While electric cars and hybrids represented barely 1% of sales in Europe a short time ago, they reached a market share of 22.4% in 2020. Do you know what PHEV is, this technology that is attracting more and more French people? What do you need to know about it?
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car combines two types of engines, thermal and electric. The combustion engine (gasoline in most cases) is therefore associated with one or more electrical blocks.
The plug-in hybrid car is a more ecological and responsible approach than the combustion car. Using this type of vehicle allows you to limit your CO2 emissions.
There are two main categories in the world of hybrid cars: Full Hybrids, which cannot be recharged, and PHEVs, which are rechargeable models.
Among the hybrid cars: the PHEV
What does Phev mean? It's the acronym for “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.” This term is used to refer to all plug-in hybrid vehicles, with a battery (generally lithium ion) allowing you to drive in all-electric mode.
A non-rechargeable hybrid car (Full Hybrid) is recharged only while driving, thanks to the combustion engine and a possible energy recovery device during braking and deceleration.
Conversely, the operation of a plug-in hybrid car is more similar to an electric car. Its battery is used up to 120 or 130 km/h
: beyond that, it discharges quickly and it is more appropriate to let the combustion engine take over.
Like an all-electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid car connects to a standard outlet, a wallbox or a public charging station.
PHEV: the pros and cons
A plug-in hybrid car combines the performance of a real electric vehicle and an internal combustion vehicle. It can thus travel more than 900 km in hybrid mode for long trips and 40 km on average in 100% electric mode for daily trips.
On the fuel side, its consumption is very low: from 1L/100km. Note that fuel consumption varies depending on the route, mode and driving attitude.
The most? An ecological bonus of €1000 is offered by the State to buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
An argument that helps to blur the disadvantage of its high price: between 35,000 and 40,000 euros.
A few other disadvantages should be noted: the complex architecture of PHEV vehicles may require more maintenance in the long term. Heavier than others, you may experience a slight loss of agility while driving this type of car.
Despite everything, PHEV technology, encouraged by the State, has something to appeal to a large number of motorists. Especially those who drive mostly in urban or peri-urban areas and who can connect their vehicle as often as possible.
Qovoltis is also the ideal charging solution for all types of rechargeable vehicles. With a modern, simple and refined design, it consists of a smart terminal capable of adapting its power in real time, a mobile application to manage everything remotely and a unique system for optimizing consumption.
Sources: Auto motorcycle, Engineering techniques, Renault, Clean car,
