PHEV Vs. All-Electric: Which Plug-In Is Better For You?

Electric vehicles sales are moving up quickly as battery-powered options increase. If you’re one of the drivers considering making the leap from a gasoline-powered car, it’s important to consider whether an all-electric vehicle is a good fit for your needs or if another electrified option could be better. That’s where plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, known as PHEVs, come in.

For some, a plug-in hybrid may be a comfortable bridge to driving an all-electric vehicle eventually as EV options increase, prices diminish, public charging opportunities expand and delivery backlogs diminish. For others who rarely drive more than 25 or 35 miles a day, a plug-in hybrid may be a comfortable and familiar way to drive electric every day, without limitations.

All in on Electric 

There are many reasons why drivers in greater numbers are considering an electrified vehicle, especially fully electric models. High gas prices have been a huge motivator with many EVs achieving the equivalent of over 100 mpg on battery power, especially for SUVs. This means a cheaper cost per mile for electric vehicles compared to conventional models. Real concern about carbon emissions and climate change is another. Choosing to actively support the transition to a zero-emission future is at the top of some drivers’ lists. 

Others may be influenced by an electric vehicle’s advanced-tech persona or inherently higher performance—electric motors produce immediate torque that delivers surprisingly quick acceleration. An EV’s regenerative braking system can generate electricity during coasting or braking to feed electricity back to the batteries, thus contributing to extending electric range. 

Convenience is also a plus. Charging an EV’s battery can take place at home with a 220-volt Level 2 wall charger in the garage, or in the case of apartments or other community developments, with pay-for-use chargers in common areas. Nearby public fast chargers may be another option. Many EVs also come with a “convenience” charger that can plug into a household’s standard 120 volt outlet, though charging this way is often impractical since charging at this voltage is incredibly slow.

EVs Unplugged

Compelling as the upsides may be for fully electric vehicles, there are significant downsides. One of the most notable challenges to EV ownership is purchase cost. Simply, battery electric vehicles are almost universally more expensive than conventional internal combustion (ICE) vehicles. There are a few notable affordable exceptions, like the Chevy Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf with their respective $27,495 and $28,040 starting prices.

But the average transaction price of a new electric vehicle is much higher, according to data released by automotive analyst firm Kelley Blue Book. According to a recent KBB report, the average price paid for an electric vehicle is now $61,448. That’s just $5,212 shy of the average price paid for a new luxury vehicle and $15,870 more than the average $45,578 transaction price of a non-luxury model. 

Range anxiety is eased with the ability to charge at public fast chargers that enable recapturing up to 80% battery charge in just a half-hour or so, depending on an EV’s capabilities. However, this is tempered by a nascent, though growing, national charging infrastructure that is still woefully inadequate and too often poorly maintained. A Forbes Wheels survey from last year found nearly 40% of respondents are frequently stressed about range.

As seen from the Forbes Wheels survey, those same range concerns were echoed in a J.D. Power study from last year on the public charging experience. Not only was a shortage of charging stations deemed an impediment to EV adoption, but also the surprising unreliability of public chargers. In fact, fully 20% of those participating in the study reported they were unable to charge their vehicle during a visit to a public charging station, largely due to charging equipment that was broken or out of service. 

The PHEV Advantage

Still, as efficient, clean and fast all-electric vehicles may be, fully relying on battery power may not be the right choice for everyone. The basis for PHEVs is the gas-electric hybrid that has been around for over two decades, ever since the Toyota Prius and now-discontinued Honda Insight first hit our shores. Millions of hybrids are now on the road and today they are a familiar part of the automotive landscape. 

While plug-in hybrids use the same fundamental drive technology as hybrids, they differ in significant ways. PHEVs are designed to operate with all the capabilities and performance of an electric vehicle, though with a shorter electric range due to a smaller battery pack than full EVs. Once its battery is close to being depleted, a PHEV will continue to operate efficiently as a hybrid for many hundreds of additional miles.

Toyota’s RAV4 Prime presents a good example. This PHEV’s 18 kWh batteries deliver an EPA rated 42 miles of electric driving and an overall range of 600 miles with its gas-electric powertrain. A fully electric vehicle like Toyota’s bZ4X has a total driving range of up to 252 miles on its much larger 71.4 kWh battery pack. But when battery power is nearly depleted, that’s the end of the electric car’s range until charged again. A PHEV just keeps going.

The Price of Plugging In

Plug-in hybrid drivers will enjoy the reduced cost-per-mile and zero carbon driving experience of all-electric cars when driving on battery power. But like electric vehicles, this comes at a price because of the addition of unique components like electric motors, DC/DC converter, power electronics controller, lithium-ion batteries and more. 

In the cost hierarchy of vehicle electrification, hybrids are more expensive than conventionally powered models, with a pretty significant spread in differential purchase price. For example, a Toyota RAV4 hybrid has a premium of $2,750 over the gas-powered RAV4 while a Kia Sorento Hybrid is $6,600 more than a standard Sorento. Plug-in hybrids come at an even higher premium because of their more complex drive system and larger, more expensive battery. 

One illustration is the Ford Escape PHEV at $38,500 without delivery fees, a price some $5,840 more than the Escape Hybrid and $11,000 more than the gasoline model. The Sorento PHEV steps it up even further with a price that’s $13,300 more than the Sorento hybrid and $19,000 more than the base gas model. Keep in mind that a plug-in hybrid may offer a higher trim level and additional appointments that add value to the costlier PHEV package. Plus, PHEVs often have a more powerful electric motor, or dual motors, that also add higher levels of performance.

PHEV Perfection 

Let’s say you drive 25 miles a day commuting or just going about your regular daily activities. You’re a perfect candidate for a plug-in hybrid since most PHEVs will meet your daily driving needs as an electric vehicle. Depending on model, a PHEV’s driving range is typically between 25 and 35 electric miles, with some delivering more and a few others less. Almost all offer a driving range of 400 to 600 miles overall. 

One example is Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV, an all-wheel drive, series-parallel plug-in hybrid offering 38 miles of zero-emission electric driving with a 420 mile overall range. Given the illustration above of an average daily drive of 25 miles, this PHEV’s electric range will allow zero-emission driving every day with additional electric miles to spare. If you need to go further then you continue on hybrid power. 

Plus, long distance road trips won’t hold you up looking for a charge since a five-minute stop at a gas station will keep you going. When at your destination, you can recharge the PHEV’s battery for additional electric range if a charger is handy, but unlike a full electric vehicle, charging is not necessary to continue your journey.

So is a plug-in hybrid or an electric vehicle right for you? That’s a personal choice based on need, budget and circumstance.