First and foremost, let’s understand the basic differences between an all-electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid. EVs run fully on electric, meaning they don’t use any gasoline. The Ford Focus Electric, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S, and others are among the popular examples of electric vehicles. There’s no backup engine in electric vehicles because they use electric power alone. Since they don’t have to make space for the gasoline engine, electric vehicles usually have more room for batteries which tells us that EVs offer a longer electric-only range than plug-in hybrids. While on the other hand, as their name suggests, plug-in hybrid cars are exactly that- hybrid cars that can be plugged in. the Cadillac ELR, the Chevrolet Volt and the Toyota Prius Plug-In are the popular ones. Two different powertrains are essentially used by plug-in cars, both can drive the wheels- the drivers go a certain limited distance (often between 30 and 40 miles), on the electric motor and there’s a normal gasoline engine that kicks in once the electric motor is depleted.
Several advantages are offered by electric vehicles over plug-in hybrids. What makes the electric vehicle attractive mainly is that they benefit the environment more than plug-in hybrids, since they don’t use any fuel at all, especially to customers looking to minimize their carbon footprint as much as possible. In addition to that electric vehicles help drivers save more money than plug-in hybrids do, since they don’t use any fuel. Since EVs also offer a longer electric-only range than plug-in hybrids, and drivers who want to cruise for as long as possible without using a drop of fuel will be better served with an EV than a plug-in. Plug-in hybrids too offer some advantages. In comparison to EVs, the primary advantage is range. An EV travels as far as its batteries allow. While plug-in hybrids use gasoline engines in addition to their electric powertrains, and as a result of which is the plug-in drivers get the best of both worlds: electric-vehicle efficiency around town and traditional car range for longer trips.
There are some drawbacks to EVs, obviously. The limited range is by far the largest disadvantage of the EVs. Most electric vehicles are limited to 60 to 70 miles of total range, while the plug-ins can usually travel 30 or 40 miles on fully electric power and an extra 200 to 300 miles on gasoline, which implies that drivers with a long commute, or those who routinely travel more than 60 to 70 miles without overnight stops, would be wise to consider a plug-in hybrid instead of an EV. The only exception is the Tesla Model S, which can travel well over 150 miles between charges, but it still doesn’t have the range of most plug-in hybrids, or the ability to refuel as quickly. For plug-in hybrids, the biggest drawback is variety. The range to choose from is very small, not many models to choose from, as most automakers have instead chosen to offer fully electric vehicles instead. The reason largely is that drivers interested in an electric vehicle tend to want the full experience, using no fuel and benefiting the environment as much as possible. As a matter of fact, today’s crop of plug-in hybrids is limited to just a few models (the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-In are the most popular) compared to a larger offering for EVs.
Both plug-in hybrids and EVs will be beneficial if the main purpose for buying a new car with a fuel-efficient focus is gas-pump savings and tax rebates. In spite of the fact that plug-in hybrids still need to be filled with gas occasionally, fuel costs are still much lower than traditional cars. Federal income tax rebates apply to both plug-in hybrids and EVs, as do most state tax credits most importantly. Both plug-in hybrids and EVs are allowed to be used even in states that use alternative-fuel carpool. Alternative put, one will not and cannot go wrong when choosing an EV or a plug-in cancer hybrid; you’ll just have to choose the one that works best for your situation.