Do Plug-In Hybrids Need to Be Plugged In? No. Plug-in hybrids can be charged to run on mostly electric power usually for the first 25 to 50 miles before they revert to regular hybrid operation, but they will still operate even if they are never plugged in.
How far can I drive on a charge? 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).
Recharge daily, drive 100% electric
We recommend that you charge your plug-in hybrid vehicle every day in order to enjoy sufficient range to complete the majority of your daily trips using only electric energy.
Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, which uses energy stored in batteries. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine.
In all cases, the engine will run until the battery is recharged to an acceptable level. At that point, the engine will shut off automatically.
Most hybrid batteries should take drivers about 100,000 miles. With excellent maintenance, some owners are able to push this number to 200,000. Warranties typically extend to about the 100,000-mile mark, so manufacturers do expect this to be the upper limit on battery life.
Some Consumer Reports in the US estimate the average EV battery pack's lifespan to be at around 320,000 Kms, which is nearly 19.5 years of use if driven at the Irish average per car 16,400 Km per year (CSO 2019), longer than the expected lifespan of most vehicles (which is 10-14 years)!
The vehicle typically runs on electric power until the battery is nearly depleted, and then the car automatically switches over to use the ICE. Learn more about plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid cars, known as PHEVs, are powered by an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE). Their battery can be recharged whilst using a plug-in charging point and whilst driving.
How They Work. Plug-in hybrid-electric cars offer both gas-only and electric-only driving—even at relatively high speeds. 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.
In general, you should not charge your electric car every night. It isn't necessary in most cases. The practice of charging an electric vehicle every night can shorten the lifespan of the car's battery pack.
Most electric car owners charge their cars at home overnight. In fact, people with regular driving habits need not charge the battery fully every night. And automakers provide electric car batteries that hold their charge for long, allowing you to skip plug-ins for a few nights.
Should you leave your car plugged in? When you plug in your electric car, the charger “fills it up” to 100%, then stops. Once fully charged, there is no need to leave the car plugged in anymore.
A plug-in hybrid is an efficient choice for drivers whose daily trips fall within the electric-only range, but who occasionally need to make longer trips. However, those who cannot charge at home or who drive far beyond a PHEV's electric range on a daily basis are likely to get better value from a regular hybrid.
Minimize the batteries at 100% state of charge
Keeping the state of battery charge, from 0 percent to 100 percent , also improves the performance of the battery life of your vehicle. Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery.
They are at their most efficient when they're at a consistent cruising speed. So above 15 mph, only the gasoline engine is used.
Most plug-in hybrids that are on the market have a range of over 30 miles on pure electric before the vehicle starts to use gasoline. If you tend to run your vehicle on electricity most of the time, we do want to inform you that the gas in your plug-in hybrid will go bad after a certain amount of time.
Batteries naturally lose their voltage over time, even when the vehicle is not in use – this is especially true for older cars (with older hybrid batteries). Your best bet is to drive your Prius, Camry Hybrid, or other hybrid vehicles at least twice a week for at least 10 miles on each drive.
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.
Since PHEVs have internal combustion engines, the gas components of the car will share the same maintenance requirements of traditional gas vehicles. However, the electrical components of the car will be a lot cheaper to maintain because there are fewer moving parts in an electric motor than in a gasoline engine.
Gasoline doesn't come with a best-before date, but it's still got a shelf life. Gas can start to break down after three to six months – and that could cause your car to break down.
The short answer is yes. Electric car batteries can be replaced; however, the majority of electric car owners will never need to worry about replacing their electric car batteries. Most car manufacturers provide warranties for their electric vehicles, which typically cover them up to 8-10 years or 100,000 miles.