Hybrid vs Plug-In Hybrid vs EV: What Each Powertrain Is

A conventional hybrid pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a small battery that it charges itself; a plug-in hybrid adds a larger battery you can charge from an outlet; an all-electric vehicle has no engine and runs only on its battery. The three differ in what you put in the vehicle, how the EPA rates them and what drives their running cost. This guide describes the differences without ranking them, because the right choice depends on your driving and your prices.

Key takeaways

• Hybrid (HEV): gasoline only at the pump; the electric parts raise efficiency. Rated in MPG.
• Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): gasoline and electricity. Rated in MPGe on electricity and MPG on gasoline.
• Battery-electric (EV): electricity only. Rated in MPGe and kWh per 100 miles, with a range.
• Which costs less to run depends on fuel prices, electricity prices, how far you drive and how often you can charge.

Conventional hybrids

According to fueleconomy.gov, hybrid electric vehicles combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor, and three technologies matter. Regenerative braking recaptures energy normally lost during coasting or braking. The electric motor assists the engine in accelerating, passing or hill climbing, which allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. And the engine shuts off automatically when the vehicle stops and restarts when the accelerator is pressed, reducing waste from idling. In certain models the motor can also move the vehicle by itself at low speeds. You fuel it at a gas station and never plug it in.

Plug-in hybrids

A plug-in hybrid has a larger battery that can be charged from the grid. fueleconomy.gov says some run so that only the electric motor turns the wheels (with the engine generating electricity), while others keep both engine and motor connected to the wheels, with electric-only operation usually at low speeds. It notes that using electricity is usually cheaper than using gasoline, that a plug-in can cost roughly $4 to $8 thousand more than a comparable non-plug-in hybrid, and that plug-in hybrids use roughly 30% to 60% less petroleum than conventional vehicles. Those cost and petroleum figures are the agency’s stated approximations at the time of its page, so check the page for current wording.

The label shows electric and gasoline ratings separately, and a utility factor weights them. See how plug-in hybrids are rated.

All-electric vehicles

fueleconomy.gov describes all-electric vehicles as propelled by one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable battery packs. It says EVs convert over 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels, while gasoline vehicles convert about 12% to 30% of the energy stored in gasoline. Range varies by model, and recharging time ranges widely by equipment. Efficiency is reported in kWh per 100 miles (guide) and distance on a full charge as range (guide).

Side-by-side

	Conventional hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	Battery-electric
Energy from	Gasoline	Gasoline and grid electricity	Grid electricity
Plugs in	No	Yes	Yes
Has a gasoline engine	Yes	Yes	No
EPA units	MPG	MPGe and MPG, kWh per 100 miles	MPGe, kWh per 100 miles, range
Needs a charging plan	No	Helpful for full benefit	Yes
Rating depends on	Test results	Test results and utility factor	Test results and a real-world adjustment

What drives running cost

For each type the annual cost has the same shape, miles times energy per mile times price. The inputs differ:

• Hybrid: gasoline price and combined MPG.
• Plug-in hybrid: electricity price and gasoline price, plus how much of your driving is on electricity.
• EV: electricity price and kWh per 100 miles, and where you charge.

Electricity is not the same price everywhere or at every time: the Alternative Fuels Data Center notes that some utilities offer time-of-use rates or other rate incentives for people who charge. See home vs public EV charging costs. The EV vs gas calculator and hybrid savings calculator use your own inputs, and how annual fuel cost is calculated explains the formulas.

Non-price differences to weigh yourself

• Where you park. Home charging is straightforward with a dedicated outlet or a Level 2 charger, and harder in some housing types. The AFDC says many EV owners can meet daily needs by charging overnight with Level 1 equipment when a power outlet on a dedicated branch circuit is available near the parking location.
• Trip pattern. Long trips lean on public charging for an EV and on the engine for a plug-in or hybrid.
• Cold climates. All powertrains lose efficiency in the cold; EVs show the largest percentage drop, as described in real-world MPG vs the EPA label.

Where to look next

Browse each type in the car database and see electric models in our EV section. For ratings, rely on the label values and the way they are defined, rather than on assumptions about the technology.