A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a type of hybrid electric vehicle that uses batteries to power an electric motor and another fuel, such as gasoline, to power an internal combustion engine (ICE) . The battery pack of a PHEV can be recharged by plugging a charging cable into an external electric power source, in addition to being charged internally by its on-board ICE-powered generator. PHEVs have a larger battery pack than conventional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and can be charged using a wall outlet or charging equipment, by the ICE, or through regenerative braking. PHEVs are similar to all-electric vehicles (BEVs) in that they displace greenhouse gas emissions from the car tailpipe exhaust to the power station generators powering the electricity grid. These centralized generators may be of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind or hydroelectric) and largely emission-free, or have an overall lower emission intensity than individual internal combustion engines.
Some key components of a PHEV include:
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Battery (auxiliary): In an electric drive vehicle, the low-voltage auxiliary battery provides electricity to start the car before the traction battery is engaged; it also powers vehicle accessories.
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Charge port: The charge port allows the vehicle to connect to an external power supply in order to charge the traction battery pack.
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DC/DC converter: This device converts higher-voltage DC power from the battery pack to the lower-voltage DC power needed to run vehicle accessories and recharge the auxiliary battery.
PHEVs blend some of the benefits of an EV with the familiarity of a traditional gas car. They have a larger battery than conventional HEVs and can be plugged in to add range, but they also have an ICE to provide additional power when needed. There are currently 35 PHEVs on sale in the U.S., ranging from small hatchbacks to luxurious SUVs, and a few of these PHEVs qualify for a new federal tax credit of up to $7,500.
