What is a PHEV (plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle)?
A PHEV (plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle) is similar in spirit to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), but they usually come with a larger battery and more powerful electric motor – making them something of a halfway house between HEVs and full battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Crucially, a plug-in hybrid can be charged using an external charger, making it more feasible to complete shorter journeys without using the fuel-powered engine. To get the best performance from this setup, you can plug PHEVs into EV chargers to top up the battery, minimising the amount of time you use the fuel-powered engine.
We explain what a plug-in hybrid is, plus the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a PHEV for your next car
Related glossary terms
EV - Electric VehicleAn EV (electric vehicle) is a vehicle that's driven by an electric motor, using energy from an on-board battery pack.HEV - Hybrid Electric VehicleA hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uses both an electric motor and a fuel-powered engine to drive the wheels.MHEV - Mild Hybrid Electric VehicleA MHEV (mild-hybrid electric vehicle) is a type of hybrid vehicle where the electric motor and battery aren't powerful enough to drive the car on their own.