The Best Tips for Selecting a Hybrid Car

The Best Tips for Selecting a Hybrid Car

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Envision driving an automobile that has great performance and that maximizes fuel usage.  With less time required at the pump for refueling.  With less expense on total fuel.  And the benefits of both an electric and gasoline engine.  That is why a hybrid car can be the right decision.  Selecting a hybrid car, especially with all the brand and model options, is an exacting task.  

Here is where expert knowledge and trusted expertise comes in handy.  Many readers rely on Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven as an authority.  Follow the steps below to aid your selection of a hybrid auto that fits your needs and that will be an excellent driving experience.

Take into account the following items when choosing a hybrid car.

What will be the purpose of the vehicle?  There is a variety of hybrid cars, such as SUV (sport utility vehicle), sedan, wagon, luxury, and hatchback.

What is the safety performance rating of the car?  See safercar.gov by the United States Department of Transportation or other source.

What is your budget?  

How much money will the car cost for regular maintenance?  Caring for a car may include storing the car, cleaning, oil changes, replacing the battery, replacing tires, repairing scratches, windshield repair, replacing air filters, et cetera. 

How much is insurance?

What is the cost of registration?

How will you drive the car?  Commuting?  Weekends?  At highway speeds?

Is there a point of payback for the investment?

Additionally, consider your personal standards and desired features, such as style of seating, warning devices, cameras, electronics, climate control, et cetera.  

For instance, the BMW e and i class (Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works) are designed to get better miles per gallon than a combustion engine, can be charged with electricity as your desire with a cable, and have great torque and acceleration when the eBoost technology is employed.

  

“BMW's plug-in hybrid technology came directly from the BMW i8, more specifically, its award-winning (International Engine of the Year Award Winner) sports car hybrid drivetrain system.  This advanced piece of engineering is responsible for taking the BMW i8, and now BMW iPerformance models, farther than ever with enhanced performance.

What differentiates the drivetrain of BMW iPerformance models from the drivetrain in any other BMW is the electric eDrive motor.  Powered by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, the electric eDrive motor not only makes it possible to drive with greater efficiency than a standard gas-powered BMW, it also enhances the thrill of driving with performance features such as eBoost — an instant acceleration provided by the electric motor and gas engine working in tandem whenever you push the throttle.”

From the urban to the barren.  Taking the 330e to Palm Springs was a treat.  The handling and performance made the jaunt enjoyable and fun.  What awaited ahead was a sun drenched playground, a city oasis with excellent restaurants, swimming pools, big sky, and daytime temperatures in the triple digits.  The test drive to Palm Springs put this BMW to the test.

After test driving the BMW 330e for six days, several items stand out.  The 330e’s 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine combined with its lithium-ion powered electric motor produces a strong 248 horse power and 310 pounds-feet of torque.  This tandem electric/gas engine accelerates the car from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds.  The car is quick and responsive.

  

The 330e was an enjoyable car to drive, as it handled the curves and changes in elevation on the way from the city to the desert.  No trouble going up hill.  This is not a sluggish, slow car to drive.  The 330e (e for electric) has the poise and aggressiveness of the non-electric BMW 3 series.  The electric mode makes the car almost completely quiet and smooth.  

The sleek jet black car was eager to take on city driving as well as a venture to the desert.  Contoured lines, a lean stance, and wraparound headlights give this hybrid great style.  The 330e took on the road, handled well, and did not stand out as a peculiar looking electrified car.  Other drivers on the road or pedestrians on the city streets probably did not notice this car was a hybrid.

  

Zero-gas emissions were achieved when putting the car in Max eDrive mode.  BMW’s Connected Drive application can be used to locate the nearest charging station, if you wish to mainly utilize the electric engine.  What is really savvy is the 330e’s ability to analyze how much of the gas and electric engine to use while driving.  The car’s program uses information about speed, road conditions, and destination to take full advantage of the tandem engine.  The three driving modes (Auto eDrive, Save Battery, and Max eDrive) are operated by a button on the center console.  Auto eDrive is the hybrid mode—the use of gasoline and electricity is determined by the car’s technology.  Save Battery—in this mode the car operates on gasoline and recharges the electric battery.  Max e-Drive—the car is in full electric mode.  

Pros: the ample trunk space, the options—moon roof, sport seating, lumbar support, Harman Kardon surround sound system, side and top view cameras, BMW M performance drive analyzer, bright LED (light-emitting diode) headlights, and satellite radio.  One of the best attributes is that the gas engine charges the electric engine.  The 330e also garnered a “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Bonus:  this 330e qualifies for a U.S. tax credit.

The realities to consider.  The BMW 330e does not provide for as much electric charge as some other hybrids.  Beware of going options poor.  If purchasing a 330e or any other car, be mindful of what options you will actually use.  You may also miss the roar of a gasoline engine—especially of a BMW.  The cost of a hybrid, such as the 330e, may be more than other cars you are considering.  Also, it is key to calculate the point of payback—the time it will take to reap the fuel savings.  The value for money must be considered.  The ability to recoup the extra cost of a hybrid will depend on options selected, personal driving habits, and driving conditions.

The BMW 330e is a good option for car buyers to consider, from a dependable company.  In 1916, Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto merged their companies, Rapp Motorenwerke and Bayerische Motoren Werke.  The BMW emblem began to be display on the company’s products in 1917, “which incorporates the Bavarian state colors.  At the end of the 1920s, the emblem made its first appearance in the company’s advertising as a rotating propeller—in a form that has been regularly reinterpreted since.”  After surviving World War II in Germany, the company had its production expanded to South Africa, France, and the United States.

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Credits: bmwusa.com, bmwgroup.com