Plug-in hybrid cars

Plug-in hybrid cars combine a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor, just like a conventional hybrid, but they have a bigger battery and a more powerful electric motor and can be charged using a home or public charger. This gives them lower average fuel consumption and emissions and a much longer electric-only range of about 20-40 miles depending on the model.

The difference between a plug-in hybrid and a conventional hybrid is that a plug-in has a bigger battery and electric motor and can be plugged in to a home or public charger. As a result, plug-in hybrids can be driven much farther using electric power alone.

Plug-in hybrids offer some of the benefits of both a petrol or diesel car and an electric car. If there’s not enough battery charge you can always use the petrol or diesel engine, yet the electric-only range is enough for many peoples’ daily commute. Plug-in hybrids promise much lower fuel consumption and emissions than a conventional hybrid, but you need to keep them charged to enjoy the full benefits.

Just as with a conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrids are able to recharge their batteries during everyday driving. However, to get the best range or to run on electric power alone you’ll need to plug the car into an electricity supply. You can do this via an ordinary domestic socket, a specially installed home charging point or via a public or workplace charging point.

The best plug-in hybrid cars come in many different varieties, with something to suit a mix of needs and budgets. These include compact cars such as the Audi A3 e-tron and Kia Niro, saloons such as the BMW 330e and Volkswagen Passat GTE and SUVs such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volvo XC90.