Discover the best of both worlds
What is a Plug-in Hybrid?
Should I buy a Hybrid or a Plug-in Hybrid?
If you’re interested in a hybrid car, it’s highly likely that a plug-in hybrid will be even more suitable. Plug-in hybrids (or PHEVs) are the most popular type of hybrid with nearly 200,000 registered in the UK.
While mild and standard hybrids do offer small efficiency and cost savings, a plug-in hybrid enables you to drive much further on electric power.
What are the benefits of a Plug-in Hybrid?
Plug-in hybrid benefits
Plug-in Hybrids are environmentally friendly
The EV range of plug-in hybrids varies by manufacturer, but typically models can do at least 20 miles on electricity, making commutes and local journeys possible purely on clean electricity.
Only plug-in hybrids and electric cars are clean enough to be exempt from the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone and similar Clean Air initiatives.
Plug-in hybrid benefits
Plug-in hybrids save you money at the pump
On average a mile of petrol costs between 11 and 20 pence depending on the cost at the pump and the power and weight of the car. Driving on electricity the cost can be as low as 4 or 5 pence per mile, so you can see how the savings quickly build up.
Discover how much your bill might be reduced with our simple fuel cost calculator.
Plug-in hybrid benefits
Plug-in hybrids are easy to keep fully-charged
You can charge a plug-in hybrid wherever there’s a plug socket as easily as plugging in your phone. But you can also buy a dedicated charger and subscribe to a public charge point network.
At Home
Most people who buy a plug-in hybrid also get a wall charger installed at home. They’re inexpensive, easy to use and allow the car to be charged more quickly.
Around Town
There are thousands of public charge points across the UK: in service stations, shopping centres and on city streets. Most work on a subscription basis so you simply sign up and swipe a card.
Further Afield
If you’re travelling to more rural areas with less access to charge points, a plug-in hybrids petrol engine can do the bulk of the work, but it will still use regenerative braking to charge the battery for increased efficiency.
Plug-in hybrid benefits
No range anxiety means unrestricted exploration
The combination of electric and petrol power makes a plug-in hybrid uniquely able to drive efficiently without compromising on where you can drive. If you’re in an area with access to charge points (or even just a standard plug socket) you can top up your battery and cruise for a few pennies per mile.
Reduced Company Car Tax
Company car driver savings
Choosing a plug-in hybrid as a company car means you’re likely to pay less Benefit in Kind (BIK) than you would on a standard car. The exact rate of BIK you pay is based on the CO2 emissions of the car, which vary by model.
Company Car Tax InfoExplore Outlander PHEV
The best plug-in hybrid
If you’re sold on the idea of a plug-in hybrid, you can’t do much better than an Outlander PHEV. The UK’s most popular plug-in hybrid model is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. 50,000 have been sold since it launched in 2013. A joy to drive and a marvel to own, the Outlander PHEV is a perfect family or executive business SUV.