The Problems with PHEVs / A False Promise?

In most cases, I wouldn’t advise a plug-in hybrid, today, I will explain why. To be clear, there are great options and they fit some lifestyles well, but there are more limitations than what I was expecting.

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[neilsunga]

I charge my PHEV at home and at work. I don't use gas during my work week. I usually fill up after 8000 kms, just because I want fresh gas. And that is usually when I change my oil. I filled up my tank 6 times last year. PHEV's work for some people with certain driving habits. Hybrids are still a great way to go for most.

[zicat]

I have RAV4 Prime XSE Premium. It is an engineering marvel. In the Summer I get 54 miles per charge, and a full charge takes about 2 1/2 hours. My community has free Level 2 chargers everywhere. I have zero regrets

[jesseg]

I bought a mitsubishi outlander phev in May. Absolutely love it. I've put in 3400 miles and only filled up 3 times. In long commutes, my car can almost entirely recharge my battery during the commute and can still have that instant ev power.

[arifjinnah]

He's right, PHEV's aren't for everyone but the case against them in this case appears flawed to me. I managed to go 2, 600KM between fills on my 23 Santa Fe PHEV, thus moving my payback period between the gas model and the PHEV to only 2.3 years. Additionally, the 90HP of electric does just fine for me in almost every circumstance. Is it perfect? Nope, but man, I am ecstatic with my experience thus far with a PHEV.

[larryfire]

The Chevy Volt, if it was still around, addresses most of your issues. It weighs 3800 lbs, goes 40 miles on a charge, is a 150 HP EV, never has to fire up the ICE for additional power in EV mode, then switches to a 150 HP serial hybrid when the battery drops to minimum state of charge. It’s a shame folks never got to fully understand how good this system operated before GM pulled the plug. Hopefully the Voltec architecture architecture will return someday but this time with Ultium components.

[the_sceptic]

Very happy with my phev. Absolutely nothing beats it in cost and utility. We also own an EV, which I like, but would not have it as my only car.

[jackchen]

Rav4 prime owner here. Bought mine in early 2021 when it was not too difficult (5 month wait). Used it for 2 years in Bay Area for my 40 mile commute (charging at home and work means very little gas), weekend ski trips to Tahoe, all the while using very little gas. I moved this summer across the country and used the same rav4 to haul a trailer with all my stuff (2500 towing capacity perfect for a haul 5x8). Since I moved, I have not had to gas up (using 1/4 tank).

Find another better car for me,

[AllanOttens]

I have had a Tucson PHEV for two years. I live in Southern CA and usually do not drive more than 31 miles per day. My usual gas mpg per fill up is about 200.

I got $8, 200 combined tax credits so I didn’t have to pay a PHEV premium.

I have solar, so I don’t have additional electric costs for the 6, 000 electric miles I drive per year.

One draw back on the Tucson is that the gas engine turns on when you need heat.

[jonathanstensberg]

Reality check: *most* people drive less than 40-50 miles per day *most* of the time, but occasionally drive up to several hundred miles in trip.

Consequence: any vehicle that gives much more than 50 miles of range is *wasting* energy during daily use (due to the added weight and volume).

Therefore: any means of supplying further range (both generation and refueling) ought to be designed to optimize efficiency during the sub-50 mile daily driving—not during the extended range driving—whether than be a larger battery, a generator or fuel cell, or a larger gas tank.

Conclusion: most people will greatly benefit from a PHEV—but not those who either frequently drive more than the battery range or do not have access to slow charging at home or work.

[Bigwheels]

I tried to buy a PHEV RAV4 but after a long wait, they called for a regular hybrid and I took it. Heard all your points and I would still go for it. PHEV is not for everybody but it would have worked perfect for me. Good video.

[hidden-treasures]

Love, love, love my Honda Clarity! Near perfect car. I get @43 EV range during winter, up to 62 miles during the Summer. That's right. 62 miles for a PHEV. Which is more than I drive most days. My average is 126 mpg overall. Of course, the car was discontinued because people didn't like the wheel covers. That's right. The wheel covers...

[thejedaru]

After 6 months of owning an Outlander PHEV, my average oil consumption is 1.7L/100 km. I have a very good and luxiorious ride experienced. I just plug it in my driveway overnight twice a week. I am happy with my purchased.

[duster]

I started with a Volt, went to a Spark EV, and now have a Ford Maverick Hybrid. Where I live, I can access just about any type of store or food within a 20 mile radius. And at the time I had my Volt, I was working a job that was 5 miles away. I was in electric 95% of the time. I then started doing side gig delivery for Amazon, in which the gas engine was great to have. I still got great MPG when the battery was depleted. The Spark EV taught me through a series of traumatic lessons that a pure EV as my only vehicle is not, selfishly, viable for me. Pure EV's just simply are not for a large number of people, yet. The Maverick Hybrid has been great, yes, I wish I had more electric range, but hybrid system is great about utilizing electric only mode. Plus, having learned all of the tips and tricks from my Volt and Spark, I can really max out the electric range and MPG. I really think there's a place for all of them, caveat being the PHEV should be something with like 40+ miles of electric only range, with good to excellent MPG on gas, being of moderate price and utility. Great video!! You have really great insights.

[ryanrhodes]

Thank you for bringing up that the best way to eliminate emissions from transportation is to completely rethink how we move around, build our cities ect. As an American, I feel like cars are so deeply ingrained in how we get around that we have a hard time reimagining a different built world. Great video too!

[TomLawlor-iqgm]

We bought our third Prius three and a half months ago. Our first PHEV. It cost over $20, 000 less than the cheapest Tesla (or any other full EV). We got half of what we paid for our Prius C, 12 years after purchase.

To date, we have accumulated 5, 000Km on the 2024 Prime and have purchased a half tank of fuel after the dealer fill-up was used and some of that gas is still in the tank. Our best range so far in EV mode was 91Km, far surpassing the advertised range. Yesterday I drove 88Km in EV with 6% SOC remaining, the car would have exceeded 91Km had we kept going.

Gas here is $6.75 a gallon ($1.80 L), however, we can recharge from "empty" for $ about $1.70. Our first oil change is booked for March 2025. All good.

[MylesV]

I have owned a Volt and a Prius Prime (the old one that got 25 miles per charge). Both were great cars but the market is getting to a point where most people who would consider a PHEV may as well just buy a BEV. I have a Kona EV now and it’s been great, ironically I actually worry about charging less than I did with my PHEVs. I always tried my hardest to keep them charged, even plugging in at friends’ houses when I was able to. It felt like a waste anytime I needed to use gas. I only really think about range with the Kona if I’m planning a trip, I don’t take many long trips though so it’s not something I deal with often. Another consideration for me trading in the Prius Prime for the Kona was that I moved from a single family home where I could charge nightly to an apartment where I can’t charge. With the Kona I just charge at work 1-2 times a week, if I still had a PHEV then I’d spend a lot of time burning gas.

[labradoodleparadies]

You have done a lot here. But, I cannot agree. I have a Kia CEED SW. Yes, I am in Europe... the place with very high fuel prices. I drive to work 5 days a week... 40 miles round trip. I drive set on EV.. and can drive electrically for 95+% of my trip. So, I am a very efficient EV each workday. On the weekends, I go shopping and do local things... always as an EV. I plug my vehicle into a standard wall socket every day. So, I have not seen a filling station in a long time. Sometimes, I go on a longer trip (100- 200 miles) and set the car on hybrid mode. Then I get about 4 - 5 liters / 100km ( about 50-60mpg with 4 people and other things on board). The overall effect is very fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

[KiaNiroPluginHybrid]

Lots of great points here. I have been surprised how easy my little 80 hp (60, 000 watt) motor can move 4500 lbs of car...its actually quite impressive. I want to get over 200, 000miles out of our 2023 KIA Niro PHEV but I can see that there maybe more maintenance required, , , somewhat ironically because of how little use the gas engine gets. Lighting up a gas engine at 65mph when its 10 degrees out and shooting fuel (GDI engine) directly on the piston, is going to require more oil changes. That said, it is wonderful short range electric commuter car.

[kevinc-]

The biggest challenge now is battery production is constrained worldwide, so I see PHEV as a bridge until gas engines go the way of the steam engine. The battery in one 240mi EV can make 6 PHEV or 90 HV. An ICE powertrain is heavy, but so is carrying around an extra 200mi of battery you don't use every day

[robertivey]

I've owned hybrid cars for 23 years and researched PHEV's and BEV's since they've been sold. PHEV's really are the natural progression between hybrids to BEV's. And right now, PHEV's make the MOST SENSE for the majority of American commuters on a statistical basis given most people's driving habits. They will save most people money and headache in the long run as well as burn less fossil fuels. My next car will be a PHEV. In 10-20 years, when we have better battery technology and public charging infrastructure, BEV's will be the way to go.