Lower Maintenance Than ICE While not as low as EVs, the hybrid also has an advantage in maintenance costs versus ICE vehicles. This is because as a lot of the mobility is actually delivered by the electric motors, the combustion engine is used a lot less often and less intensively. This means less movement of the piston, less gas burned, less oil needed, etc. This lower usage of the ICE overall reduces the wear and tear of the mechanical parts, as well as the maintenance required. Solving Anxiety About EVs Many users of ICE cars are somewhat skeptical of jumping the boat straight to EVs. This can be done for a range of reasons, some perfectly rational, some more akin to psychological barriers: EV charging stations: This is especially sensitive for people living in apartments, not having access to a dedicated parking spot, and/or a charging facility at home. For some people, it is the availability of EV stations that is an issue, either due to too few stations on their way or too many cars trying to charge at the same time. For others, it is the issue of the time required to recharge their EVs, especially if they own one in the lower price range, with smaller batteries that charge slower. Cold climate EVs’ challenges: It is well known that EVs' batteries are especially under pressure in cold spells. This is a concern for people living in cold climates, especially in remote areas. The drop in temperature reduces the battery charge as well as forces the EVs to use some of the power to keep the battery temperature constant. The “waste heat” from ICE in summer is rarely wasted at freezing temperatures and instead used to keep the passenger warm. An EV will instead drain the battery to run the heating system. Range Anxiety: Even if this is less and less factual with technological advancement, many drivers are still worried that EVs have too limited range to not risk being stranded without a way to refuel mid-way. It should be noted that this concern can be very valid in countries with poor charging station infrastructures, likely a durable issue in South & South-East Asia as well as Africa and South America. Fuel supply reliability: a more marginal concern, but that might still tip the balance for some users to keep an ICE or hybrid engine. In case of supply disruption, as illustrated by the recent hurricane damages in the USA, ICE engines can be more reliable vehicles if the power grid is down. It should be noted that here, plug-in hybrids are by far the most resilient option. Either powered by off-grid solar or fuel, it can switch to whatever is available in case of a crisis. Hybrid Benefiting From EVs’ Batteries It is somewhat ironic that a large reason for hybrids' resurgence against EVs is EV technology itself. As EVs became a mass market, this led to a massive boom in the volume of batteries produced, as well as important improvements in the design of cars' electric motors. The same happened with the construction of widespread charging station networks, people buying their own charging systems at home, etc. This made the plug-in hybrid a lot more viable as an option than before: Better battery technology increased hybrid electric range and capacity. More battery production decreased their costs significantly. Charging networks can be used by hybrid too, and with much less time required to get a full charge. EV popularity made many question the dominance of ICE technology. It is however unlikely that hybrids will fully takeover the market in any case, as most of their advantage is built upon the existence of the EV infrastructure and manufacturing ecosystem. Investing In Hybrid Technology One way to invest in the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles is to invest in the production of platinum, as every additional million hybrid cars sold creates a demand for roughly 150,000 ounces of PGMs. We discussed this topic in detail in “Investing In Platinum – The Universal Catalyst”. Another way is to invest in companies with a focus on hybrid technology (see below). You can invest in hybrid car automakers' stock through many brokers, and you can find here, on securities.io, our recommendations for the best brokers in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, as well as many other countries. Hybrid Vehicle Company