In today’s driving world, we have many vehicles to choose to drive. If you are a Driving Instructor, you need to understand your options and what to look for when purchasing a vehicle.

One of the key elements is to select a vehicle that is easy for the novice driver to control. The vehicle should have good sight lines, be comfortable, have up-to-date safety features, good fuel economy and be compatible for dual brake installation. If this vehicle will be for personal use as well, then you may need to consider other accommodations.

Interesting recent developments for choice of vehicle is around how they are powered.  Here is a brief overview of the different types of vehicles to provide a better understanding.

Gas powered vehicles – These vehicles have an engine and are powered by gasoline. They are the most popular however emit greenhouse gases and other pollution into the air. The good news is that these vehicles are becoming more energy efficient. The benefit of this type of vehicle is that they are quick to fill up and usually are most cost effective when purchasing.

Hybrid vehicles – These are vehicles that are powered by both gas and a rechargeable battery. Hybrid vehicles are usually more fuel efficient and switch between electric and gas when being driven. The battery is charged through braking and the energy is stored in batteries. It does not have to be plugged in to be charged. Usually, the battery power will be used first and then switch to gas if the stored battery power is depleted. The cold weather, aggressive driving, heat and air conditioning use will impact how far you can drive.

Electric powered vehicles – These vehicles have an electric motor and are powered by batteries. Depending on how far the vehicle is driven and how aggressively they are driven, will determine how far you can drive on a full change and how often you will need to charge the vehicle. The number of public electric charging stations is growing.  The time to re-charge the battery depends on the charging station. A home station is usually 120 or 240 volts, and a dedicated public fast charge station is 480 plus volts. Cold weather, aggressive driving, heat and air conditioning use will impact how far you can drive.

Each type of vehicle has an EnerGuide that explains the fuel consumption, annual fuel cost, recharge time, and driving range.

Choose your vehicle propulsion system that best suits your driving needed, your driving style and your budget.