Hybrid and Electric Car Engines: What’s the Difference?

Hybrid and Electric Car Engines

Image Source: iStock

In the last two decades, sustainability concerns have sparked a revolution in the automotive sector. The introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles has promised to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels — and popular British automakers have been making great strides in this regard, releasing a line-up of eco-friendly luxury cars.

From Land Rover to Jaguar to Bentley — some of the most well-known luxury brands have introduced vehicles that are not only more fuel efficient, but also boast performance levels comparable to petrol and diesel counterparts.

If you're looking to buy one of these high-breed cars, you may have noticed that some are categorized as electric vehicles, while others are called hybrids. What does hybrid mean here? And how is it different from an EV? Let's take a closer look.

What is a Hybrid?

Hybrid cars have two power sources — a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor. Both systems work together to power the vehicle, using a mix of petrol (or diesel) and electricity drawn from a high-voltage battery.

The ICE powers the car during rapid acceleration, while the electric motor supplies power from the battery in low-speed conditions. This ensures that the car burns less fuel and gives the vehicle a longer range.

While this general concept applies to all hybrid cars, luxury models can be fitted with a few different configurations, including:

Electric or Hybrid Engines? Comparing British Luxury Cars

Each of the three luxury British car makers — Jaguar, Bentley, and Land Rover — boasts of a powerful line-up of hybrid vehicles.

Let's compare electric cars offered by all three.

Land Rover

Almost all LRs sold today come with at least one form of electrification. Here are some prominent plug in models:

Land Rover also sells mild hybrid electric vehicles — such as the Discovery MHEV or Defender MHEV — cars that supplement their engines with a 48V electrical system.

In 2024, it started accepting orders for the Range Rover Electric, which is expected to be able to drive through three feet of water and have as much power as a V8 engine.

Bentley

Bentley cars currently offer two kinds of hybrid technology — one for the Bentayga models and the other for its Flying Spur models. These cars are equipped with a battery that can be charged in as little as 2.5 hours.

The Bentayga models can go as fast as 135 kph on electric power alone and have a range of 45 km in EV drive mode. The Flying Spurs, meanwhile, can touch 140 kph on purely electric power but have a lower range of approximately 40 km in EV drive mode.

Bentley doesn't currently run its cars on electricity alone, but that is set to change soon, with the introduction of an all-EV Bentayga SUV. Until then, Bentley owners will still need a Bentley engine repair service to ensure that the ICE runs optimally.

Jaguar

Jaguar is currently the only British luxury brand of all three to offer a pure EV.

The Jaguar I-Pace SUV is powered by two electric motors and emits zero tailpipe emissions. It has an expected range of 470 km on a full charge.

Meanwhile, Jaguar's plug-in hybrids— the F-Pace and the E-Pace — have a range of 50-60 km in EV drive mode and can be charged in just over 2 hours. They offer the performance of a sports car with much lower emissions.

Hybrid Vs. Electric Vehicles: Comparing Performance

How do electric cars work in comparison to hybrid models? Here's an overview based on some crucial metrics:

Performance

In EV mode, hybrid cars work the same as pure EVs. In cars fitted with powerful engines, the combination of both systems has incredible results. The Bentley Flying Spur's V6 engine, for instance, allows the car to go from 0-100 in just over 4 seconds.

All EVs, on the other hand, accelerate extremely fast since electric motors are able to generate instant torque. In fact, newer Tesla models are capable of going from 0-100 in as little as 2.3 seconds!

Efficiency

Pure EVs are considered far more efficient than hybrid vehicles, considering they release zero emissions and require no petrol or diesel to run. However, hybrid vehicles can be equally efficient when driven solely in EV mode.

Driving Experience

The experience of driving a hybrid vehicle is similar to driving a petrol vehicle. Pure EVs, on the other hand, are known to be extremely silent and smooth to handle, largely thanks to the lack of moving parts. Combined with the instant torque, EVs offer a more refined driving experience — especially in the case of luxury cars.

The Future of Hybrid and Electric Technology

Almost all luxury car manufacturers have committed to embracing a fully electrified line-up in the next decade. In fact, Canada is expected to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars entirely by 2035. Both Jaguar and Land Rover have announced that they will electrify their line ups by 2025.

Bentley announced that it will sell only electric vehicles by 2033, while working on an electric technology that could deliver 50 to 100 percent more power than ICEs, EVs with ranges of over 700 km, and auto batteries that can charge up to 80% in as little as 20 minutes.

Conclusion

If you're planning to buy a luxury car soon, we hope this guide has helped you with all the information you need to pick between electric or hybrid engines.

For all your service needs, meanwhile, look no further than Westminster Motors. As one of the leading auto repair centers in Toronto and other parts of Canada, we make sure all Jaguars, Bentleys, and Range Rovers work optimally and stay as good as new.

Don't hesitate to contact our team if you're looking for Land Rover diagnostics services, Jaguar auto repairs, or any additional information about British luxury cars.

Author: Avo Demirjian

Sources

  1. Jaguar To Turn All Electric By 2025, Land Rover EVs Start In 2024
  2. Bentley delays all-EV plan amid changing market conditions, vehicle development challenges
  3. Electric vs. Hybrid Cars: Pros and Cons of Each
  4. Hybrid vs. electric cars: What's the difference?