What is a PHEV (plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle)?

A PHEV (plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle) is similar in spirit to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), but they usually come with a larger battery and more powerful electric motor – making them something of a halfway house between HEVs and full battery electric vehicles (BEV).

Crucially, a plug-in hybrid can be charged using an external charger, making it more feasible to complete shorter journeys without using the fuel-powered engine. To get the best performance from this setup, you can plug PHEVs into EV chargers to top up the battery, minimising the amount of time you use the fuel-powered engine.