A plug-in hybrid car is similar to a conventional hybrid vehicle—both use a gasoline engine as well as an electric motor. A plug-in hybrid differs primarily in that it can be plugged in to charge the batteries, while a conventional hybrid relies solely on energy generated from braking, coasting or from the gasoline engine.

A plug-in hybrid uses larger battery packs that can be recharged by connecting to common household electricity. Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances—from a few miles to as much as 40 miles—without using any gasoline. Plug-in hybrid cars are also known as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs. Plug-in hybrid cars that use a gas engine exclusively for recharging batteries—rather than directly powering the wheels—are also called Extended-Range Electric Vehicles or E-REVs.

Fueling a car with electricity is about 5 times cheaper than fueling it with gasoline. That is equivalent to buying gasoline at less than $1 per gallon. It also reduces greenhouse pollution and helps reduce crude oil imports. Also plug-in hybrids produced substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions than either conventional gasoline cars or unplugged hybrids.

Criticisms of the hybrid include the additional cost, weight, and size of a larger battery pack.

BYD made [c. 2.5 million or] 2,503,119 plug-in hybrid vehicles (year 2024).^[1]

Brands that made plug-in hybrids in 2024, include

• Audi, Audi A3, A8, Q5, Q7 (year 2024)
• Baojun Yunhai
• Bentley Bentayga
• BMW M5, BMW XM
• BYD, including BYD Shark
• Citroën C5 X
• Fangchengbao Bao 8
• Ford Ranger (T6), Ford Escape
• Honda CR-V
• Hyundai Sonata
• Jeep Renegade, Jeep Wrangler
• Karma Revero
• Lamborghini Urus SE (2024)
• Mercedes-Benz, including Mercedes-Benz GLE
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Peugeot 508
• Porsche Panamera
• Renault Captur, its length is 4.05 m
• Seat made SEAT León (2024)
• Škoda, including Škoda Superb
• Tank, including Tank 700
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen; Golf Mk8, Passat B9, Tiguan, Tayron, Touareg
• Volvo, including Volvo XC40, Volvo XC90, Volvo S60
• Voyah, including Voyah Free
• Wey, including Wey VV7
• Yangwang, including Yangwang U8

1. ↑ https://www.best-selling-cars.com/brands/2024-full-year-global-byd-worldwide-car-sales-and-productions/. Retrieved 2025-07-26