Plug-in hybrid cars, known as PHEVs, are powered by an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE). Their battery can be recharged whilst using a plug-in charging point and whilst driving.
The main downside of owning a PHEV is that it's likely to have poorer fuel economy than a conventionally-powered alternative when it's driven using the engine rather than the electric motor. This is because you're lugging around the additional weight of its electric battery pack.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use batteries to power an electric motor and another fuel, such as gasoline, to power an internal combustion engine (ICE). PHEV batteries can be charged using a wall outlet or charging equipment, by the ICE, or through regenerative braking.
Should you happen to run out of battery power, the vehicle will automatically switch over to the ICE drive and use petrol/diesel to continue running. It will then also start charging the battery back up again, on its own.
Hybrids are fueled by gasoline alone and are not rechargeable by plugging in. However, as the vehicle runs, the engine and a regenerative braking system charge a small onboard battery.
The car starts up in electric mode automatically and stays in this mode up until a speed between 43 mph and 80 mph. If additional power is needed, or if the battery's charge is too low, then the car will activate the combustion engine.
This system automatically switches between electric and gas power as needed, making for a conservative yet effective driving experience. The trick is the Power Split Device, a series of gears that connects the gasoline engine, generator and electric motor.
Should you leave your car plugged in? When you plug in your electric car, the charger “fills it up” to 100%, then stops. Once fully charged, there is no need to leave the car plugged in anymore.
Most electric car owners charge their cars at home overnight. In fact, people with regular driving habits need not charge the battery fully every night. And automakers provide electric car batteries that hold their charge for long, allowing you to skip plug-ins for a few nights.
That means that on average, you will use very little gasoline in your plug-in hybrid. You plug it in every night and have a full charge when you wake up in the morning. By charging overnight, you'll be charging during off-peak hours. For longer trips, the car will switch between electric and gasoline power as needed.
A plug-in hybrid may be able to get a little charge through regenerative braking. But since a plug-in car has a larger battery that it relies on more, it needs to be connected to an external power source to fully recharge. Full hybrids can recharge their electric batteries through regenerative braking.
Because of this, PHEVs have a larger EV-only range than other hybrids, meaning they run clean for longer. However, if the battery is totally depleted, PHEVs can still run on petrol like a conventional car.
Hybrid Battery Life Expectancy
Most hybrid batteries should take drivers about 100,000 miles. With excellent maintenance, some owners are able to push this number to 200,000. Warranties typically extend to about the 100,000-mile mark, so manufacturers do expect this to be the upper limit on battery life.
If you have a very long commute or no way to quickly and easily charge up, stick with a traditional hybrid. If you want an all-electric car but take frequent road trips and are concerned about your ability to charge up your vehicle on the road, a plug-in hybrid is probably best for you.
PHEVs are slowly becoming less relevant, as owners are almost exclusively using the gasoline engine and not touching the electrical power. Plug-in hybrids are rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of vehicle on the planet, as we move away from pure internal combustion power.
Battery degradation is one of the most common problems with hybrid cars. This can cause a decrease in the car's performance and mileage, as well as an increase in fuel consumption. The battery may eventually lose its capacity over time, leading to decreased performance and range from the vehicle.
With smaller batteries than battery-electrics, plug-in hybrids achieve an electric-only range of 20‒55 miles, during which they produce no tailpipe emissions. When the vehicle uses up its electric range, it switches to gas and drives just like a conventional car.
Minimize the batteries at 100% state of charge
Keeping the state of battery charge, from 0 percent to 100 percent , also improves the performance of the battery life of your vehicle. Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery.
In simple terms, charging an EV battery to 100% will lead to a reduction in the total usable capacity of the battery. It might not be noticeable at first, but your battery will gradually lose its range as it degrades over time.
Don't sit in neutral gear in start/stop traffic – electricity will not be generated and the hybrid battery will discharge power. Accelerate gently and stick to the speed limit to get the most out of your electric drive mode. Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed and reduce running costs.
The consensus is that leaving a hybrid with nickel-metal-hydride batteries such as yours stored for three months should be okay, but four-five months might be pressing it a bit. With the car shut off, there is no parasitic drain on the main battery so it will retain a charge for a long time.
You should also try to drive at lower speeds and cruise at around 60 mph instead of 70 mph if the speed limit is 55 mph. These simple acts can do wonders to reduce your gas consumption.
They work by sucking in air, mixing it with fuel in a compressed area, and causing an explosion that results in energy that spins a crank. They are at their most efficient when they're at a consistent cruising speed. So above 15 mph, only the gasoline engine is used.
The plug-in hybrid car (or PHEV, for “Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle”) operates according to the same principle as the hybrid car, but also features a socket for recharging the vehicle's battery on the electric grid, as well as a larger battery than that of a standard hybrid car.