How Do Plug-In Hybrids Work?: PHEVs Explained - DrivingElectric

Regarded by many as a key stepping stone towards living with an EV, plug-in hybrids combine the benefits of electric driving with the long distance capabilities of your average petrol-powered car. But how does a plug-in hybrid work? How do you top one up? And why is it important to keep a PHEV charged as much as possible? DrivingElectric’s Grace Webb has the answers…
To watch our latest video, click here: / @drivingelectric
Chapters:
00:00 - What is a plug-in hybrid?
00:23 - Benefits of a PHEV
00:55 - Electric driving
01:52 - How to charge a PHEV
02:25 - Importance of charging a PHEV
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[@uabir8338]

Her accent, I can listen to her all day! SUBSCRIBED!

[@tubzvermeulen]

Thanks for the video

[@evergreennj8950]

Nice video but would love to see you do 1 or more about Chinese PHEVs. For example, maybe do a comparison between Toyota Prius Prime 2023 vs a similar PHEV from BYD or a different Chinese brand.

[@justme-wh5li]

if you title your post 'HOW DO PHEVs WORK?' then please explain how! Does the petrol engine charge the battery running the drivetrain, leading to massive inefficiency on long trips? or does the battery simply assist the Petrol engine, meaning when the battery is dead, you effectively have a traditional Hybrid? What car is more eco and energy efficient for +1000 km? PHEV or trad. Hybrid?

[@chichibud31]

Thought it was me not getting whatever point they're tyying to bring across🤔.

[@GermainStaquet]

I want to correct a statement here. Having driven myself a PHEV for 4 years, i can tell that even with battery "empty". You then drive a simple hybrid car, and no, they don't consume more than a regular non hybrid car, even if you think that the battery weight may have a huuuge impact. Who will ever say that the well known Toyota Prius consume more? Well, a PHEV with "empty" battery = a kind of Toyota Prius... (If anyone wonder, i drove a Passat GTE).

[@scooter5940]

Understand that, but you still have a pretty underpowered car, right? All of the engines I see used on a PHEV are less powerful than the ICE only counterpart. They always quote total HP figures, but that assumes a charged battery.

[@LukaElsner]

⁠​⁠@@scooter5940my Audi A6 Avant 55 TFSIe has 250 HP and 370 HP combined with electric motor. I think 250 HP is still more than enough of HP for daily driving.

[@scooter5940]

@@LukaElsner Not for a car you pay that much money for, it's not. And it doesn't get great mileage hauling around that extra weight. PHEV's only make sense for people who do the vast majority of their driving with a charged battery.

[@evergreennj8950]

I hear the criticism about the drawback of lugging the extra weight of the ICE drivetrain when in EV mode and that of the battery and electric drivetrain when in ICE mode. For many, that's an acceptable compromise for the benefit of much longer range and the ability to refuel conventionally which is a big plus in countries that still do not have a robust EV charging infrastructure. Besides, "EV trucks and SUVs weigh 2.5 times more than ICE trucks and SUVs. In terms of sedans, the EVs weigh about 30% more than ICE cars" according to an article at Proficient. Another article at Axios states "Vehicles are adding poundage as the auto industry goes electric - and that's problematic for traffic safety, parking garages and roads."

[@Anonymous.User.0419]

In plug-in hybrids, if one drives in EV mode, does the gas engine mechanically work without combustion (like pistons moving, etc)? Or is the gas engine completely at a standstill?

[@dayoadeosun1520]

There is a misinformation about how phevs cars work. When the battery finished, it NEVER turns to a petrol car. Instead, it continues seamlessly as a hybrid car with a bigger battery. I drive a toyota prius phev 2020 and this is what happens each time I exhaust my daily 33 miles EV range

[@evergreennj8950]

I'm waiting for someone to do a video on how different versions of PHEVs work. PHEVs from Toyota are different from Hyundai, Kia, or GM. The largest PHEV maker in the world is BYD and from what I can tell, they have their own version that's even different from the other manufacturers mentioned.

[@picosotapatio]

What if I have one and never charge it? Can it still run on gas?

[@TRPGpilot]

Cars are not fueled with 'gas' . . .

[@flexor212000]

@@TRPGpilot Yes they are. Gasoline. In the US we refer to Gasoline as "gas". Jeez dude stop being a jerk.

[@lordpitnolen2196]

Check your comment about special zones. In my nearest town 100% electric or hydrogen only in special zones, no hybrids

[@EdgarRenje]

In my opinion, PHEV combine the worst of both worlds: if you drive mostly electric, than you could go with an EV without taking the extra weight of an ICE and its maintenance costs (you will need to change oil etc. no matter how less you drive), but if you don't charge it regularly, you drive around extra battery weight with you and will never get the low consumption figures they promise. Modern EVs fit to most of the people. Don't be scared, try it out (if there is at least a charge station within a range of 15 min to go). Even for people who drive around more than the average range of an EV, the PHEV is not a good choice, because there is always a little break, at which you can recharge your EV. No one says you have to live with one charge per day.

[@taxicamel]

Now, if you live a home with mummy and never travel away from her ....OK. But what if a family "travels" several times a year for various reasons: a long weekend getaway, an event of some kind, planned vacations, visiting relatives/family a distance away ....etc. All these examples are "REAL LIFE" everyday requirements for most people. So if the desire is to be as environmentally conscious as possible, for every day normal life ......and then need the capability for regular "long hauls with the family", an EV is very likely not going to be capable ....and I doubt going out to buy a second vehicle is in the cards ....or even renting a vehicle for trips, is not very economical. You're entitled to your opinion ....especially if you keep mummy happy. .

[@EdgarRenje]

@@taxicamel No need for a choice of words like that. Your problem is the deep-seated mindset of "I have to be able to cover all options at all times." This is exactly what is not sustainable. This is how you create surplus that is not necessary. Yes, it is more economical and ecological to only use a car for really long ranges when you really need it. Apart from that, there are very well electric cars that already allow long ranges and please don't tell me that you drive 1000 km without any stops. That is simply not true.

[@evergreennj8950]

@@EdgarRenje Do a search and you will learn that the median personal income in the US is only around $40k per year. Yes, the mean or average is around $59K but that's skewed by the top 1% of income earners and gives people a false picture of the situation in the US. That means half of the people with a job earn just $40k or less a year. Do you really think they can afford an EV plus an ICE car? Affordable PHEVs less than $20K would serve the needs of so many more Americans than any EV available for sale in the US and would actually make a measurable difference in CO2 emissions and air pollution.

[@EdgarRenje]

@@evergreennj8950No, they don't. Read again.

[@picosotapatio]

Gas... short for gasoline. You know exactly what I meant... 😒

[@picosotapatio]

Can a plug in hybrid just run on gas?

[@TRPGpilot]

Cars are not fueled with 'gas' . . .

[@flexor212000]

@@TRPGpilot In the US we refer to "gasoline" as gas. We all know what he's talking about stop being a jerk.

[@chichibud31]

Doesn't make much sense. Why not just make the engine recharge the battery continuously, like a full hybrid🤔. Just hauling around extra accessories, for what ?

[@roadhog19]

Useless vehicles.