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However, when Consumer Reports asked about this in a nationally representative survey (PDF) of 2,519 U.S. adults in September 2022, 37 percent said that hybrid vehicles need to be plugged in and charged in order to run. Less than half, 45 percent, correctly answered that they do not, and 18 percent told us they were unsure.
These numbers reveal a knowledge gap regarding this increasingly popular type of car and suggest that most people still have questions about hybrid vehicles. That''s why CR''s automotive experts are here to answer them.
Hybrids combine a battery pack, an electric motor, and a gas engine. The gas engine or the electric motor alone can drive the wheels, or they can work in unison. The electric motor gets energy from the hybrid battery, and can power the car at low speeds allowing the gas engine to shut off. The gas engine kicks in for higher speeds, climbing hills, or when recharging the battery. Hybrid vehicles also feature regenerative braking, which uses the car''s momentum as it slows down or coasts to create extra electricity.
"Hybrids are so fuel-efficient because they utilize energy that would otherwise be wasted," says Jake Fisher, senior director of CR''s Auto Test Center. "When you press the brake pedal, much of the energy that would have been converted to heat through the brake pads instead generates electricity for the electric motor."
One of the benefits of a hybrid over a pure electric vehicle (EV) is that a hybrid can be driven long distances, filling up at gas stations along the way. Pure EVs must be charged once the range is depleted.
Today''s plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) work in much the same way, except they add the option to recharge the hybrid battery by plugging it in at a wall outlet or charging station. This can allow PHEV owners to drive only on electric power for a short distance.
No. Plug-in hybrids can be charged to run on mostly electric power usually for the first 25 to 50 miles before they revert to regular hybrid operation, but they will still operate even if they are never plugged in. Examples include the BMW X5 xDrive45e, Ford Escape PHEV, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, and Toyota RAV4 Prime. Some even qualify for federal tax credits, unlike regular hybrid vehicles.
PHEVs are ideal for drivers who take short trips and can do most of their driving on electricity, reserving the gas engine for longer trips. PHEV owners who charge every day save money because they can avoid using the gas engine. But a PHEV doesn''t make sense for long commutes. When the short electric range is depleted, most PHEVs get fuel economy that might be worse than their equivalent regular hybrid, due to their added weight. Case in point: Our RAV4 Prime consumed 35 mpg once its first 40-mile portion of the mostly electric drive was depleted. A regular RAV4 hybrid attained 37 mpg consistently.
In some cases, if you don''t plug in a PHEV, you''ll get even worse fuel economy than a gas-only car. For example, once the BMW 330e xDrive sedan''s 20-mile electric range is exhausted, it only gets 25 mpg—3 mpg less than the conventional 330i xDrive''s EPA rating of 28 mpg. (CR has not formally tested the 330e, but we got 29 mpg overall from our 330i.)
PHEVs are a great solution for many people, but not everyone.
Read CR''s guide to the most efficient plug-in hybrids.
Hybrids rely on a battery to power the electric motor. Although they can be expensive to replace—around $7,400, according to RepairPal—CR''s reliability surveys show such replacements are rare. Many hybrid batteries last longer than 200,000 miles.
If the battery does fail, the automaker might pay for a replacement. In most states, automakers are required to warranty the batteries on any hybrid for eight years and 80,000 miles. In about 10 states, they''re required to warranty them for 10 years or 150,000 miles. This is because hybrid batteries are part of an emissions control system, and emissions-related parts often have different warranties than the rest of the vehicle.
Let''s be clear: When we''re talking about a hybrid battery, we''re not talking about starter batteries that can be purchased off-the-shelf at most auto parts stores. Most people just call these "car batteries," they usually cost less than $250, and they last between three and five years. Many hybrids have a starter battery, in addition to the long-lasting hybrid battery that drives the electric motor.
Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric – there’s a whole gamut of them on the e-mobility market, and they’re all different! Even if the charging ecosystem is principally aimed at owners of all-electric vehicles, PHEVs are also concerned.
So how do we differentiate between an all-electric vehicle (EV) and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)? The major difference lies in what’s under the bonnet. Unlike EVs, PHEVs are powered by both an engine and a motor:
– an ICE (internal-combustion engine) fuelled by petrol;– and an electric motor powered by a battery.
The aim behind this dual equipment is to optimise the vehicle’s consumption depending on the type of journey. An integrated on-board computer tells the car which type of power it should use to optimise consumption. In towns, the electric motor is prioritised and on faster roads, the car switches to the IC engine. In other words, PHEVs provide a reassuring half-way house smoothing the way for drivers in their transition towards EVs.
Over the past few years, hybrids have represented a tidy share of the automobile market. And plug-in hybrids are holding their own compared to non plug-ins in terms of growth.
PHEVs are equipped with a small battery providing a range of between 18 and 43 miles (30 and 70 km) depending on the model in question. When driving a plug-in hybrid, you charge the electric motor through regenerative braking. The principle is to convert the energy generated during braking into electric energy to charge the battery. However, this is not sufficient to charge it up to 100%.
As with EVs, PHEVs are charged by being plugged into a power outlet. At home or in the workplace, you can plug into a domestic socket or a private charging station. But you can also charge you PHEV at public charging stations. Chargemap is your best ally when it comes to locating them both in the UK and all over Europe. But, before you connect up, there are 3 points you need to take on board so that you can charge hassle-free.
The first point to bear in mind is the type of charging station that can be used with plug-in hybrids. Charging at home is simple. But there are a few things to know before you start charging at public charging points. Let’s go through them together.
Firstly, you should note that plug-in hybrids can only be charged at low power ratings. At the present time, they are equipped with Type2 chargers which can charge at a maximum power rating of between 3.7 kW and 11 kW. This means you can forget about rapid and ultra-rapid charging for these vehicles.
You need to understand that you cannot charge higher than the car-side power ratings even if the charging station boasts a higher rating. This is why you should go for charging stations that match your vehicle to avoid paying excessive charging bills. If you are not sure, check your PHEV’s power rating in the manufacturer’s manual.
Let us imagine that your vehicle can take 8kW maximum. You decide to charge at a Type 2 22kW station where the energy you consume costs around £0.44/kWh. You will find yourself paying for a charging power that your plug-in hybrid can’t handle. If the charging station bills per minute, you may even have to pay an excess fee because your PHEV will take longer to charge. At a Type 2 7kW charging point with an energy cost of £0.29/kWh, you will be charging your PHEV at a fair price without hogging a charging point that isn’t meant for your car.
The second point that you need to grasp is that the pricing of a charging session depends on several factors.
If you charge your PHEV at home, the price per kWh is the one posted by your grid supplier. You should especially think about charging at off-peak hours if they are included in your contract.
If you charge at public charging points, the price depends on the station you use and the network’s invoicing policy. Some networks only bill you for the energy delivered to your vehicle by the charging station. Others also invoice an additional fee based on plug-in time on top of the energy delivered. And yet other networks add an idle fee if your leave your vehicle plugged in once it is fully charged. That’s why you must always consult the tariffs at the charging station where you want to top up before starting your session.
The charging time for a PHEV depends on two factors: the power delivered by the charging station and the power rating your vehicle can take. To give you an idea, a vehicle with a 7kWh battery will take about 1hr 40 minutes to charge from 0 to 100% at a 7kW charging station.
You are no doubt wondering whether it is a good idea to charge your PHEV on the motorway. Here’s the answer in anticipation of your holiday travels.
Once again, you should bear in mind that if you plug into a Type 2 charging point that can deliver up to 22 kW, your vehicle can only charge at the rate it can handle (11kW maximum). You won’t be able to charge any faster than in town and you will be paying a heftier sum. Charging your vehicle could last for hours, so think about opting for charging stations with nearby amenities, which you can find by using the Chargemap app filters.
This is where the advantages of owning a PHEV shine through. When the battery of your electric motor has run out of power, the IC engine takes over. So you can totally avoid charging operations that can easily become long and costly during your holiday travels. This is a reassuring aspect, but doesn’t mean you should forget about charging altogether. By topping up at public charging points adapted to your PHEV, you can continue to benefit from all the advantages of e-mobility that are kind on your wallet and the environment.
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