Plug-in hybrid cars for sale

Plug-in hybrid cars combine the familiarity of a conventional petrol or diesel engine with some of the environmental benefits and much of the convenience of an electric car. Discover the best plug-in hybrids for sale with BuyaCar, whether you fancy a family-focused hatchback, the extra carrying capacity of an estate or the ease of use of a taller SUV. Find your perfect plug-in hybrid car online today, arrange finance, and have it delivered to your door at no extra cost.

What are plug-in hybrid cars?

Plug-in hybrid cars – also known as PHEVs for short – feature a petrol or diesel engine, an electric motor and a moderately sized high-voltage battery that can be plugged in to charge like a fully electric car’s one. PHEVs give you the convenience of a conventional engine, plus the economy and silent running of an electric car. However, while they can run on the engine alone if the battery runs out, doing so can make them very fuel inefficient and expensive to run.

What are the advantages of driving a PHEV?

If you generally drive short distances and can charge at home, a PHEV will spend most of its time in electric only mode, saving fuel and having a reduced environmental impact. Today, plug-in hybrid technology is available from a wide variety of manufacturers in numerous body styles including hatchbacks, more traditional saloons and load-lugging estates estates, but the broadest choice is with SUVs.

Plug-in hybrid cars offer a balance of convenience and economy, providing you can use them to their fullest potential. As PHEVs have a conventional petrol or diesel engine, you simply fill the fuel tank as you normally would, and have the peace of mind of being able to drive on fuel alone when the batteries run out of charge. The car’s large battery and electric motor bring the benefits of significant electric-only driving, many newer models able to cover at least 50 miles without the engine switching itself on.

What’s the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid car?

A hybrid car – marketed by some car manufacturers as self-charging hybrids or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) – use a conventional petrol or diesel engine and electric motor in combination, or the electric motor on its own for short periods. The electric motor also runs as a generator to recharge the hybrid system’s batteries.

PHEVs are also different from range extender electric vehicles (RXEVs), such as certain versions of the BMW i3 and the compact Mazda MX-30, despite superficially appearing to do the same thing. You still charge an RXEV by plugging it in for the most benefit, plus they also have a conventional engine, but its role is purely as an on-board generator to charge the battery pack. Power to the wheels is solely from the electric motor.

What are the disadvantages of driving a PHEV?

As PHEVs are more expensive to buy than conventional petrol, diesel or hybrid cars, you need to make sure that you can make the most of its electric-only running to offset that additional cost. As a result, you will probably need a charger at home and off-street parking to make that easier. If you drive longer distances, a PHEV can be less efficient, but this can be modulated by allowing the car to determine itself when is best to deploy the electrical energy rather than manually switching on EV mode.

Once the battery is empty, the engine has to do more work powering the car as well as recharging it, with little electrical benefit as it does so. PHEVs can also prove to be a little less practical, as the battery pack tends to be installed under the boot floor where extra stowage space or a spare wheel might usually be stored.