Should you get a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid?

Consumer ardor for electric vehicles (EVs) cooled a bit in 2024. A recent AAA survey found that just 18% of consumers are interested in buying one, down from 23% in 2023. It seems potential buyers are especially put off by inadequate public charging, which can make long road trips difficult, as well as by the high purchase prices of EVs.

More chargers and cheaper EVs are on the horizon. But meanwhile, motorists concerned about climate change and/or the cost of gasoline are turning to hybrid electric vehicles and their variants, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Could one be right for you?

First, let’s examine the difference between the two.

A hybrid—Toyota’s Prius, for example—has a gasoline engine assisted by one or more electric motors. This combo enables an automaker to use a smaller gas engine, thus reducing both fuel consumption and emissions. To power the electric motor, there’s a battery pack charged by the gas engine and regenerative braking, a system that captures kinetic energy produced during braking and turns it into electricity.

A PHEV, such as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, is essentially the same except for a larger battery pack that’s charged mainly by plugging into an outside power source. Unlike a hybrid, a PHEV can travel on electricity alone, typically for around 30 to 40 miles. When the pack runs out of juice, the gas engine kicks in, and you can carry on with your journey without worrying about finding a public charger.

• There’s no need for an outside power source to charge the hybrid’s battery pack, a big plus for many apartment or condo dwellers. Because PHEV packs can take hours to recharge, a convenient home power source, usually in a garage, is often a necessity if you have a PHEV.
• Hybrids usually cost less to buy than PHEVs. Battery packs contain costly materials; the larger the pack, the more expensive the vehicle.
• Hybrids may be less problem-prone than PHEVs. According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study, PHEVs and EVs require more dealer repairs than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, but hybrids are no more problematic than traditional vehicles.

The combustion engines of hybrids and PHEVs still require routine maintenance such as oil changes and spark plug replacement, and their battery packs degrade over time. However, both come with long battery-pack warranties, a minimum of eight years/100,000 miles. 

Should a hybrid or PHEV pique your interest, the U.S. Department of Energy provides EPA fuel economy ratings for all hybrids and PHEVs. It also lists PHEVs eligible for the federal tax credit and offers a personal PHEV fuel-savings calculator.