From our experience, the battery and petrol just, 'do their thing'. Working together... automatically.
Not really like a fully electric vehicle, just more efficient ( I hope ) than a petrol only car.
Don't expect to get 20 miles on all-electric... or anything near that.
You notice it mostly in stop-start-traffic... the silence.
Having seen how rare metals are extracted for 'EV' cars, I'm not interested in having one.
But I agree, taking spaces when drivers should not, is unfair and selfish.
I like queries that... have a conclusion. Maybe not straightaway, but updates and conclusions add so much value.
I also like queries that... remind me to do something. Got out MY AutoGlym this morning. My leather seats looked clean. They weren't. Cleaned and conditioned now.
I like to read the manual and I like to hear what others think on a forum. I like to share my nominal knowledge too.
Interestingly, John, having had a good chat to 'my' garage today...
They also suggest similar to your option 1. In other words, get to a pre-MOT inspection in August, cost it as per what might need to be done and then decide.