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The PHEV is similar to the HEV in that it operates on a combination of an electric motor, an ICE and a battery pack (Plug-in hybrids, 2015). However, a PHEV has the ability to plug in and recharge the battery pack using a power source while the vehicle is parked. There are two main types of PHEVs: Series plug-in Hybrids, which are also referred to as Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV), and Parallel or blended plug-in hybrids. The EREV, shown in Figure 9, uses the electric motor as the sole source of energy for propulsion and the ICE is used only to generate electricity to recharge the battery when levels are low. For short trips, an EREV will utilize only the electric motor.

Figure 9. Extended Range Electric Vehicle

Source: Inside the extended-range electric truck. (2015, November 3). Retrieved from Via Motors Website: http://www.viamotors.com/powertrain/

A Blended Plug-In Hybrid, shown in Figure 10, is very similar to an HEV in operation because both the electric motor and ICE are connected to the wheels and provide propulsion. At low speeds or efficient driving conditions, the electric motor turns the wheels. When the vehicle is travelling at higher speeds or in less efficient driving conditions, the ICE is used to turn the wheels. The batteries used in PHEVs can be much larger than those used in HEVs due to the increased range and decreased reliance upon the ICE as compared with an HEV.

Figure 10. Blended Plug-In Hybrid

Source: All sustainable transportation subsidies shouldn’t be created equal. (2010, January 18). Retrieved from Energy Insight Website http://www.energyinsight.info/ phev_subsidies.html

The PHEV offers advantages over its counterparts that should be carefully considered by consumers. The primary advantage that a PHEV shares with HEVs is the considerable fuel economy. According to the United States Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov website, a PHEV uses 30–60% less petroleum than a conventional ICE vehicle (Plug-in hybrids, 2015). The PHEV uses some gasoline yet makes even more efficient use of the gasoline it uses compared to an HEV, because the battery obtains a significant portion of its charge from being plugged in to an external power source in addition to the regenerative braking and electricity generation from an ICE. Similar to the HEV, upon purchase of a PHEV, the consumer may take advantage of the green vehicle tax incentives that will assist in offsetting the higher cost of a PHEV. The EREV has a decisive advantage over a BEV because despite relying on the battery to power the electric motor, it still has an ICE generator to charge the battery when its charge drops below a set point. The addition of an ICE generator to an EREV makes the consumer less concerned with the battery charge level and range of the vehicle and gives more flexibility in where and how to fill-up or recharge. A potential advantage of PHEVs over HEVs is the production of fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The PHEV draws much of its power from the electric grid as it is being charged and can be considered to be more efficient in terms of the amount of gasoline required to perform its functions. The energy

used to charge the vehicle’s battery can be far cleaner than using a standard ICE or a HEV, depending on the source of the electricity obtained by the local power company. Assuming that the power company uses a heavy blend of renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, or hydro, the use of the electric grid may be cleaner when compared to its alternatives.

The PHEV has some drawbacks as well that must be considered prior to purchasing the technology. The largest drawback is the amount of time it takes to recharge the electric battery on most PHEVs. Using a home recharging station and a 110 or 120 volt charger, a typical full charge will take as many as 6–8 hours. A commercial charging station that utilizes a 220 to 240 volt connection can still take 1–4 hours for a full charge and 30 minutes for a “fast charge” up to 80% of the battery’s overall capacity (Plug-in hybrids, 2015). Most consumers are accustomed to pulling into a gas station and refilling their vehicles to 100% of the gas tank’s capacity within five minutes, so a 30 minute “fast charge” can be a tough sell for them. The limited electric charging station infrastructure in the United States is another drawback of plug-in type vehicles. According to an April 2014 Climate Home web article, there were 9,758 electric charging stations in the United States (Wynn, 2014). When compared to 152,995 gasoline filling stations in the United States per a 2014 National Petroleum News report, the American consumer will see an average of 6.38 electric charging stations for every 100 gasoline filling stations (Service station faqs, 2015). Finally, PHEVs use larger and more powerful Lithium-Ion batteries than HEVs. These batteries are more costly to replace and typically do not last as long as an HEV battery because the PHEV is tougher on its battery and will require replacement after fewer battery charging cycles (Plug in hybrid advantages and disadvantages, 2012).