Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) combines a rechargeable traction battery and electric motor with an internal-combustion engine. Its battery can be charged from an external electrical supply as well as through regenerative braking and, depending on the design, the engine.
Operating modes
PHEV behavior is vehicle-specific. Some models can drive in an all-electric charge-depleting mode until the battery reaches its lower operating limit. Others blend engine and motor power even while usable battery energy remains, especially under high load, at certain temperatures, or in selected drive modes.
After the plug-in energy has been used, the vehicle can continue as a hybrid using fuel and energy recovered through braking. This distinguishes a PHEV from a battery-electric vehicle, which has no combustion engine for continued propulsion.
Why charging matters
A PHEV's fuel use and tailpipe emissions depend strongly on how often it is charged and how much driving occurs electrically. A driver who regularly plugs in and makes trips within the vehicle's electric capability may use little fuel; long trips or infrequent charging can produce a very different result.
Specifications should therefore keep electric range, electric energy consumption, fuel consumption, charging time, and combined operating behavior separate. Many PHEVs support AC charging only, but connector and DC-charging support must be checked for the exact vehicle.
PHEV is also called a plug-in hybrid. It should not be confused with a conventional hybrid, whose traction battery is not normally charged from the grid.