It is no secret that the idea of mobility that we had until now is changing at full speed. For this reason, among others, electrified vehicles – electric, hybrid and even gas – are increasingly present on our roads. However, there are great differences between all of them that must be known in order to choose the one indicated among all the types of electrified that we can find on the market today. On this occasion, we are going to talk about plug-in hybrids which, in the same way as other hybrids and unlike gasoline vehicles, which use the explosion of fuel and air to release energy, and electric ones, which store energy. energy in a battery to later convert it into mechanical movement; are those that combine two or more different propellants, with the aim of complementing them to achieve a more efficient operation, and a battery capable of moving the vehicle with electrical energy.
What is the difference between them?
However, although both powertrains are very similar , between plug-in hybrids and other hybrids we also find the odd difference. The main one lies in the energy capacity of its batteries and in the power of its electric motors. That is, the plug-ins have more powerful motors, which translates into greater acceleration capacity and the ability to reach higher speeds. They also have higher capacity batteries, which means that they can travel many more kilometers in electric mode and without polluting. In short, they are more efficient, do not lose power and consume less.
Thus, the conventional hybrid is recharged with the combustion engine itself when driving, with energy that would otherwise be wasted. On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid is recharged, as its name suggests, through a plug, which allows reducing consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, emitting on average between 25 and 28% less CO2 than a conventional vehicle.
More benefits than ever
Some of the most prominent advantages of this type of car have to do with traffic restrictions in large cities. Plug-in hybrids enjoy the benefits granted by the ZERO label , as they are not affected by these restrictions of the anti-pollution protocols, so they can park for free in regulated parking areas and circulate in any circumstance on the bus-HOV lane. In addition, these types of vehicles are exempt from paying the registration tax, due to the low polluting emissions they emit, in addition to having a discount on the road tax, which usually ranges between 75 and 80%.
It is true that the infrastructure is still insufficient , that recharging points are lacking and that batteries maintain a high cost. However, it is also true that these issues are gradually improving, encouraging Spanish drivers to become increasingly interested in the range of plug-in hybrids that we find in Spain to date, with outstanding options such as the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, the Kia Niro PHEV or the MINI Countryman Cooper SE Hybrid PHEV.
