The combustion engine provides some charge for longer distance driving, but plug-in hybrids are intended to be closer to the fully-EV side of Hybrid than “full” Hybrids are.
Do You Drive Long Distances Often? A regular hybrid might be a better choice. That's because the longer you drive and the less you plug in, the less benefit you get from a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle.
Some motorists are surprised by how well hybrid engines lend themselves to motorway driving in all its different phases: Accelerate gradually, potentially drawing on only one power source. Accelerate faster by using both power sources together. Cruise at speed in electric mode when little to no acceleration is needed.
Due to the superior fuel economy of hybrids, the fuel savings can offset the higher purchase price over time. This means that depending on your annual mileage, hybrids can be financially viable in the long run for those who prioritize fuel efficiency over other factors such as power or acceleration.
Less horsepower
While most drivers choose a hybrid for its fuel economy and emissions, one disadvantage of hybrids is that they may not possess the same overall horsepower as a traditional car.
Can a Hybrid Handle Long Distance Trips? Your hybrid can certainly handle long distance trips efficiently. However, there are some things to keep in mind. A hybrid operates more efficiently when kept under 50 miles per hour.
The main advantage of taking a hybrid car on your next long distance road trip is the excellent fuel economy it offers. While traditional vehicles may require frequent stops for refuelling, hybrids are designed to conserve fuel over much longer distances.
1. Low emissions of toxic gases and lower consumption, as plug-in hybrids prioritise the electric motor over the combustion engine when driving. They are ideal for urban journeys, because as they have a greater range in all-electric mode, the combustion engine is not needed.
Don't sit in neutral gear in start/stop traffic – electricity will not be generated and the hybrid battery will discharge power. Accelerate gently and stick to the speed limit to get the most out of your electric drive mode. Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed and reduce running costs.
2023 Lexus ES 300h: 700 miles
Combine that with a 15.9-gallon gas tank, and the ES 300h can travel 700 miles on a single tank — the longest range of any hybrid car today.
Of course, this differs per model, but an average hybrid car can drive a total of between 750 and 1,000 kilometers (620 and 700 miles) with a full tank of fuel and a fully charged battery, without having to stop in between. Often, the bigger the car, the further it gets.
If you don't plug in your PHEV at all, its batteries are still automatically charged through the vehicle's regenerative braking system and its engine, but the charge it receives may be minimal and not enough to allow you to drive without using fuel.
The car starts up in electric mode automatically and stays in this mode up until a speed between 43 mph and 80 mph. If additional power is needed, or if the battery's charge is too low, then the car will activate the combustion engine.
You can definitely drive your plug-in hybrid without a charged battery. Although it is designed as a combustion-assisted electric vehicle, the battery always has some energy stored away thanks to its self-charging technology.
Plug-In Hybrids
PHEVs have a larger battery than regular hybrids have, so they can be driven farther and more often on electric power. As with regular hybrids, regenerative braking can extend the battery's range, and the gasoline-powered engine and electric motor switch back and forth as needed.
PHEVs are slowly becoming less relevant, as owners are almost exclusively using the gasoline engine and not touching the electrical power. Plug-in hybrids are rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of vehicle on the planet, as we move away from pure internal combustion power.
The consensus is that leaving a hybrid with nickel-metal-hydride batteries such as yours stored for three months should be okay, but four-five months might be pressing it a bit.
With smaller batteries than battery-electrics, plug-in hybrids achieve an electric-only range of 20‒55 miles, during which they produce no tailpipe emissions. When the vehicle uses up its electric range, it switches to gas and drives just like a conventional car.
Plug-in hybrids may drive for 10-50 miles using only electricity before they start using gasoline, and can then drive for about 300 miles (depending on the size of the fuel tank, just like any other car).
The 2022 Prius Prime came with an 8.8 kWh battery and an EPA range rating of 25 miles per charge. The 2023 version now has a 13.6 kWh battery and the Prius Prime SE, the most efficient version, is EPA range rated at 44 miles per charge.
Constantly driving on highways – If you have alternate routes that don't force you to drive at high speeds like the highway does, consider taking those. Not giving the vehicle time to warm up – When it's cold outside, you must give your hybrid enough time to warm up before beginning your trip.