All about Hybrid Cars in the UAE
The automotive market is constantly evolving globally, and hybrid technology plays a key role in the future development of vehicles. Hybrid cars are also increasingly popular in the UAE. Governments and regional authorities are also encouraging the transition to hybrid technology. Owners of hybrid vehicles in the UAE can benefit from Green Auto Loans, free charging and low-cost maintenance.
If you are looking for a hybrid car then this guide is for you. Let’s explore hybrid car meaning, their types and how green car technology works. We have also listed down some advantages and disadvantages of buying hybrid cars in the UAE.
Hybrid Car Meaning
First of all, it is important not to confuse hybrid cars with electric cars because both types of cars are powered differently. An electric vehicle is by definition a vehicle running 100% on electric power. Whereas a hybrid vehicle works with both petrol/diesel and electric power. A hybrid car is a type of vehicle that combines two or more different power sources to propel the vehicle and improve its fuel efficiency.
How Hybrid Cars Work
Hybrid vehicles are a combination of combustion engines and electric motors. Both engines need fuel to operate. The combustion engine draws diesel or petrol from the fuel tank while the electric motor obtains energy from the built-in battery pack. This results in less gasoline consumption and the emission of CO2 gas.
History of Hybrid Cars
Since the launch of the very first mainstream Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, the technology has evolved significantly. More than 100 years before the Japanese model, the American Armstrong Phaeton debuted an innovative vehicle with a combination of a small gasoline engine and an electric one in 1896.
Later on, hybrid technology remained stagnant for some time but roared again when the Paris Exposition featured the Lohner-Porsche Elektromobil in 1900. It was one of the first hybrid cars designed by 23-year-old engineer Ferdinand Porsche at Lohner-Werke.
Then in 1994, after celebrating half a century of Porsche’s hybrid, the executive vice president of Toyota challenged its special team and asked them to build a vehicle with double fuel efficiency. After 2 years of continuous struggle, Toyota finally launched Prius in Japan and today there are about 7 million Toyota hybrids around the world. Additionally, Lexus introduced the world’s first Full Hybrid in the premium segment in 2004.
Different Types of Hybrid Cars
If you look at the hybrids, there are several different types. The popular ones include full hybrid, half hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
Fully Hybrid (HEV)
The “classic” hybrid car, also called “full hybrid” is the most popular alternative to conventional cars. You have necessarily seen them on the roads: they are the most frequently produced Toyota models.
The full hybrid or parallel hybrid vehicles are powered by an internal electric motor and combustion engine. You cannot charge the batteries of a hybrid car by connecting them to an external source (such as a charging station). Instead, it can be charged via a built-in combustion engine and regenerative braking system (RBS). RBS is a type of kinetic energy recovery system that supplies the kinetic energy of a car and increases its efficiency.
The Toyota Camry is one of the most common examples of a full hybrid car. You can check out the interesting facts about the Toyota Camry. The starting price of the vehicle is AED 135,000. Toyota 2022 models include Camry hybrid which comes with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), 2.5L 4-cylinder and Hybrid (A25A-FXS).
Mild Hybrid (MHEV)
Mild hybrid or sometimes referred as half hybrid are those cars that just won’t run on an electric motor solely, rather an electric motor and fuel engine work together in such types of vehicles.
In this type of hybrid, the electric motor assists the diesel engine to increase fuel efficiency and improve performance. In addition, it acts as a starter for the automatic start/stop function, which switches off the engine when the vehicle stops and thus reduces fuel consumption.
Of course, you drive a lot more economically than with just a combustion engine. You use about 15% less fuel when you tour the centre. In general, you drive 8 to 10% more efficiently. Honda Accord Hybrid, Audi ‘S’ models and Hyundai Tucson include the popular versions of mild hybrid vehicles introduced lately.
Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
As the name suggests, Plug-in hybrid cars come with batteries that can be recharged from any electric outlet. These types of cars are halfway house between conventional hybrid and fully electric cars.
Plug-in hybrid cars also boast larger batteries than regular ones and can be driven around 25 to 88 km with a full charge depending on the model. It generally uses a 110-volt electrical outlet to charge the hybrid car battery similar to an electric car.
Since the plug-in hybrid car relies on an internal combustion engine and can run after being fully charged, there is a substantial improvement in the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Some examples of plug-in hybrid cars include Volvo V60, Chrysler Pacifica and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Hybrid Cars Pros and Cons
Following are some pros and cons of Hybrid cars:
Pros of a Hybrid Car
There are several benefits of buying hybrid cars in the UAE. Some of them include:
- Quick Acceleration: A full hybrid vehicle also accelerates quickly due to the direct response to the accelerator pedal.
- Green Auto Loan Facility: People interested in buying hybrid cars in the UAE can get a Green Auto Loan. The loan offers a 50% cash back on the loan processing fees and a discount of 0.5% on the interest rate.
- Smooth Drive: The standard automatic transmission makes driving a hybrid car even easier. At low speeds, the petrol engine automatically switches to the electric motor and even charging is controlled automatically.
- Cleaner Emission: Compared to the internal combustion engine, hybrid cars employ both electric and internal combustion engines. The result is reduced emissions and is environmentally friendly.
Cons of a Hybrid Car
Besides the pros, there are also some hybrid car problems you may face. For example:
- Expensive to buy: While automakers are trying to bridge the price gap between a conventional vehicle and a hybrid, hybrids continue to demand higher costs, but this cost is offset by low fuel consumption.
- High Maintenance Cost: Since you need to maintain two engines, service and maintenance charges are a bit higher.
- Less spacious: You need more space for both the batteries and the engine, which means you lose some car space.
- Battery autonomy: Compared to a fuel-powered vehicle, the type of battery used in hybrid cars requires more energy charges. These are also not reusable and, therefore, it is necessary to buy new batteries.
Hybrid Cars in the UAE
In the UAE, hybrid cars became popular after the removal of fuel subsidies. The decision was made to encourage people to use fuel-efficient vehicles, including both hybrid and electric cars.
According to the research, many Middle Eastern regions are already pushing towards a green transportation system that further anticipates the growth of hybrid vehicles.
Hybrid Cars in Dubai
When it comes to Dubai, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is determined to achieve the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy target. The target states that at least 10% of all newly purchased cars will be converted into either electric or hybrid vehicles.
Plus, as per Directive Number 1 of 2017, the Supreme Council also targeted to achieve environmental sustainability based on the best global standards that will also meet the technical requirement of DEWA. The decision was made to support the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16%.
Incentives for Owning a Hybrid Car in Dubai
DEWA and other government authorities such as the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Civil Defence and others, are striving together to work on the Dubai Green Mobility initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to create a low-carbon economy and promote the use of hybrid and electric automobiles.
The RTA Dubai has also invested 6% of the total taxi fleet to make them fuel-efficient hybrid taxis. If you are interested in investing in a hybrid or electric car sold by approved dealers in the UAE then you are also eligible to apply for the Green Auto Loan. The loan offers a 0.50% discount on the interest rate and 50% cashback on the processing fees. The bank that offers loan facilities includes Emirates NBD (ENBD), HSBC UAE, Emirates Islamic and the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF).
Also, there are several upcoming 2023 hybrid cars in the UAE. Some of the popular used hybrid vehicles available in the UAE available for sale are:
- Buy used BMW i3 for sale in the UAE
- Used Toyota Prius for sale in the UAE
- Used Toyota Camry for sale in the UAE
- Buy used Mitsubishi Outlander for sale in the UAE
With this, we conclude our guide about hybrid cars in the UAE. People looking for a hybrid or other used car for sale in the UAE can browse through from here.
Moreover, if your hybrid car isn’t starting, here is how you can jumpstart a hybrid car to continue your journey.
If you want to know more about hybrid cars, stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog.