A self-charging hybrid or full hybrid offers the potential for improved fuel consumption compare to a conventional petrol car, as it can use a smaller petrol engine than would otherwise be required and use regeneration under braking to feed power back into the battery, which can then be used to drive the electric motor. They key advantage over a full electric car is that they do not need to be charged.

A pure electric car has the advantage of running on electricity all the time, which means zero tailpipe emissions, potentially lower running costs and a very quiet driving experience. The downsides are that they tend to be more expensive than other types of vehicle and require charging.

A conventional petrol engine offers simplicity as its strongest suit and are more widely available from a range of manufacturers, but will also likely attract the highest running costs.