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You can, however, install a 240-volt charging station at home so you don’t have to rely on the slowest charging method. It’s worth keeping in mind that most PHEVs aren’t compatible with DC fast charging, so you won’t be able to top up as easily on the go. This is less time than it takes to charge a BEV, but that’s because the battery pack is much smaller. Plug-in hybrids take around 3 hours to charge using standard 120-volt power, and 1.5 hours using 240 volts. But the PHEV can be plugged into a wall outlet or charging port to make the most of its battery capacity and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.
plug-in hybrid, the difference is simple: a standard hybrid can’t be plugged in, while a PHEV can.īoth types of hybrids will charge automatically when you drive, using energy generated by the internal combustion engine and captured by the regenerative braking system. When it comes to charging your hybrid vs. In contrast, the PHEV has a smaller battery and range than the all-electric model, but it’s nearly twice as fuel efficient as the regular hybrid. plug-in hybrid:Īs you can see, the standard HEV has a much smaller battery capacity than the other two cars, and its EV-only range is negligible compared to the plug-in hybrid. Here’s a handy chart showing the battery capacity, EV-only range, and miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) of the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid vs. If you only want to drive using electric power and you don’t want to rely on gasoline at all, then you’ll want to choose a fully electric vehicle instead of a hybrid. But that’s because all-electric cars don’t have a gasoline engine to fall back on, so they need a larger battery capacity. This is a much smaller range than all-electric cars like the Chevy Bolt, which gets 259 miles of range on a fully charged battery. These days, the EPA-estimated EV range for a plug-in hybrid car can be as low as 8 miles for the Ferrari SF90 Stradale to 126 miles for the BMW i3. Plug-in hybrids are more fuel efficient than standard HEVs, because if you charge them often enough, you can treat them like a fully electric vehicle.įor short commutes, you can rely solely on battery power, and the conventional engine will only kick in when the battery runs out. This will determine how convenient it is to charge the battery pack, and how far you can drive without stopping to refill the gas tank. The most important decision you’ll have to make when buying a hybrid is whether or not to choose one that you can plug in to a power outlet.
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You won’t really need to understand this difference when shopping for a hybrid, since their handling and power consumption is more or less the same.īut if you’re thinking of buying a new car, it’s a good idea to research how electric cars work so you know how to maintain your EV and maximize its lifespan. Series-Parallel: The two power sources can turn the wheels independently of each other.Parallel: Both the gas engine and the electric motor can power the wheels in tandem.Series: The ICE powers the electric motor, which in turn powers the wheels.Hybrid drivetrains come in several different varieties: Still, they can reduce your emissions significantly due to regenerative braking, which “recycles” the energy lost when braking or coasting uses it to recharge the battery pack. Hybrids can’t get very far using only electric power, except at very low speeds and at short distances, so they aren’t as environmentally friendly as battery electric vehicles. How Hybrids Workīoth types of hybrids operate with the same basic components: They use a battery pack to supplement the internal combustion engine, reducing the amount of gas you use and lowering your tailpipe emissions and fuel costs.
If you’re trying to choose between these two types of cars, then you’ll want to consider the pros and cons of each and how they’ll fit in with your budget and lifestyle. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are more fuel efficient, but usually have a higher price tag. Hybrids come in two main varieties: those that you can plug in and those that you can’t. This means you can refuel them at a traditional gas station and don’t have to worry about running out of battery power. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are among the most popular types of electric cars for a reason: They offer the lower fuel and maintenance costs of all-electric vehicles, but they still have an internal combustion engine (ICE). Plug-in Hybrid: Which EV Is Right for You?