What is the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid?
Both combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor. A plug-in hybrid has a high-capacity battery that can be charged from an outlet and can store enough electricity to significantly reduce its petroleum use, while a regular hybrid cannot be plugged in.
Action level No action usually needed
- Why you are seeing it
- It comes up when you shop for an efficient vehicle and see both "hybrid" and "plug-in hybrid" listed.
- Why it matters
- Only a plug-in hybrid can use electricity from an outlet, so the two have different running costs and different things to arrange at home.
- What should I do?
- Decide whether you can charge a vehicle where you park it.
- Compare the cost of gasoline and of electricity at your own prices.
- Check each vehicle's own specifications for its battery and range.
- A common misunderstanding
- A plug-in hybrid is not simply a "better" hybrid: it is a different kind of vehicle, and its advantage depends on being charged.
The difference in one table
| Hybrid (HEV) | Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor | Yes | Yes |
| Can be charged from an outlet or charging station | No | Yes |
| Battery | Cannot be plugged in to charge | High-capacity: can store enough electricity to cut petroleum use significantly |
| Regenerative braking | Yes | Yes |
A simple example
Two ways to fuel up
A regular hybrid: you fill the tank with gasoline, and the car recovers some energy when it brakes.
A plug-in hybrid: you can also plug it in, so some trips can use electricity from the outlet.
Which costs less depends on your prices and how you drive, so compare with your own numbers.
What that means for you
A regular hybrid needs no plug, so it is fuelled at a gas station only. A plug-in hybrid can run on electricity from the grid, so what it costs to run depends on how often you charge it as well as on the price of gasoline.
Try these tools
- Gas vs EV Cost ComparisonCompare the cost of owning a gas car and an electric car.
- EV Charging Cost CalculatorEstimate what a charge costs from the battery size and charge levels (or the kWh added) and your electricity price.
- Fuel Savings CalculatorCompare two MPG values and see the yearly, monthly and 5-year fuel savings. Also answers how much better gas mileage is worth.