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With fuel prices stubbornly high and showing little sign of settling, the cost of running a car has crept back up the list of concerns for many drivers. Whether it’s the sting of filling up at the pump or the broader uncertainty around energy costs, more people are starting to rethink what sits on their driveway – and how much it costs to keep it moving.
So that’s why this recent email from reader Simon Clarke caught my attention. He wrote: “I’m seeing more plug-in hybrids being pushed again by manufacturers, and some friends are telling me they’re a safer bet than going fully electric. Should I be considering a plug-in hybrid instead of a pure EV?”
It’s a timely question, because plug-in hybrids – or PHEVs – are enjoying something of a resurgence with sales up 35 per cent last year.
I remember some commentators saying they’re the worst of both worlds: an EV that just doesn’t go far enough, with a petrol engine that then has to drag around a heavy battery. However, as with all tech, things have moved on and I think they’re a great step towards full electrification with batteries that allow EV running for up to 90 miles these days. In many cases that means you’ll rarely be stopping at a petrol station – not a bad thing with fuel prices where they are right now.
Our list of the best plug-in hybrids will help you decide which one to buy, but – unsurprisingly – the new Chinese brands are leading the mainstream car makers with plug-in hybrid tech. They call their super hybrids New Energy Vehicles, with BYD, Chery, Geely and others all offering compelling models that are super-efficient on electric power or a combination of petrol and electric.
If your daily driving fits within that electric range and you’re disciplined about charging regularly, a PHEV can work very well. Many owners effectively run them as electric cars during the week, only using the petrol engine for longer trips.
However, that “if” is important. The real-world efficiency of a plug-in hybrid depends heavily on how it’s used. If you don’t plug it in frequently, you are essentially carrying around the weight of a battery and an electric motor while relying on a petrol engine – which can actually make it less efficient than a conventional hybrid or even a standard petrol car.
That’s where a full EV often has the edge. There’s also a simplicity to EV ownership that shouldn’t be underestimated. No engine, no exhaust system, fewer servicing requirements and generally lower running costs if you’re charging at home. And from a tax perspective, particularly for company car users, pure EVs still benefit from the most favourable rates.
That said, a PHEV can make sense in certain scenarios. If you regularly make long journeys in areas where charging infrastructure is limited, or if you’re not yet able to install a home charger, the added flexibility of a petrol engine can provide reassurance.
So it’s less about one being universally “better” than the other, and more about how you’ll use it. If you can charge easily and most of your driving is predictable, a full EV is usually the smarter, simpler choice. If not, a plug-in hybrid can act as a useful stepping stone – just make sure you use it as intended.
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