What's a Plug-In Hybrid?

Exclusive Summary About Plug-in Hybrid Cars by Scott Conklin

How much your vehicle relies on electric motors, still depends on the make and model of the vehicle. The newly announced Volkswagen Twin Drive Golf (slated for 2010 release) is a plug-in hybrid with a rather powerful 350 pound lithium-ion battery. This more classic type of hybrid is known as a parallel hybrid, as both electricity and gasoline are used to power the actual vehicle.

While the new Golf is an improvement over the current generation of hybrid vehicles, the Volt is radically different. The gas engine has one purpose, and one purpose only, to recharge the batteries.

For parallel hybrids, the batteries are recharged while breaking. For the Volt and other series hybrids to follow, the plug is simple. Whether a plug-in hybrid is a parallel or a series hybrid, the end result is still roughly the same, the vehicle depends less on gasoline.

Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) - Save Up To 80% On Fuel Costs

Exclusive Summary About Plug-in Hybrid Cars by Alan Jacobson

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (also called PHEV) is a car that has batteries that can be recharged through a conventional outlet. PHEVs have both traditional internal combustion engines and batteries that can fully power the car by themselves.

The advantage of PHEVs is that when they run on their electric charge only it is estimated they cost about 20-30% of what they would running on gas. Plug-in hybrids are often driven in what is called charge-depleting mode at first, exclusively running from cheaper and cleaner battery power.

In parts of Europe recharging spots in parking areas are being installed. Despite the fact that carbon emissions are produced when electricity is created, PHEVs are still much less polluting than conventional cars and even regular hybrids.