Austin, Texas

Recently, the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Fortune, and many others published articles falsely claiming that Tesla is not the world’s largest EV maker. The problem is, they counted in Hybrids by BYD which is misleading. I’ll explain why.

Facts in the Numbers

Tesla produced 1,845,985 EVs in 2023.

BYD produced 1,598,571 EVs in 2023.

Because BYD produced 1,444,091 Hybrid cars, the media ridiculously claimed Elon Musk was “losing his crown.”

First, there is no race against other EV makers, and second, Tesla’s competition is composed of gasoline cars.

To set the record straight I wanted to write to correct the misleading headlines. In this article, we’ll look at why hybrids are not EVs, and should not be counted as so.

1. Power Source

Hybrid vehicles use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, while EVs run solely on electricity. You’ll never have to stop at a gas station again when you drive an EV. I power my Tesla Model Y with electricity at my home charger, at Superchargers, and destination chargers on trips. In contrast, if you buy a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, you will be required to fill up at a gas station.

2. Fuel Efficiency. Huge Difference.

EVs have far greater fuel-efficiency than hybrids, as they don’t use any gasoline. Last Sept, I wrote about MPGe in another article, “What is MPGe? Everything You Need to Know.” MPGe is short for “Miles Per Gallon of Gasoline Equivalent” or “Miles Per Gallon Equivalent,” and it is used to compare the energy consumption of an electric vehicle to a traditional combustion engine car. The MPGe tells you the distance an EV can travel on the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

A Tesla Model 3 has an EPA-estimated MPGe of 140 city and 124 highway. In contrast, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid achieves 41 city and 38 highway MPG according to EPA estimates.

3. Emissions

EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, helping make cities, suburban areas, and the roads connecting them have cleaner air. Hybrids, unfortunately, produce emissions due to their gasoline engines. Tesla released their 2022 Impact Report, in April 2023 and it states “We make products that displace fossil fuel alternatives. In 2022, our customers avoided releasing about 13.4 million metric tons of CO2e into our atmosphere.”

Hybrids cannot claim this.

4. Charging

EVs have access to charging infrastructure, while most hybrids are never plugged in, unless its to a gas pump! There is an extensive charging network available to owners of EVs. If your EV choice is not a Tesla, you can still use the Tesla Supercharging Network if needed with a simple adapter. The North American Charging Standard (NACS) is for everybody.

5. Maintenance

EVs have fewer moving parts and require less maintenance than hybrids, which still have the maintenance requirements of a traditional gasoline engine. My main concerns about maintenance are filling the reservoir with wiper fluid and keeping the tires in good shape. This is a welcome relief after years of owning combustion engine cars with many more complications.

With Hybrids, you have to maintain them as you would a gas car, with the addition of a small, inefficient, electric motor. Not optimal.

6. Performance

EVs have instant torque and smooth acceleration, while hybrids have more traditional performance characteristics due to their gasoline engines.

7. Noise

EVs are generally quieter than hybrids, as they do not have a gasoline engine running.

8. Joy Factor

One of the most significant differences between hybrid and electric vehicles is the joy they bring to their owners. Electric vehicles, like my beloved Tesla Model 3, offer a pleasurable driving experience that is smooth, silent, and exhilarating.

The instant torque, rapid acceleration, and seamless performance of EVs make every drive feel special, while the reduced environmental impact and lower operating costs can provide a sense of satisfaction and pride in the vehicle. In short, electric vehicles have a certain “joy factor” that can make driving an absolute pleasure.

My thoughts

My opinion is that hybrids are just gasoline cars with fancy hybrid logos. They may have small electric motors inside, and sadly those motors offer little incentive for their owners to use them. Point 8 — Joy Factor — is, for me, something I experience every day. I truly love all aspects of my Model 3. I did not include in this list how incredible the autonomous software is as that is a topic that deserves another full article. Tesla FSD beta has been a true thrill, and no hybrid has that!

Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to Gail Alfar, 2024 – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.

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