In a simpler time not all that long ago, most cars ran on petrol and most vans and lorries were fuelled by diesel. Those days are gone, now we have a range of power sources for all types of vehicles, which makes buying a new vehicle much more difficult. Now, before you even start looking at vehicles, you need to make the decision, do you want to use petrol, diesel or electric? To help you to make this decision we have put together a handy guide detailing the pros and cons of each.
Petrol pros and cons
Petrol pros:
- Petrol is the cheapest to buy.
- There are more petrol pumps, so it is easier to fill up and less likely you’ll be caught out without fuel.
- Drivers feel petrol gives them the best driving experience, allowing high-revving and producing an exciting sound.
Petrol cons:
- The price of petrol is volatile, it increases and decreases and the price is often unpredictable.
- Petrol vehicles don’t last as long as other types of vehicles.
- Petrol vehicles produces greenhouse gases, polluting the environment.
- Petrol is a non-renewable source, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
- Petrol is dangerous to store and to handle.
Diesel pros and cons
Diesel pros:
- Over the course of a lifetime, diesel should cost less than petrol because it has lower depreciation.
- Diesel vehicles last longer than petrol ones and tolerate high mileage much better.
- Diesel vehicles are approximately 25% more efficient than petrol cars, so you’ll use less diesel than you would petrol.
- Because diesel produces less CO2, the road tax is lower.
- Diesel vehicles have a higher torque, which means they have stronger pulling power. They gather speed more quickly and they can pull heavier loads than any other type of vehicle.
Diesel cons:
- Generally speaking, diesel vehicles are more expensive than petrol ones to buy.
- Like petrol, the price of diesel will increase and decrease at an unpredictable rate.
- Insurance for diesel vehicles is up to 15% more expensive because they cost more to repair or replace.
- Repair costs are higher, though they need less servicing than petrol vehicles, moreover, studies have shown diesel engines are less reliable than petrol.
- Diesel still produces harmful gases so it is still harmful to the environment.
- Diesel, like petrol, is a non-renewable energy source.
Hybrid pros and cons
Hybrid pros:
- More fuel efficient, especially when you are driving in urban areas.
- Cleaner to the environment.
- Because they are more eco-friendly, hybrid vehicles have lower tax bills and congestion charges.
- Hybrid cars tend to have a high re-sale price.
- Hybrid vehicles have a conventional engine, so there are no range limits.
Hybrid cons:
- Generally speaking, hybrid vehicles are more expensive to buy than petrol.
- Batteries are expensive to replace.
- Maintaining and repairing the vehicle might require a specialist.
- Hybrids emit more emissions than an electric vehicle, so they are not entirely good for the environment.
- Plug-in hybrids take hours to recharge and require a dedicated charging station.
- Hybrid engines are generally smaller, so they have a smaller pulling power.
Electric pros and cons
Electric pros:
- Electric vehicles produce zero emissions, they are the best for the environment.
- Electric vehicles are much quieter than other vehicles, therefore there is less noise pollution and they make for a more pleasant journey.
- There are is no tax or congestion charge for an electric vehicle.
- They maintain their value better than other vehicles.
- They have an instant acceleration.
Electric cons:
- Electric vehicles are much more expensive to buy.
- Electric engines have a limited range.
- Filling up with petrol or diesel takes minutes, but recharging an electric vehicle takes hours.
- There aren’t as many charging points for electric vehicles as there are with petrol or diesel pumps.
- Electricity is usually generated using fossil fuel power stations, so it isn’t entirely green.
- Diesel cars, being quieter, pose a greater danger to pedestrians as they cannot hear you coming. Drivers of electric vehicles therefore need to be more alert and drive more cautiously.
Now you know the pros and cons of each fuel you should be better equipped to make the decision as to which best suits you and your purpose. Everyone will take a different thinking. For example, someone who only uses the car for short and local trips, might not worry about congestion charges, but if you travel around the country for business, that might be a different matter. Choose the fuel type that works best for you.
