The Four Types Of Hybrid EVs Explained

electric vehicle (ev) technology has come a long way and we’re blessed to be living in a day and age that’s made vehicle electrification possible. we’re especially lucky to have access to hybrid cars as petrol prices go through the roof.

though hybrid cars can’t be distinguished by looks, and certainly can’t be distinguished by sound (because they’re near silent), there are different types of hybrid models that use different technology. in this post, we’ll go through four main types of hybrid evs and discuss their differences.

1. full hybrid (fhev)

the full hybrid ev is what you’d consider the traditional type of hybrid car. it can be driven using electric power, combustion or a combination of the two. it can solely run on electric power, but only for a short distance before needing to use the petrol motor – most of the time, you’ll use a combination of electric and combustion to power the vehicle.

the electric battery in a fhev is charged using the combustion motor, which is different to plug-in electric vehicles (phevs), discussed later in this post.

2. mild hybrid

mild hybrids aren’t able to drive under electric power alone; their electric battery is only used to assist driving capabilities of the car. though this may not seem like much of a pay off at first, mild hybrids can reduce your mileage and cut emissions.

3. plug-in hybrids (phev)

plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (phevs) do exactly what their name suggests: they’re able to be plugged in to a power source in order to charge the battery. the big benefit of this is that you can charge the car overnight at home and commute to work without having to use the combustion motor whatsoever.

phev batteries typically have a range of about 30-50kms from full, which is enough for a standard commute to work for most australians. for longer trips, the petrol motor can be used – so you’re always covered.

4. range-extender or rex hybrid car

the final category of hybrid ev is the range-extender or rex hybrid car. these types of hybrid only use the combustion motor to charge the battery, and aren’t ever used to drive the wheels.

how to go about driving an electric vehicle

there are many ways of making the move toward electric vehicles. full hybrid electric vehicles are, in some ways, the most practical option due to the ability to drive using petrol while charging the battery. the most environmentally friendly option is definitely the phev, if your commute to work is within the full range of the battery.

fingo can help you get your hands on a sweet, new hybrid ev. they’re australia’s experts in finding better ways to source vehicles, whether it’s through more affordable car loans, novated leases or trade-ins. start the conversation with the friendly team at fingo and make the switch to hybrid today.

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