Electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular, and for good reason. They’re better for the environment, they’re more fuel-efficient, and they’re generally easier on the wallet.
Here at Flexi, we’re excited to introduce our range of hybrid vehicles that allow you to make a cleaner, greener choice when hiring a car, as well as save you valuable time and money!
The only car rental company in Whangarei that offers hybrid cars as a rental option, Flexi is all about getting you from A to B in a cost-effective, and now more environmentally-friendly, way.
So let’s see what all the fuss is about – why should you hire a hybrid vehicle for your next road trip?

What exactly is a hybrid vehicle?
Let’s start with the basics about what a hybrid vehicle is and how it works.
Hybrid vehicles use two different types of power to get you where you need to be: petrol and electric. Think of them as a combination of a normal petrol car and an electric vehicle, or EV.
The petrol engine and the electric battery can work together or separately, depending on how you’re using the car. The battery can only work alone for short distances; it switches into gear when you’re driving at slow speeds or just coasting.
The petrol engine is usually only used when you’re accelerating and using more power. That’s what makes these kinds of vehicles so fuel-efficient. In fact, hybrid cars, like the Toyota Aqua vehicles we have for hire at Flexi, are at least 30% more economical than the equivalent petrol car!
Why should you rent a hybrid car?
1. You don’t need to plug it in
Contrary to popular belief, you usually don’t need to plug in a hybrid car. These vehicles use a process called regenerative braking to charge the battery. Whenever you hit the brakes, the petrol engine functions like a power generator, recharging the electric battery.
Hybrid vehicles are much more suited to longer trips than EVs – imagine if you had to stop every few hours to charge your car on a road trip! Plus, there just aren’t enough charging stations around New Zealand to even make this a possibility.
2. Reduced fuel costs
Because of their dual operating system, hybrid cars are extremely fuel-efficient and can use up to 50% less fuel than petrol vehicles.
That’s because each time the car moves off, the electric power is in play until the car is properly moving. The petrol engine doesn’t kick into gear until it has built up enough kinetic energy, which is great if you’re stuck in stop-start traffic!
3. Better for the environment
Hiring a hybrid car is definitely the best thing you can do for the environment. Due to their ability to use electric power, hybrid vehicles have a lower reliance on fossil fuels. This means they consume less fuel and produce fewer carbon emissions than non-hybrid cars.
Sure, pure EVs are the best option if you really want to go green, but as we mentioned above, they’re not particularly practical when you’re driving long distances. At least with a hybrid, you won’t be stranded in the middle of nowhere should your battery run out!
4. Less wear and tear
Because of the regenerative braking system and the need for less fuel, hybrid vehicle engines experience less wear and tear, resulting in less maintenance costs.
Although you might think this is more of a benefit for rental car companies, it does actually help you as a driver. It means that you can enjoy a smoother drive throughout your trip; it’ll feel like you’re driving a brand new car every time you jump in, even if you hire the same car five years later.
5. They’re quiet and comfortable
When you’re driving for hours on end, there’s nothing worse than the drone of the engine. Hybrid cars are known for being almost completely noiseless, so you can enjoy your favourite road trip playlist in peace and quiet.
Hybrid vehicles are also known to be a lot smoother to drive and more comfortable to travel in, which is pretty important when you’re spending a lot of time in the car on the way to your next destination.
As you can see, hybrid vehicles are a fantastic rental car option. If you’ve got a road trip coming up or you just want to try out a hybrid car for yourself to see what all the fuss is about, give us a call! We can get you up and running with one of our exciting hybrid rental cars today.