What Is A Plug
A plug-in hybrid vehicle is a gasoline-powered hybrid with a much larger battery and a means to recharge it using an external power source. A plug-in hybrid behaves much like an electric vehicle, with its gasoline engine essentially dormant, when its battery has charge. The engine comes to life when the battery runs down, allowing the vehicle to continue uninterrupted as a regular gasoline hybrid. It also uses regenerative braking to save fuel. Note: Some PHEVs are incorrectly marketed as hybrids. If you can plug it in and also fill it up, it’s a plug-in hybrid.
Examples of a plug-in hybrid vehicle include the BMW 530e, the Toyota Prius Prime and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
Do You Have A Short Regular Commute
A PHEV might be right for you.
Unlike pure EVs or conventional hybrids, PHEVs have electric ranges that are usually between 20 and 40 miles per charge, and then revert to regular hybrid operation. Considering that the average American drives less than 40 miles per day, that means that some drivers will be able to do most of their daily travel on electric power, as long as they plug in first, while reserving the gas engine for longer trips.
If that sounds like how you drive, theres one drawback you should be aware of: cost. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a plug-in hybrid can cost roughly $4,000 to $8,000 more up front than a comparable non-plug-in hybrid before any eligible tax credits. But those who tend to travel short distances and plug in whenever they get the chance will save money in the long run because it costs a lot less to drive on electricity than on gasoline. A CR study found that a Prius Prime driver who plugs in regularly would save $3,000 over a regularand already highly efficientPrius during a typical six-year ownership period. Plus, plugging in at home can be a great, time-saving convenience over periodic gas fill-ups.
These are the PHEVs with the longest electric-only ranges:
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime: 42 miles
2022 Volvo S60& V60 T8 AWD Recharge extended range: 40 miles*
2022 Volvo S90 T8 AWD Recharge extended range: 38 miles
2022 Ford Escape FWD PHEV: 37 miles *
2022 Lexus NX 450h Plus AWD: 37 miles
What Is The Difference Between A Plug
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle carries a larger battery than hybrid vehicles that cannot be plugged in. The larger battery size enables plug-in hybrids to operate in all-electric mode without engaging the combustion engine within a certain range and speed. The batteries in plug-in hybrids can be charged using a standard 120V household outlet, or a more powerful 240V outlet found at a public charging station or in the available BMW i Wallbox. In addition, the driver also has the option of using the combustion engine in tandem with the electric motor or independently.
A hybrid vehicle, by contrast, cannot be changed from an external power source they rely on energy generated from gasoline or regenerative braking. This limited power supply is not designed to support all-electric driving, and the smaller battery delivers fewer of the efficiency benefits of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
A mild hybrid electric vehicle is powered by a combustion engine supported by a 48V electric motor integrated into the drivetrain. While MHEVs cannot be driven on full electric power, the electric motor assists the combustion engine in certain situations as a starter for seamless Auto Start/Stops, while accelerating from a standstill, or when you need extra eBoost acceleration as you drive. Mild hybrid technology optimizes efficiency and performance while increasing overall comfort for the driver.
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Pros And Cons Of Electric Cars
Zero tailpipe emissions is where cars are headed, so while hybrids and PHEVs are a step in the right direction, youll need a fully electric car to meet the governments and many drivers – ultimate objective. If you own a PHEV or EV and live in a flat or rent your place of residence, the good news is that you may qualify for the EV chargepoint grant, where the government will contribute 75% towards the cost of installing a home wallbox charger, up to a cap of £350.
Electric cars also benefit from extremely low levels of company-car tax, with Benefit-in-Kind set at just 2% in 2022 until at least April 2024.
Compared to traditional models, EVs can look relatively pricey to buy but as an electric car owner, youll benefit from ultra-low running costs, as well as the relaxing and near-silent drive. You will have to get used to the rigmarole of dragging a cable across your garage, drive or sometimes the pavement to keep it charged. However, with EV range from a single charge seemingly increasing with every new model, some EV drivers already only need to charge their car once or twice a week. If your car will drive 300 miles on a full charge and your commute is just 20 miles, why not?
Read our guides to hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric cars here.
What Is An Electric Vehicle

An electric vehicle has a battery that is large enough and an electric motor that is powerful enough to deliver adequate range and performance without the need to include an engine or gas tank at all.
Examples of an electric vehicle include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model 3.
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What Is The Electric Range Of A Bmw Plug
The electric range of a plug-in hybrid vehicle depends on the size of the battery, as well as the vehicle weight, aerodynamics, and tire type. In the case of 2020/2021 BMW plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the EPA-rated electric ranges are:
- BMW X5 xDrive45e Sports Activity Vehicle®: 30 miles
- BMW X5 xDrive45e SAV: 30 miles
- BMW 330e/330e xDrive Sedan: 22/20 miles
- BMW 530e/530e xDrive Sedan: 20/18 miles
- BMW 745e xDrive Sedan: 16 miles
The combined driving range when engaging both the electric motor and the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine is significantly higher and can be optimized based on driving and charging behavior.
Learn More About Hevs
Hybrid Electric Vehicles, or HEVs, have both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor to drive the car. All energy for the battery is gained through regenerative braking, which recoups otherwise lost energy in braking to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration. In a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, this braking energy is normally lost as heat in the brake pads and rotors. Regular hybrids cannot plug into the grid to recharge and cannot charge with EVgo.
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Bmw 530e 24 Miles And 530e Xdrive 18 Miles
View Deals On The BMW 5 SeriesBMW
BMW offers PHEVs in the 3-, 5- and 7-series, as well as the X5 and, through the 2021 model year, the X3. In total, BMW has offered 18 PHEV models since 2014, the most of any automaker. The current 530e sedan is eligible for a $4,668 rebate, offsetting the $55,550 purchase price. The four-cylinder turbo engine and electric motor produce 288 horsepower at the rear wheels. The EV range from a 12-kilowatt-hour battery is only 21 miles , and a mere 18 in the xDrive version. Thats not impressive, and pales compared to the X5 PHEVs 31 miles. Owners getting to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds might not worry all that much, but there are faster BMWs.
Sales And Main Markets
There were 1.2 million plug-in hybrid cars on the world roads at the end of 2017. The stock of plug-in hybrids increased to 1.8 million in 2018, out of a global stock of about 5.1 million plug-in electric passenger cars. As of December 2017, the United States ranked as the world’s largest plug-in hybrid car market with a stock of 360,510 units, followed by China with 276,580 vehicles, Japan with 100,860 units, the Netherlands with 98,220, and the UK with 88,660.
Global sales of plug-in hybrids grew from over 300 units in 2010 to almost 9,000 in 2011, jumped to over 60,000 in 2012, and reached almost 222,000 in 2015. As of December 2015, the United States was the world’s largest plug-in hybrid car market with a stock of 193,770 units. About 279,000 light-duty plug-in hybrids were sold in 2016, raising the global stock to almost 800,000 highway legal plug-in hybrid electric cars at the end of 2016. A total of 398,210 plug-in hybrid cars were sold in 2017, with China as the top selling country with 111,000 units, and the global stock of plug-in hybrids passed the one million unit milestone by the end of 2017.
Global sales of plug-in electric vehicles have been shifting for several years towards fully electric battery cars. The global ratio between all-electrics and plug-in hybrids went from 56:44 in 2012, to 60:40 in 2015, to 66:34 in 2017, and rose to 69:31 in 2018.
Top 10 countries by plug-in hybrid market shareof new car sales in 2013 |
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Ranking |
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The Pros And Cons Of Plug
If youre running out of gas in a hybrid vehicle, youll need to find a place to charge it. A plug-in hybrid is typically capable of traveling 100 miles on electric power alone, so if you intend to travel to a nearby gas station, youll need a charger. If the battery runs out of juice in your hybrid vehicle, you might be able to use a backup fuel system that can run on gasoline or diesel. Plug-in hybrids can help drivers reduce their carbon footprints, but they arent suitable for everyone. You might want to keep your hybrid car if youre not sure how to use it or if you dont intend to drive it for long distances.
Some Phevs Get Worse Mileage Than A Conventional Car If You Dont Plug Them In
When the electric range is depleted, most PHEVs get a few miles per gallon less than a comparable hybrid, and a few more than a comparable gas-only vehicle. But in some cases, a purely gas-powered car beats a PHEVs gas-only fuel economy.
For example, if you dont plug them in, BMWs PHEVs get worse fuel economy than their nonhybrid counterparts. Once the 330e xDrive sedans 20-mile electric range is exhausted, it only gets 25 mpg3 mpg less than the conventional 330i xDrives EPA rating of 28 mpg.
And that hybrid badge doesnt always mean a car is a mileage miser: The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid all get overall fuel economy only in the teens after their short electric-only ranges are exhausted.
PHEVs with the best non-electric gas mileage:
2022 Toyota Prius Prime: 54 mpg
2022 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid: 52 mpg
2022 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid: 46 mpg
2022 Ford Escape FWD PHEV: 40 mpg*
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime 4WD: 38 mpg
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid: 34 mpg
2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid: 35 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 450h Plus AWD: 36 mpg
2022 Lincoln Corsair AWD PHEV: 33 mpg*
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid: 33 mpg
Bottom line: Plug-in hybrids are a great bridge technology, spanning regular gasoline cars to electric vehicles. They are ideal for some drivers, but not all.
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Where Can Lincoln Plug
You can charge at home in as little as three-to-four hours using your upgraded 240V electric outlet, or at any of the 20,000 charging stations in the U.S. Have to leave in a hurry? The combination of gas and electric systems means your Lincoln plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is always road ready.
*Range and charge time based on manufacturer computer engineering simulations and EPA-estimated range calculation methodology. The charging rate decreases as battery reaches full capacity. Your results may vary based on peak charging times and battery state of charge. Actual vehicle range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviors, vehicle maintenance, and lithium-ion battery age.
What Kind Of Charging Speeds Are Available For A Lincoln Plug

Our standard dual-voltage charging cord enables you to recharge overnight using your homeâs standard 120v electrical outlets, or you can upgrade your outlets to 240v to recharge in less than 4 hours.*
*Range and charge time based on manufacturer computer engineering simulations and EPA-estimated range calculation methodology. The charging rate decreases as battery reaches full capacity. Your results may vary based on peak charging times and battery state of charge. Actual vehicle range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviors, vehicle maintenance, and lithium-ion battery age.
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The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Full Hybrid Cars
Full hybrids are the best choice for drivers due to their superior fuel economy. Because regenerative braking can recharge the electric battery, it can be used to conserve electricity, which is especially useful for drivers who use their vehicle for extended periods of time. A hybrid car has many advantages over a non-electric car, but its heavy battery can make it more inefficient when driving on an engine only. Full hybrids typically cost more to purchase as a result of their higher battery pack prices than traditional hybrids or gas-only vehicles.
Can You Drive A Hybrid On Electric Only
Yes, you can drive a hybrid on electric only. The electric motor is powered by a battery and it is emissions-free. The battery will need to be recharged periodically, but it will last longer if you only use electric mode for shorter trips.
The battery of a hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge. The battery is charged in this manner by regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine. Depending on how much power is available via the electric motor, a smaller engine may be able to be created. When the engine is turned off, the battery can provide auxiliary power and reduce engine idling. Internal combustion engines : Fuel is injected into the intake manifold or combustion chamber, and the mixture of fuel and air is ignited by a spark from the igniter. The thermal system keeps the engine, electric motor, power electronics, and other components at a constant temperature. The traction battery pack is made up of several cells. The traction motor uses electricity to generate power.
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At What Speed Do Hybrid Cars Switch From Battery Power To Petrol Power
Depending on how fast the vehicle moves, one or both of these motors must be switched between. The hybrid will use its battery power when traveling at a lower speed. As the vehicles speed rises, it will turn to the gasoline or diesel engine. The vehicle has a higher gas mileage, and the environment is cleaner.
How long does a plug-in hybrid travel before it loses its battery? For each model, a hybrid engine can switch to a gas motor at a different speed. On flat and well-maintained highways, it can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour. The electric motor should restart after you lower your speed to around the so-called deadband acceleration level. Some reviewers claimed that the vehicle was turned off even at very slow speeds, such as 15 miles per hour. The fact that it is a hybrid may not be apparent for a while, so you will have to drive it a long time before you notice its benefits. Is it possible to build a gas-powered hybrid car and start it off as a run on gas?
How Do Phevs Impact The Environment
One of the significant benefits of PHEVs is the lower carbon emissions. Since vehicular emissions are the major contributor to the increasing pollution, plug-in hybrids have a substantial impact on reducing vehicular pollution. With bigger battery packs, PHEVs are capable of operating in pure electric mode with zero emissions. And in hybrid mode, the vehicles produce significantly less carbon emissions. Overall, PHEVs are the next best alternative to EVs when it comes to reducing vehicle emissions.
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What Happens If You Dont Charge A Plug In Hybrid
A plug-in hybrid vehicles fuel sources include gasoline or electricity. The battery will be charged whenever you want, usually at home, if not during the day, or en route however, if you do not, the gas engine will continue to move the car normally in normal hybrid mode.
The plug-in hybrid operates as a hybrid, regardless of whether it runs on gas or electricity. There is no need to charge it at a gas station or on the road rather, it should be charged at home, when not in the middle of the day, or when traveling. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle can travel approximately 20 miles without emitting any exhaust gas. Battery systems, on the other hand, are the most significant drawback of hybrid vehicles. Plug-in hybrids, like all-electric vehicles, are more efficient than self-charging vehicles, and the larger battery allows a PHEV to cover more miles in 100% electric mode than it would in a stationary hybrid. The sale of new hybrid vehicles will end in 2035, just five years after the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles. In the case of an EV that can travel 200 miles on electricity for $107 per kilowatt-hour, youd need about $6 to charge it to 100%.
Hybrid Vehicle Pros & Cons
- Smooth, immediate and quiet acceleration with no shifting
- Little regular upkeep apart from tires and wipers
- Per-mile electricity costs less than gasoline
- No need to stop for gas
Cons
- Range anxiety is a concern because it takes time to recharge
- You must plug it in and might need a 240-volt home station
- Difficult for renters to manage charging
- Long trips require finding fast-charging stations
- More expensive to buy
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