A hybrid electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle both utilize their powerful electric motor and a gasoline engine to generate movement. They adapt on their own using both the electric motor and gasoline engine simultaneously based on the current driving conditions. Both vehicles also use regenerative braking, the most efficient way of putting energy back into the electric battery. This is the process of recovering energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration so it can be reused to propel the car once acceleration is required.

The key differences between the two is that the plug-in hybrid has a larger electric motor and greater battery capacity allowing it to be used for a greater range of operation and distance. The plug-in hybrid plugging into an external electric source while the standard hybrid is solely fueled like a conventional gasoline vehicle.

A Hybrid vehicle uses both a gasoline engine and electric motor for propulsion. An electric vehicle uses only an electric motor for propulsion – no gasoline required. The electric vehicle’s high-density battery needs to be periodically charged through an external electrical power source. 

No. Hybrid vehicles automatically charge when they’re in motion and, through a clever innovation called regenerative braking, which recovers energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration.

When it comes to long commutes, a hybrid vehicle provides better efficiency in all driving conditions in comparison to a standard petrol or diesel vehicle. You can reap all of these same benefits with a plug-in hybrid with the added ability to travel up to 45 km (IONIQ Electric Plus and Sonata Plug-in Hybrid) on using purely electric power. This capability is best suited for inner-city commuting. For example, many drivers could likely cover their entire week’s commuting using electricity alone with overnight recharging, all the while maintaining the ability to tackle long distances on the weekend.  A plug-in hybrid would serve best for longer drives, given its ability to fully utilize the battery before switching to a traditional hybrid to go even farther. For example, the IONIQ electric plus can travel over 1,000 km on a single charge and tank of gas^Ω.

For shorter city commuting, which often involves a lot of stop-and-go driving, a fully electric powertrain would serve best. It will produce zero emissions while effortlessly getting up to speed. As well, the energy generated from braking can be recaptured and used to recharge the vehicle’s battery through an innovative process called regenerative braking.