Which Car Brand Offers the Most Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)?
Many automakers are looking to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to help transition their companies and drivers into a future filled with electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, many brands have at least one PHEV model in their lineup or on the way. But one particular automaker leads the pack with five available PHEVs. Find out the PHEVs this manufacturer offers.
What a PHEV is and how it works
A hybrid vehicle uses a gasoline engine and at least one electric motor to generate power. In addition, it captures energy from regenerative braking and stores it in its battery pack, explains Car and Driver. In most hybrid vehicles, an electric motor and gas engine are connected to the same transmission, which uses power from both to turn the wheels. Sometimes a hybrid uses just the electric motor(s) to power the wheels and the gas engine to recharge the battery. These hybrids cannot be plugged in unless they are also plug-in hybrids.
A PHEV has a much larger battery pack than a non-plug-in hybrid. The large battery can be recharged from an external source of electricity by plugging it in. Its extra electric power gives it a more extended electric range to use less gas. If it hasn’t been plugged in, it will use the engine more and operate the way a non-plug-in hybrid does.
A PHEV’s all-electric range is between 10 and 30 miles per charge, and some PHEVs have a range of up to 50 miles, says Progressive. The gas engine lets a PHEV travel several hundred miles before refueling or recharging. It is beneficial for people who mainly drive short distances around town but occasionally also want to take long trips without worrying about range, says Consumer Reports.
Volvo has the most
As of September 4, 2022, there are 33 PHEVs available for sale in the United States, according to evadoption. The five PHEVs available from Volvo are the Volvo XC60 Recharge, Volvo XC90 Recharge, Volvo S60 Recharge, Volvo S90 Recharge, and the Volvo V60 Recharge. All five Volvo PHEVs have multiple driving modes. They use the Volvo Cars app to show average fuel consumption, battery charge levels, and the average use of electricity compared to fuel.
The Volvo XC60 Recharge PHEV and Volvo XC90 Recharge PHEV are both SUVs. The XC60 is a two-row midsize SUV, while the XC90 is a three-row luxury SUV. The XC60 seats five people, while the XC90 seats six or seven. The XC60 has an EPA electric range of 36 miles and a starting price of $57,200. The XC90 has an EPA electric range of 35 miles and a starting price of $71,900.
The Volvo S60 Recharge and Volvo S90 Recharge are sedans that seat five people. The S60 has an electric range of 40 miles and a starting price of $51,250. The larger luxury S90 has an EPA electric range of 38 miles and a starting price of $70,500. Lastly, the Volvo V60 Recharge is a wagon that seats five. It has an EPA electric range of 40 miles and a starting price of $70,550.
18 other brands also offer PHEVs
While Volvo has the largest number of PHEV models, there are PHEVs from 19 different brands. Following up behind Volvo are BMW and Kia, with three PHEV models each. Hyundai, Jeep, Land Rover, Lincoln, Porsche, and Toyota have two PHEVs. There are currently 10 brands that each offers one PHEV model.
