Electric, Petrol or Hybrid?

With technology advancing beyond our understanding, something sophisticated and high-tech might not always be practical or reliable. Branding and opinions often matter more than quality and facts.
This new high-tech world we live in affects every aspect of our lives—especially what vehicle we drive and why.
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular and economical. Petrol, on the other hand, is rising in price every day—not to mention the horrific effects that mining and burning fossil fuels have on the environment.
But we’re Aussies—we love to drive! Sometimes all day, for days at a time, travelling far and wide to visit the best beaches in the world.
The average fully charged electric vehicle has a maximum range of 320 to 480 km. That’s not even five hours of driving at 100 km/h. Then you have to charge it from flat to full, which takes around 8 hours!
In comparison, fuelling up a petrol car takes just five minutes and gives you a range of around 750 km. You’re back on the road in no time, ready to go another 750 km.
Sure, electric vehicles might seem like more hassle than they’re worth right now. It’s new technology, and the infrastructure simply isn’t there yet—but it will be one day. Ironically, we’re still burning fossil fuels to generate the electricity that powers electric cars.
With solar technology becoming more economical and practical by the minute, we need different infrastructure before we can fully embrace electric vehicles. Things are changing, but we’re not quite where we need to be yet.
They’re even prototyping cars with solar panels on the roof—the idea being a fully electric, self-charging car that uses natural energy as its power source.
Let me clarify: this isn’t a critique of the concept of electric vehicles. Eventually, electric will take over—but that won’t happen tomorrow, or as soon as people think.
So, why keep burning fuel and money?
What’s the right answer?
Well, just like the little girl in the taco ad said:
Why not have both?
Why not cut your petrol consumption in half with a self-charging battery?
Hybrid vehicles offer the best of both worlds—combining the benefits of petrol and electric without many of the downsides. Your fuel usage can be cut in half, or even down to a third of what you’d normally spend.
And here’s the best part: the electric component doesn’t need to be plugged in. It charges itself while driving, just like a regular car battery.
Hybrid cars are also making waves in performance and racing. Hybrid supercars are beginning to outperform some of the fastest petrol-powered cars in the world. While petrol engines might still win on top speed, hybrids deliver far superior acceleration thanks to instant torque from battery technology.
Driving at top speeds is illegal—and dangerous—on Australian roads anyway. But superior torque means smoother driving and better control, which is what really matters day-to-day.
Electric vehicles can’t yet beat petrol in terms of practicality and performance—but one day, they will.
Until that day comes, a hybrid vehicle is the best choice for any kind of driving in Australia.