Plug-in hybrids get plugged in more than you might think

Source: Ars Technica

Plug‑in hybrids: expectations vs. reality

Plug‑in hybrid powertrains were developed to be the best of both worlds: a combustion engine and fuel tank that can handle longer journeys just like a non‑hybrid car, paired with an electric motor and a battery large enough for most—or all—daily driving range. But only if you plug it in.

It is often taken as a statement of fact that plug‑in hybrid owners don’t plug in their plug‑ins.

Why the criticism arose

Instead, many drivers were “seduced” into buying a car with a far‑too‑big battery, likely because of generous incentives. The argument goes: if those drivers aren’t going to plug in and therefore enjoy at least some entirely electric driving, they should have bought a parallel hybrid instead—often delivering better efficiency than a PHEV with an empty battery, and at a significantly lower price.

New evidence from Toyota

Background

In the past, Toyota has declined to provide numbers when asked by journalists about the frequency of PHEV plugging.

The study

A pair of researchers at Toyota Research Institute North America have now crunched some data. They examined anonymized data from more than 6,000 vehicles, specifically:

• RAV4 Prime (model years 2021–2024) – see the original coverage here
• Lexus NX 450h+ (model years 2021–2024) – see the original coverage here

Findings

The results are encouraging: the data show that PHEV drivers do, in fact, plug in their vehicles at a higher frequency than previously assumed. This challenges the notion that plug‑in hybrids are largely left unplugged.