What Is A Plug In Hybrid Car (PHEV)? | Kia UK
What is a Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)?
A Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) is perfect for those who want to travel further in electric mode. It’s got a bigger battery than a Hybrid and can give you a 30-mile electric range. When that electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to Hybrid mode.
Reasons to drive a Kia PHEV
There are plenty of benefits to owning a Plug-In Hybrid car, here are some of our favourites.
Flexibility
If you aren’t quite ready to go fully electric, a plug-in hybrid is the perfect compromise. You get around 30-miles of electric driving, but you always have the petrol engine for longer trips.
Low emissions driving
When in electric mode a plug-in hybrid produces zero emissions. As most of your driving will be on battery power, this is particularly helpful for improving air quality in urban areas.
Cheap to run
Electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, so when running on battery power, your journey may cost less than a third of what it would in a combustion-engine car. There are tax incentives, too. VED is lower for PHEV drivers, and for company car drivers BIK tax is also reduced.
In the UK, the vast majority of electric car charging is done at home. This is usually the most convenient and cost-effective way to charge. Get home, plug in, wake up with a full charge. Brilliant! To charge from home, it is best to get a home charge point installed. A dedicated home EV charger will charge your car much faster than using a three-pin plug – up to three times quicker! It’s safer, too.
You may be eligible to receive a contribution towards the cost and installation (up to a maximum of £350) of a home wall box with the government’s Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).
Relaxing drive
When running on battery power, PHEVs are incredibly quiet inside, making for a relaxed atmosphere. Driving is easy, too, because electric motors produce maximum torque at all revs, so acceleration is instant.
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How does a Plug-In Hybrid work?
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A PHEV works in a similar way to a Self-Charging Hybrid– there is a petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a battery. In a Plug-in Hybrid, the battery is much larger than in a Self-Charging Hybrid. This means the car is able to travel around 30 miles on battery power alone – more than enough for the UK average daily commute – but it can also call on the petrol engine for longer trips.
Like a Self-Charging Hybrid, the battery can be charged whilst driving, but for the full benefit, you will need to plug in. Charging a PHEV should take less than three hours. Put this all together and you can enjoy miles of low-cost, all-electric driving while still having a petrol engine for those rare long distance trips. Perfect.
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What’s it like to drive a Plug-In Hybrid car?
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Relaxing and rather fun, actually. When running on battery power, PHEVs are very responsive, because unlike combustion engines, electric motors produce maximum torque at any rpm. Acceleration is instant. Most charging in the UK is done at home, but If you want to top up on the go, there are more than 7,000 public charging locations in the UK. Or, you can simply let the petrol engine take over when you run out of charge. All you have to worry about is driving as you normally would, while reaping the benefits of improved fuel economy and lower emissions.
Kia EV Insurance
If you currently own or are going to purchase a Kia Electric Vehicle (EV) or a Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) you can be confident that your car will receive the specialist electric vehicle cover and care it needs with Kia Electric Vehicle Insurance.
The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has been carefully engineered to minimise any impact on passenger and luggage space. The high-voltage battery is placed centrally,
ensuring a balanced weight distribution and an interior space that is practical, comfortable and versatile. The state-of-the-art Sportage battery also features a new high-tech management unit that constantly monitors the state of the battery.
The Kia Niro PHEV offers a roomy, premium interior that’s brimming with technology, all in the body of a stylish crossover. It has an electric range of 36 miles – more than enough for most journeys – and achieves 201.8mpg, while producing just 29g/km CO2.
The radical crossover coupé is high off the ground, with a long bonnet and a fast sloping silhouette. 18" wheels enhance the athletic profile, while LED lights and 'Ice Cube' LED daytime running lights shine at the front. The sporty bumper and closed tiger-nose grille are both stunning and aerodynamically effective.
The epitome of luxury travel with comfortable seating for seven, premium materials and
impressive high-tech equipment. Inside, the Sorento is brimming with technology – from
large high-definition touch screens, to a comprehensive range of advanced safety features.
All of which help make driving safe and pleasurable.
Take the test. Find your match.
Finding out which Kia Electric and Hybrid Car best suits your needs and lifestyle is simple: Just answer the following 4 multiple-choice questions to generate your personal match.
More about Electric & Hybrid cars
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If you’re thinking of switching to an electric car, you’ve probably got lots of questions. Our simple guide will help you answer them.
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A hybrid car switches between petrol and electric automatically to optimise driving performance, improve fuel economy and lower emissions. Simply get in and the car generates power as you drive. No plugging in required.
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Plug-in Hybrid cars use a combination of petrol and electric to offer you many of the benefits of an electric car and a petrol engine combined.
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Kia’s mild hybrid cars use a very small battery and a clever motor/generator to save fuel and lower emissions.
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Don’t worry, charging may seem rather complicated, but in reality it’s very simple.
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Owning an electric car is cheaper than you might think, with tax incentives and lower running costs.
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Images shown for illustration purposes only and may not be to UK specification.
There are certain situations in which the petrol engine will automatically activate even when the vehicle is in EV mode. Examples could include: when the hybrid battery state of charge is reduced to a certain level, when acceleration demand is high and/or when it is required to heat up the cabin.
