Plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or simply plug-in hybrid is a type of <a href="/facts/Hybrid_electric_vehicle/Ia53ts30">hybrid electric vehicle</a> equipped with a rechargeable <a href="/facts/Electric-vehicle_battery/txjgvF76">battery pack</a> that can be directly replenished via a <a href="/facts/Power_cord/QbwEE6kN">charging cable</a> plugged into an external <a href="/facts/Electric_power/w61ID9yQ">electric power</a> source, in addition to charging internally by its on-board <a href="/facts/Internal_combustion_engine/Ju4BXzj0">internal combustion engine</a>-powered <a href="/facts/Electric_generator/5sATsUGX">generator</a>. While PHEVs are predominantly <a href="/facts/Passenger_car/WJh2qPoy">passenger cars</a>, there are also plug-in hybrid variants of <a href="/facts/Sports_car/R8l15RXB">sports cars</a>, <a href="/facts/Commercial_vehicle/VoUW0CIH">commercial vehicles</a>, <a href="/facts/Van/kprf6QXL">vans</a>, <a href="/facts/Pickup_truck/Pe5zVzIB">utility trucks</a>, <a href="/facts/Bus/AgUM7Tab">buses</a>, <a href="/facts/Train/0mkFQDg9">trains</a>, <a href="/facts/Motorcycle/owLPEqSr">motorcycles</a>, <a href="/facts/Mopeds/KraM4ID2">mopeds</a>, <a href="/facts/Military_vehicle/j2DLsEnf">military vehicles</a> and boats.
Similar to <a href="/facts/Battery_electric_vehicle/vz6w8xyS">battery electric vehicles</a> (BEVs), plug-in hybrids can use centralized generators of <a href="/facts/Renewable_energy/6Bu6IrpF">renewable energy</a> (e.g. <a href="/facts/Solar_power/NpgmEbU2">solar</a>, <a href="/facts/Wind_power/vlNN3u16">wind</a> or <a href="/facts/Hydroelectric/zEeJIK2B">hydroelectric</a>) to be largely emission-free, or a fossil plant in which case they displace <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas_emissions/Cu9nXPHE">greenhouse gas emissions</a> from the car <a href="/facts/Tailpipe/p7vXmU4B">tailpipe</a> <a href="/facts/Exhaust_gas/kLpq1eUX">exhaust</a> to the <a href="/facts/Power_station/vYeVY1fD">power station</a>. As opposed to conventional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), PHEVs generally have a larger battery pack that can be recharged (theoretically) from anywhere with access to the <a href="/facts/Electrical_grid/RkWPqjmG">electrical grid</a>, offering enhanced <a href="/facts/Energy_efficiency_(physics)/gSqXlWoI">energy efficiency</a> and cost-effectiveness when compared to relying solely on the on-board generator. Additionally, PHEVs can support longer and more frequent <a href="/facts/Charge-depleting/UIJeoY2E">all-electric range</a> driving, and their <a href="/facts/Electric_motor/ArD7BGDa">electric motors</a> often have higher power output and <a href="/facts/Torque/KcrcvNtV">torque</a>, are more responsive in acceleration, and overall have lower <a href="/facts/Operating_cost/NfSrjkGD">operating costs</a>. Although a PHEV's battery pack is smaller than that of all-electric vehicles of the same weight, as it must accommodate its combustion engine and <a href="/facts/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain/BN43WXqs">hybrid drivetrain</a>, it provides the added flexibility of reverting to the use of its <a href="/facts/Gasoline_engine/oj3XzkQU">gasoline</a>/<a href="/facts/Diesel_engine/9B9opxvA">diesel engine</a>, akin to a conventional HEV if the battery charge is depleted. This feature helps alleviate <a href="/facts/Range_anxiety/je5C9u7g">range anxiety</a>, particularly in areas lacking sufficient <a href="/facts/Electric_vehicle_charging_network/I14Gahkq">charging infrastructure</a>.
Mass-produced PHEVs have been available to the public in <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a> and the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> since 2010, with the introduction of the <a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Volt/5xurysoA">Chevrolet Volt</a>, which was the best selling PHEV until it was surpassed by the <a href="/facts/Mitsubishi_Outlander_PHEV/a23YMXjk">Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV</a> at the Volt's end of production in 2019. By 2021, <a href="/facts/BYD_Auto/mee3YKds">BYD Auto</a> emerged as the largest plug-in hybrid vehicle manufacturer in the world. As of May 2024, BYD plug-in hybrid cumulative sales surpassed 3.6 million units. The <a href="/facts/BYD_Song/WomxS4IX">BYD Song DM</a> line of SUVs contributed over 1.05 million units.

Plug-in hybrid open-in-new

Plug-in hybrid