The most notable difference between the plugin PHEV and FHEV (also known as HEV) is that the HEVs use gasoline and electricity to function while the PHEV can use power alone. This means a vehicle running solely on electricity is 100% fuel sufficient while the one using gasoline and electricity is about 70-80% fuel sufficient.
In HEV, the gasoline engine refuels at a gas station, and as it’s running, it charges batteries to run the electric motor. PHEV does this too, but it has the added ability to recharge at any electrical outlet of the correct watts.
The plugin is modified to charge like any home appliance with its electrical plug. Today’s home can be a charging station without replacing any electrical outlets.
In Europe, they have built solar stations and parking structures where plugin hybrids can safely park and recharge their battery reserve. These facilities collect solar energy while providing secured parking.
For an introduction about PHEV, read our introductory guide about What is PHEV
PHEV vs BEV compares PHEV to battery electric vehicles.
While learning about PHEV, one confusing terminology that you will come across is PZEV, or Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. I have an article about PZEV here for you.
Full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV)
FHEV is also known as the hybrid electric vehicle. A hybrid car is one that uses a conventional gasoline engine and an electric motor. The FHEV switches to electric power at lower speeds and gas engine power while at high speeds. Unlike the plugin hybrid, the FHEV cannot be charged or plugged in.
Instead, their batteries are charged from capturing energy when braking; using regenerative braking that converts kinetic energy into electricity. This energy is usually wasted in conventional vehicles. Furthermore, a hybrid car not only conserves fuel but produces less CO2 emissions.
For example, the 2014 Honda Accord hybrid achieves a combined 47 miles per gallon (mpg) compared to a combined 30 mpg for the non-hybrid version. At 12,000 miles a year and $4/gallon gasoline, that means saving over $575 each year.
Benefits and challenges of FHEV
Fuel economy: A Hybrid car is much cleaner and requires less fuel to run, which means fewer emissions and less dependence on fossil fuels. This, in turn, also helps to reduce the price of gasoline in the domestic market. HEVs typically achieve better fuel economy and have lower fuel costs than similar conventional vehicles. For example, the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid has an EPA combined city-and-highway fuel economy estimate of 47 miles per liter. On the other hand, the estimate for the conventional 2018 Accord (four cylinders, automatic) is 33 miles per liter.
Environmentally Friendly: One of the biggest advantages of a hybrid car over a gasoline-powered car is that it runs cleaner. It has better gas mileage, which makes it environmentally friendly. A hybrid vehicle runs on twin powered engine (gasoline engine and electric motor) that cuts fuel consumption and conserves energy.
Cost friendly: Hybrid cars are supported by many credits and incentives that help to make them affordable. Lower annual tax bills and exemption from congestion charges come in the form of less amount of money spent on the fuel.
Regenerative Braking System: Each time you apply the brake while driving a hybrid vehicle helps you to recharge your battery a little. An internal mechanism kicks in that captures the energy released and uses it to charge the battery, which in turn eliminates the amount of time and need for stopping to recharge the battery periodically.
Light Materials: Hybrid vehicles are made of lighter materials. This means less energy is required to run. The engine is also smaller and lighter, which also saves much energy.
Higher Resale Value: With the continuous increase in the price of gasoline, more and more people are turning towards hybrid cars. The result is that these green vehicles have started commanding higher than average resale values. So, in case you are not satisfied with your vehicle, you can always sell it at a premium price to buyers looking for it
FHEV Cons
Performance: Most hybrids are built for economy, not speed. Total output and acceleration lag behind comparable gas-only vehicles. To conserve weight, hybrids usually aren’t equipped with sport-tuned suspensions and other performance enhancements found on non-hybrid models. The location of the battery pack often results in less-than-ideal weight distribution, which can affect handling.
Price: Although the gap is narrowing, hybrids remain more expensive, sometimes by a significant margin. Many buyers find this trade-off to be unacceptable.
Maintenance: Hybrid vehicles generally cost more to repair, and not all mechanics have the equipment and know-how to fix them properly.
Bad Handling – Hybrid car manufacturers are continuously trying to make their vehicles lighter to make them more fuel-efficient. Since a hybrid needs an electric engine, gasoline engine, and batteries, this adds a lot of weight to the vehicle. So, this has forced manufacturers to make smaller batteries and motors. Meanwhile, the body and suspension do not have as much support as they did before.
Electrocution Risk on Accidents – The batteries of hybrid vehicles have a higher amount of voltage in them. If you get into an accident, this voltage could injure or kill you inside the vehicle. It could also make it harder for other people to get you out of the car.
Presence of High Voltage in Batteries: In case of an accident, the high voltage present inside the batteries can prove lethal for you. There is a high chance of you getting electrocuted in such cases which can also make the task difficult for rescuers to get other passengers and driver out of the car.
Plug-in electric car (PHEV)
PHEVs are hybrids with both an electric motor and an extended range battery capacity that are chargeable by plugging into an outlet or charging station. Unlike the full hybrid, PHEVs can switch from electric to using gasoline.
A plugin hybrid (PHEV) takes away the range anxiety common with pure electric cars. With a PHEV, more range is just a gas station away. There’s no need to find a functional charger to get additional miles of range.
For instance, Toyota Prius PHEV can go for about 15 miles by using only electricity. Other such PHEVs are Honda Accord-13miles, Ford Fusion, and C-MAX Energi-21miles, and Chevy Volt-38miles before gasoline takes over.
The distance covered doesn’t sound like much, but many people cover less range daily. Plus, PHEVs are more economical and environmentally friendly. This means it would cost you less to charge and fuel than a conventional car.
For a comprehensive guide to PHEV, start here at PHEV Guide.
There are two essential plugin hybrid configurations:
- Series plugin hybrids also called Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs). Only the electric motor turns the wheels. The gasoline engine only generates electricity. Series plugins can run solely on electricity until the battery runs down. The gasoline engine then generates electricity to power the electric motor. For short trips, these vehicles might use no gasoline at all.
- Parallel or Blended Plugin Hybrids. Both the engine and electric motor are connected to the wheels and propel the vehicle under most driving conditions. The electric-only operation usually occurs only at low speeds.
Some plugin hybrids have higher-capacity batteries and can go further on electricity than others. PHEV fuel economy can be sensitive to driving style, driving conditions, and accessory use.
This youtube video also explains PHEV.
Benefits and challenges of Plug-in hybrid cars
Advantages
Fuel Economy: The miles per gallon on a plugin hybrid are often amazing. There were talks of making a 100-mpg vehicle. Some plugin hybrids even exceeded that mark. The Chevrolet Volt’s 150 miles per gallon is currently the best fuel economy you can get
Lower emissions: Is another benefit of plugin hybrids. Less gas is being used, so fewer emissions come out. Emission levels are even lower than from regular hybrids, and much lower than usual, gasoline cars
Larger battery capacities: Plugin hybrid cars typically have battery capacities large enough that you can drive on just the electric battery and not use a drop of gas. Most of these ranges are 50 miles or so. The only time you would need gas is on longer trips
Cost friendly: The cost for a plugin hybrid’s electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. If you are using mostly power, then paying the equivalent of 75 cents per gallon is much better than three or four dollars a gallon for gas. You can fill up your car with any electrical outlet at your home, someone else’s home, or a gas station
Disadvantages
Cost: Plugin hybrid batteries do cost more than standard hybrid batteries. They are powerful lithium-ion batteries, but with that power, there’s added value. Upfront, it can be a few thousand extra. However, in time the batteries pay for themselves and then save you money by using cheap electricity compared to expensive gasoline. These batteries do have less range in them as a whole. The plugin hybrid is much tougher on the battery, causing fewer cycles for the battery’s lifespan. The number of charges may be the same, but since the range is less than other electric cars, you will go much less distance overall on a plugin hybrid battery
Potential danger: There are some safety concerns with a plugin hybrid. Gasoline is flammable and is needed in the car. Coupled with that, there are also charged batteries and many more than in your typical hybrid. If a collision were to occur, there are worries of potential dangers
Maintenance and repair: Plug-in hybrids still use gas. So you still need to keep up with your car as you would your standard car with checkups, oil changes, etc.
Reduced mileage: If you are going on long trips, the gasoline engine will pretty much do all of the work. This can cause reduced mileage over a long trip because your car is carrying unwanted weight in batteries plus the gasoline engine
PHEV vs FHEV : 0–60mph times
| Year | Model | Type of Hybrid | 0-60 mph in seconds |
| 2020 | BMW X5 xDrive45e | PHEV | 5.4 |
| 2018 | Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription | PHEV | 5.2 |
| 2021 | Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE | PHEV | 5.4 |
| 2017 | Toyota Prius Prime | PHEV | 10.3 |
| 2019 | Prius Ltd | FHEV | 9.8 |
| 2020 | Acura NSX | FHEV | 11.2 |
| 2020 | Ford Escape | FHEV | 10.7 |
| 2020 | Honda CRV | FHEV | 7.5 |
In conclusion
The PHEVs are better in terms of saving fuel and emitting less carbon to the environment. But, for more power, reasonable price, and longer trips without interruption for charging, hybrids are better.
Here is another comparison between MHEV and PHEV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fully Hybrid Electric Vehicle. It is also sometimes referred to as HEV or Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
Instead of relying solely on a gasoline internal combustion engine, hybrids use both a gas engine and electric motors. The energy used by the electric motors is stored in rechargeable batteries. The ability to partially use electricity as a fuel means that you burn less gasoline.
The computer system on a hybrid makes the decisions about which energy source to use at different times, based on maximizing efficiency while providing the same level of safety and comfort as conventional cars. Our technology section provides more details about how hybrids work.
It depends. They will soon be offering a range of electrified powertrains that include mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electric cars. Electrified powertrains require less maintenance and have lower fuel consumption, and the cost of batteries is now reaching a point where it makes more sense to choose an electrified car.
Most electric cars have a range of 85-370 miles, although this is quickly growing. Very few drivers travel this far on a daily basis. For the infrequent occasions when a long-distance drive is needed, the drive can be done with a second car that is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), by access to vehicles in car-share services, or by renting or borrowing another vehicle.
Under most conditions, hybrid cars have proven to be just as safe as conventional vehicles. However, there are several exceptions to this rule.
Hybrids may pose an increased risk of fatality in the most severe accidents for a couple of reasons. One is that hybrid cars tend to be built lighter in order to help them achieve greater mileage. Another is that the hybrid components, especially the high-voltage NiCad battery pack may pose an electrocution hazard if it is damaged in an accident, although manufacturers like Toyota claim that they have addressed this problem.
expensive and disposal an environmental problem?
The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, probably a whole lot longer. The warranty covers the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the carmaker. There’s no definitive word on replacement costs because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.