How green is getting a used plug-in hybrid from a few years ago versus a used EV from about the same model year? A major concern of mine is running out of power on an EV as my city has tons of suburbs with no place to charge electric cars, but a the more populated areas do have EV charging spots so I’m hoping to mostly use it as a pure EV and only occasionally use the engine? Is this a good idea from an environmental perspective compared to just getting a pure EV?
Since there are no experts weighing in I will give my 2 cents.
First, the best thing to do is drive less regardless of fuel. Walking, biking, and public transportation aren’t available to everybody, but they are your green option if you have them.
Second, you need to look at the energy source for your local electricity. Fully renewable or heading that way? Awesome, EV it up. Generated from fossil fuels? The choice gets murky.
Lastly, longevity and upkeep. What does it take to replace your vehicle, how frequently does replacement need to happen, and what maintenance needs to be done to keep it on the road. If I was looking, I would compare battery lifespan (by that I mean how many charges it will take ever) in the EV for my use case against the same plus engine life of the Plug in. There are tons of emissions and materials used to make anything especially something as big and complicated as a car. Looking to purchase for longevity minimizes those environmental sunk costs.
