What is a Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle?

 

Buying a car used to be a lot simpler, especially when it came to the powertrain. While engine specs varied, you pretty much knew that it would be running solely on gasoline. But things have changed significantly the past few decades: now there's hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, and even cars that run on hydrogen. If you're wondering what is a plug-in hybrid exactly, this guide is for you. The team at Basney Mazda goes over how the technology works and a one great new model that employs it.

Powertrain Varieties

As mentioned, powertrains have changed over the years, and now there are three main types available: gas, electric, and hybrid. A hybrid strikes a middle ground between gas power and electric power by utilizing a regular combustion engine, along with an electric motor and a battery pack.

Hybrid vehicles break down further into two subsets: a regular hybrid, or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). In a regular hybrid, power comes primarily from the engine and the electric motor, with the battery serving as an emergency back-up. This model uses regenerative braking to fuel its engine.

In a plug-in hybrid, the battery is much larger and plays a more active role. While this model still uses regenerative braking, the increased battery size and capacity enables the plug-in hybrid to engage in all-electric driving over greater ranges. As the name implies, a PHEV must be plugged in regularly to recharge its battery, which isn't necessary on a standard hybrid.

Driving Range

While the battery on a standard hybrid can enable all-electric driving, its lower capacity typically only allows it to go about one to three miles, so it's more of an emergency backup. With a PHEV, this range jumps high enough to let you make short commutes using only electricity.

The Mazda CX-90 PHEV, for example, will give you an all-electric range of 25 miles when the battery is fully charged. This takes about 11 hours with a 120-volt household-style outlet. A Level 2 charger will completely juice up the battery in about 2.5 hours.

Explore MAZDA Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles in South Bend, IN

If you're interested in a hybrid model, contact Mazda dealership in South Bend, IN. We'll gladly give you more information and set you up for a test drive so you can experience a Mazda PHEV for yourself. We can also go over our current Mazda financing offers and help you pre-approved for a loan.