How A Reusable K&N Air Filter Can Make Your Hybrid Or Plug-In Hybrid Even Greener

Jul 19, 2017

Greener driving hybrid cars consume non-recyclable air filters at the same rate as regular cars

Hybrids can be made even greener by replacing paper filters with a K&N replacement air filter

Regardless if you purchased your Hybrid or a Plug-in Hybrid, also known as a PHEV, to save money or to help the environment, we have yet another way to do both. K&N air filters exceed the lifespan of the standard OEM paper filter by as much as 30 times. Why is that important? If everyone with a Hybrid were to replace and discard their air filters at the intervals recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, usually about 30,000 miles, it would add 1.6 million dirty, oily, non-recyclable air filters to landfills across the country.

K&N air filters and cabin air filters feature a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty, and require only simple, do-it-yourself cleaning after each 100,000 miles of travel. Best of all, a K&N air filter will cost you slightly more than an OEM paper filter, a great deal as they're warrantied to last about 30 times longer.

How is this possible? Unlike paper air filters, which have a short service life due to their tendency to "surface load" (i.e. collect all dust and dirt on the outside surface so they quickly become inefficient), K&N Filters are designed to "depth load" in other words they use the entire depth of the filter to scrub the air going into your engine. K&N replacement air filters are manufactured with several layers of cotton filter material that's been made tacky by an application of special filter oil.

A single Million-Mile K&N Air Filter can replace these discarded filters headed for the landfill

This pile approximates the number of discarded paper filters used by a hybrid over its lifetime

The oiled cotton filter creates a maze for dust, dirt, and debris, but that allows air to flow freely though the filter media. The contaminants are captured through the application of three scientific principles. The first of these is interception, where the larger particles stick to the fibers, the filter oil acting as an adhesive.

The second is impaction, where heavier particles are captured when they break off from the air stream and run straight into the fibers.

Small particles do not follow the air stream, but rather tumble along randomly and collide with the filter's fibers. This phenomenon, called diffusion, enables a K&N air filter to capture dirt particles much smaller than the openings in the filter media itself.

Listed below are the top five hybrid vehicles sold in the United States in 2016. We've gone ahead and listed the available filters for each model. If you don't find you vehicle on the list check out the K&N Replacement Air Filters page on the company's website.

1.Toyota Prius

If any single vehicle is responsible for the popularity of hybrid vehicles, it's the Toyota Prius. First introduced back in 1998, it's consistently been at the top of the charts.

A K&N Air Filter carries a warranty for one million miles or 10 years of driving

Toyota has been the leader in hybrid vehicles and K&N has filters for virtually every Toyota hybrid

2016 - 2017 Toyota Prius 1.8L 33-2485

2012 - 2017 Toyota Prius V 33-2435

2012 - 2016 Toyota Prius C 33-2485

2010 - 2015 Toyota Prius 1.8L 33-2435

2004 - 2009 Toyota Prius 1.5L 33-2329

1998 - 2003 Toyota Prius 1.5L 33-2186

To learn more about K&N air filters for the Toyota Prius, visit the K&N Toyota Prius Air Filter page.

2. Ford Fusion Hybrid

You may be surprised to learn that the second most popular hybrid vehicle, based on year-to-date sales data, is the Ford Fusion Hybrid. It's a roomy four-door sedan available with a staggering array of features including warnings that you're drifting out of your lane and it will even parallel park itself for you. Available since the 2010 model year, it's received several major awards from top automotive magazines.

2012 - 2017 2.0L Ford Fusion Hybrid 33-5001

A K&N Air Filter improves engine efficiency by allowing more air to reach the intake

K&N manufactures air filters for hybrids even when unique to that hybrid model alone

2010 - 2011 2.5L Ford Fusion Hybrid 33-2357

To learn more about K&N air filters for the Ford Fusion, visit the K&N Ford Fusion Hybrid Air Filter page.

3. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The hybrid version of the popular Toyota Rav4 was introduced as recently as the 2015 model year, but proved to be so popular with hybrid buyers that it challenged the supremacy of the Prius on the Toyota showroom floor. The fact that the Hybrid upgrade was only a few hundred dollars more than a regular RAV4 certainly didn't hurt.

2015 - 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 33-2435

4. Ford C-Max Hybrid

Ford developed the C-Max Hybrid with the goal of becoming "America's most affordable hybrid utility vehicle." The five-door MPV offers decent cargo space, particularly when the third row of seats are folded flat. Taking the eco theme further, the fabrics used in the SE version of the C-Max Hybrid are from recycled and renewable resources.

2013 - 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid 33-5001

If a K&N Filter doesn't provide complete satisfaction for one million miles, K&N will re

K&N offers a 1o-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty on its air filters so you know they will last

5. Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

With all the smoke (excuse the pun) surrounding the diesel engine debacle, many have lost sight of the fact that Volkswagen produced a Jetta Hybrid since 2013. Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to the Jetta Hybrid as VW is cancelling the model for 2017. We know there's still plenty on the road, so here's the down and dirty on a cleaner filter.

2013 - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 33-3004

K&N offers replacements filters for virtually all the hybrid (or non-hybrid) vehicles on the road today. It's easy to find your filter in the air filter application guide.

In addition, K&N produces cabin air filters for many cars, trucks, and SUVs on the road today, using the same technology as found in their patented air filters. You can look up the cabin filter for your vehicle, hybrid or not, in the cabin air filter application guide.

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