an electrically-assisted powertrain.
Pro: Fuel Efficiency is the long game
Hybrid vehicles are more efficient than traditional models. If you chose a PHEV truck to be your workhorse, you’ll also have the benefits of a jobsite generator that can keep your tools and equipment charged up and ready to go while you’re working. This is a double dose of goodness between the savings on fuel and a remote power source that allows you to stay charged up all day long. These factors are certainly important when considering a hybrid vehicle to be the workhorse you trust every day.
Con: Maintenance and repairs are more expensive
When a vehicle has more powertrain components, or just more moving parts than others, maintaining and repairing that vehicle is more expensive than the initial model. When you choose a hybrid truck to be your workhorse, you’re committing to these increased costs that include maintaining the hybrid system. If you have a PHEV, you’ll have a battery pack that could eventually stop holding a charge, which means you need to have it replaces. Thankfully, some automakers offer extensive warranties for the electrical components of hybrid vehicles.
Pro: Power output is similar to traditional truck models
If you want to put a hybrid truck to work, you can. The hybrid version of the Ford F-150 can tow up to 12,700 pounds, which compares favorably to the traditional model, which can tow up to 13,500 pounds. One of the greatest advantages of a hybrid pickup has over an electric model is the gas engine. This allows the hybrid model to be refueled quickly to continue to drive and pull everything that you need to. An electric pickup must spend a lot more time recharging and loses electric driving range quickly.
Con: Availability of hybrid pickups
Currently, there aren’t many hybrid trucks on the market. Ford has a couple of them, and Toyota changed its powertrain lineup to include hybrids as a foundational element of its trucks, but that’s about it. The Ram 1500 Revolution is still in the works and we haven’t heard about GM building hybrid trucks because they skipped over them and moved to EVs quickly. Availability could be a serious issue for some truck shoppers.
Pro: Hybrids retain resale value
Currently, hybrid vehicles retain better resale than traditional ICE models, which means buying a hybrid could return good value when you’re ready to sell the truck. That might change in the future when more hybrids hit the market. As shoppers search for pre-owned models, your truck becomes more valuable. Hybrids are becoming more popular quickly and can be some great vehicles for you to enjoy the drive and have the desired level of efficiency.
Can a hybrid truck be your next workhorse? It can be, but you need to understand the drawbacks that come with an electric-assist powertrain.
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Ava Rodriguez