Mainstream automakers offer a variety of options. If you don’t want to spend $50,000 or more on a new PHEV, don’t despair. Volvo’s T8 powertrain - found in several models, including sedans and SUVs - is perhaps the most common among premium brands. Luxury car automakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo offer PHEV versions of several models.
What works best for you may come down to how much you want to spend.
PHEV offerings fall into two major categories, at least currently.
Do hybrid vehicles need to be charged drivers#
A PHEV is perfect for eco-friendly drivers who don’t necessarily want to make a big statement. One other nice thing about a PHEV is that only the most discerning eyes will notice a difference between a PHEV and an equivalent gas or hybrid vehicle. Additionally, certain driving situations can provide charge to the battery, though not enough to add more than a mile or so of electric driving at a time. Its electric motor provides some assistance to the gas engine, saving fuel compared to a gas-only vehicle. Once the battery depletes, a PHEV drives much like a conventional hybrid car. Related: Electric Cars 101: What You Need to Know Advantages of Plug-in Hybridsįor drivers, the most significant advantage of a PHEV is the ability to go anywhere with no need to stop for time-consuming charges. Also, they’re far less common than gas stations. However, Level 3 EV chargers do not get used in the typical residential installation because of the high cost. Level 3 chargers - like those rows of Tesla SuperChargers you may have seen at the end of parking lots along major highways - provide far more juice. Most of today’s PHEVs look just like their conventional gas-fueled counterparts, aside from that extra charging door, that is.īy contrast, an electric car discards the gasoline engine entirely.Įlectric vehicles can take a long time to charge on the Level 2 chargers most owners will put in their garages refilling a nearly-depleted EV battery can take all day or night. Outside, you’ll find two small doors: one for fuel and one for electric charging. Hidden under the back seat or somewhere in the trunk/cargo area, you’ll find a battery pack that’s larger than the shoebox-size one under the hood but not nearly as big as what powers a fully electric car. Pop the hood and you’ll find a gasoline engine with an electric motor typically nestled next to it. PHEVs essentially start as gas-fueled cars. You may notice an additional underhood thrum from the gas engine, but that’s about it.Įven if your commute is closer to 50 or 60 miles, fear not: PHEV cars can typically charge up within a few hours. Though most PHEVs allow drivers to decide when they want to tap that electric power reserve, the transition to gasoline power is nearly seamless.
Think of a PHEV as a vehicle that splits the difference between a conventional gasoline car and a fully electric vehicle.Ī PHEV can handle drives typically between 12 and 30 miles using electric power alone, after which a gasoline engine fires up and works in concert with the electric motor and battery pack to provide relatively low fuel consumption. RELATED STORIES: How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car? How Plug-In Hybrids and Electric Cars Differ Most commuters can drive to and from work on electric power alone, while the gas engine stands in reserve waiting for longer road trips. Even the most advanced electric cars on the market today drive distances of about 400 miles between charges.įor drivers, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV, strikes an ideal balance between eco-friendly motoring and go-anywhere flexibility. Yes, there’s the lure of tailpipe-free emissions. Here’s a look at why a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle may be the right kind of car for your needs.įor starters, electric cars do not appeal to everyone.
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