All JargonShare by Email

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Keywords

What is a plug-in hybrid car?

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a vehicle that has a slightly larger battery than a regular hybrid, so it travels further just using electricity. However, this also means that it has to be plugged into an electricity supply to be charged fully. Like a regular hybrid, a PHEV combines a standard internal combustion engine with an electric motor powered by a battery pack. Most PHEVs can currently drive for anywhere between 15 and 30 miles just using their electric motors.

Related Jargon

What is a battery electric vehicle?

A battery electric vehicle (BEV) uses the electrical energy from rechargeable batteries to power an electric motor (or motors).

Read more
How do lithium ion batteries work in cars?

A lithium-ion battery is the most common types of battery used in electric vehicles (EVs). It is well suited to EVs because it holds a lot of energy, compared to its weight, and is very efficient at charging and discharging.

Read more
How does an electric vehicle work?

An electric car, also known as a battery electric vehicle or EV, uses one or more electric motors to move the vehicle.

Read more
What are a car's CO2 emissions?

When petrol or diesel burns in an engine, carbon dioxide gas – also known as CO2 – is the result.

Read more