What is the difference between a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and an electric car?
The three differ in where the energy comes from and how much of your driving can be electric. The practical question is not how they work but which suits your journeys.
A hybrid — often marketed as self-charging — is never plugged in. It carries a small battery topped up by the engine and by braking, and can manage only short, low-speed stretches on electricity. Treat it as a petrol car with better urban economy. On motorways the advantage largely disappears.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a much larger battery you charge from a socket, typically giving 30 to 80km of electric range, with the engine available beyond that. This is the one that most depends on how you use it — and the most important thing to know before buying: a PHEV you never plug in is worse than an ordinary hybrid, because you are carrying a heavy battery pack for nothing and the published economy figures assume charging.
A battery electric vehicle (BEV) has no engine. Range is commonly 250 to 500km. There is no fuel, no oil changes, no exhaust and far fewer moving parts to fail.
A mild hybrid is a fourth label and the most misleading: a small 48-volt system that assists the engine and smooths stop-start. It cannot drive on electricity at all.
Deciding comes down to three questions. Can you charge where you park overnight? If not, a PHEV or BEV loses most of its case. How long is your typical journey? And how far is the occasional longest one? Short daily trips with rare long ones suit a PHEV; consistently long trips without charging suit a hybrid; predictable range with home charging suits a BEV.
Servicing and fuel costs differ as much as purchase price, so compare total cost rather than list price.