They differ from regular hybrids by having a much larger battery, and being able to plug into the grid to recharge. While regular hybrids can (at low speed) travel 1-2 miles before the gasoline engine turns on, PHEVs can go anywhere from 10-40 miles before their gas engines provide assistance. Once the all-electric range is depleted, PHEVs act The main difference with plug-in hybrids is that these vehicles can charge their batteries via external chargers as well as internal. As a result, plug-in hybrids usually have greater electric-only ranges than full hybrids. Plug-In hybrids essentially serve as a half-way point between full hybrid vehicles and fully electric vehicles. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Even the most techno-phobic car shopper will quickly grasp the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.The differentiator here is the size of the battery EV Basics No. 2. Plug-in hybrids are the best blend of present and future technology, offering a good amount of clean, all-electric range, and typically very good performance. These powertrains are great for long-distance drives because you can simply use the combustion engine once the battery is depleted. The disadvantages to plug-in hybrids The pattern holds true for the Hyundai/Kia combo and the BMWs, too—going full hybrid lowers emissions far more than building a handful of EV and a ton of gas cars. Split up an i4’s battery Plug-in hybrids have both a gasoline engine and electric motor, like full hybrids, except the onboard battery can be recharged externally at a charging station. Learn more about the difference between hybrid and electric cars and more about plug-in hybrids. Hybrid cars pros and cons Hybrid car pros. The hybrid car appeal centers on fuel The ever-popular Toyota Prius is the world’s best-selling alternative-fuel vehicle and it remains one of the smoothest hybrid drives. One of the trailblazers of the electric vehicle market, the Prius is available as both a hybrid and a PHEV and has some of the lowest CO2 emissions in its class, along with very low levels of harmful NOx. Plug-In Hybrid vs. Regular Hybrid Cars. Finally, there’s the matter of plug-in hybrid cars and how they differ from regular hybrids. No matter whether a hybrid is a serial or a parallel hybrid If you can recharge your hybrid car 100% of the times (at home and at work), probably a plug-in hybrid car is the best solution for you because it can do more than a couple of miles-kilometers in 2. Hybrid – HEV: A mix of combustion and electric engines that speak to each other with the use of technology and sensors. Burns less gasoline while also using a technology called regenerative braking that charges a battery, which in turn powers the car while driving and idling. Pros: Higher miles per gallon and lower cost per mile. 2mxg.