The Best Plug-in Hybrid Cars: A Comprehensive Guide

If we are talking about complexes in general, we must mention the main reason. They have a dual power unit – an internal combustion engine (diesel or gasoline) and an electric drive with traction battery. At the same time, when you drive, the electronic connects to the driving wheels the installation that will be more profitable at the moment.

For example, an internal combustion engine is not as efficient in idle and during acceleration – it needs a lot of fuel, actively poisoning the air, and providing, to put it mildly, no very active acceleration. But when you drive quickly on the autobahn, when you need to deliver more power for a long time, an internal combustion engine is more profitable.

For its part, the electric drive behaves better when driving in traffic jams and during acceleration, because the electric motor develops the maximum torque right from zero rpm . In addition, the electric motor can recover energy, returning it to the battery during braking and coasting.

What is a plug-in hybrid

Plug-in Hybrid (English) – plug-in hybrid, also known as PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). The main difference from other hybrids is a larger capacity traction battery (5-12 kWh), which is recharged not only from the internal combustion engine when the car is run, but also at home from a revolution (if the driver wants). Therefore, such a car can travel from 30 to 100 km as an electric car, without consuming fuel from the tank. It is not for nothing that plug-in hybrids in many countries are officially classified as electric vehicles and receive corresponding benefits.

Usually, the average owner uses such a car during the work week as an electric car, after recharging overnight, driving around town just an electric drive. And on weekends, going, say, to the country or just on a long trip, the car automatically activates the internal combustion engine, which charges the battery and giving power to the wheels.

From an engineer’s point of view, a PHEV is similar to a conventional full hybrid FHEV, but because of the larger battery, it is significantly more expensive. The second major drawback is that many plug-in hybrids have a small trunk, as part of it is a large battery. As a rule, on the outside, plug-in hybrids are no different from conventional cars or current hybrids of the same model; The personal characteristic of a PHEV is the charging port and the corresponding nameplate on the body.

Ford Fusion Energi (2012 – 2020)

The American version of the Ford Mondeo had two hybrid versions in every generation – FHEV and PHEV, with the word Energi added to the name of the latter. But we recommend that Ukrainian drivers buy this model in the latest generation. Ford Fusion Energi can travel 30 – 60 km on electric power alone. Among the obvious shortcomings of this sedan is a small trunk with a volume of 232 liters; due to the presence of a large battery, it was reduced by almost half, which was really almost a record in this class. In any driver, the car shows that it is fast and powerful, although it is positioned as a family model only.

Chevrolet Volt (2010-2019)

Hybrid model only with no powertrain options other than PHEV. In Ukraine it is known in both generations, depending on which car has electric autonomy up to 60 or 80 km (maximum data). Just like the previously mentioned Fusion Energi, the Volt comes to our country from American auctions of used cars, which did not stop the Volt from gaining popularity. An interesting, although not very pleasant, feature of the model is that it only has a 4-seater cabin configuration, since the traction battery is located in the central tunnel and there is no place for the middle passenger to put his feet on the back. .

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2012)

The current generation of the popular crossover has a plug-in hybrid version for the first time in Ukraine. Which, among other facilities, brings the car to the four wheels, which, with a ground clearance of 190 mm, gives the Outlander the legal right to move from the asphalt to the dirt road. A car can travel around 50 – 60 km using only electric power. The interior of the model is spacious, and the trunk of the “hybrid plug-in” has decreased a little, with 463 liters very adequate. Anyway, it is the Outlander in the PHEV version that has been used by the Ukrainian police for several years, and this says a lot.

Volvo XC90 T8 (с 2015 g.)

The car is luxurious both from a user and technical point of view. Actually, conceptually this is not an XC90 package for thrifty owners, but an ultimate version of the Swedish flagship (okay, Swedish-Chinese). The seven-seat hybridy has a 4×4 drive and dynamic characteristics that are hard to believe with its dimensions (length 4.8 m) and weight (about 2 tons): 5.6 seconds to 100 km/h. The PHEV-Volvo is driven accordingly, although from the outside it does not at all resemble the crossovers that are now fashionable. The range of autonomy on electricity is not higher than 25 – 40 km, but for this class, you have to admit, it is not bad either. Note that in Ukraine, this car was also sold through the network of official dealers, which adds advantages in its favor.

Kia Niro (2017г.)

Convenient, comfortable and pleasant to drive, the crossover is now sold in Ukraine in its second generation. Interestingly, there are three versions of the Niro: petrol, electric and PHEV. The appeal version is popular among other things among fans of high-quality design solutions. So, the compact model has a full-size 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 180 hp. And unlike most other hybrids, the Niro PHEV does not have a simple CVT, but a sophisticated transmission with a pre-selectable gearbox. True, the Korean does not have a 4 × 4 configuration and makes do with front wheel drive.

In short

Owners of plug-in hybrids say their cars are very convenient for everyday use thanks to their “electric vehicle component”. And also that they consume very little fuel. This may be true, but it is very difficult to convert these benefits into money. After all, you have to take into account a wide range of factors: the high price of the car itself, the cost of energy at home and at public charging stations, additional fuel consumption due to the extra weight of the car, the need to order some spare parts overseas, etc. So, if you want to buy a PHEV hybrid just to save money, this is a dubious idea. That is, after calculating all the costs, say, after three years of operation, savings can appear. But there is no doubt that the plug-in hybrid is very easy to use.