A decade ago , hybrid carswere the hottest , newest form of environmentally friendly andfuel - efficient motoring . But while hybrids have amount to demonstrate themselves in the gondola marketplace , there ’s an even new and more high - tech form of green railway car on the horizon : The fireplug - in loan-blend .
As you may already know , plug - in hybrids aregasoline - electric vehicle similar to regular hybrids . The chief difference is that theirbatteriesare charge by plugging them in to outlets in your service department or at specialized charging station . In theory , this make them superior to stock hybrids because they can draw onelectricityfor greater durations , and in some situations , they can get you where you ’re go without using gasoline at all .
In gild to examine how plug - in hybrids ' mileage compares to other cars , permit ’s take care at the chew - in hybrid cars currently on the market . One of the best examples is the Chevrolet Volt , which General Motors call in an " extended - range electric vehicle " but could also be described as a plug - in hybrid .
According to GM , the Volt get 35 miles per Imperial gallon ( 14.9 kilometer per liter ) in the metropolis and 40 naut mi per gallon ( 17 kilometers per l ) on the main road . Those are decentfuel economynumbers , but they ’re not outstanding – until you remember the Volt can drive up to 375 miles ( 603.5 kilometre ) on electrical energy alone without using a drib of gas . For this grounds , the EPA evidence the Volt ’s electric mode at 93 Admiralty mile per congius ( 39.5 kilometers per liter ) , or rather , tantamount miles per gal [ source : Chevrolet ] . The all - electric Nissan Leaf has a rating of 99 miles per gal ( 42.1 kilometers per cubic decimetre ) .
Because plug - in hybrids make such a potent use of their galvanising modes , it ’s sturdy to at once equate their gas mileage to that of other cars . The Volt ’s competitors , the hybrid Toyota Prius and Honda Insight , get 51 miles per congius ( 21.7 kilometers per cubic decimeter ) metropolis , 48 mile per gallon ( 20.4 klick per liter ) main road and 40 miles per gallon ( 17 klick per l ) urban center , 43 miles per gallon ( 18.3 kilometre per liter ) highway , respectively . So while the Volt is n’t as good on gas as these two Nipponese hybrids , it does boast an edge in its ability to not use gas at all for draw out periods [ root : Edmunds ] .
Toyota is set to release a chew - in version of the Prius called the PHV in 2012 . While it can only drive for 13 nautical mile ( 20.9 kilometers ) on electricity alone , after that , the car switches over to the same intercrossed gas - electric system as on the veritable Prius . This mean it could achieve even well mileage than the Volt , which runs only on gasoline once it has expended its electricity reserves [ informant : CNN ] .
While it may seem like owning a plug - in intercrossed car is a great way to save money because you ’re using less gas , remember also that these cars have a heavy price bounty over cars with " unconstipated " engines . You ’ll also be responsible for a higher electric bill since you ’ll be buck them in your home . But there ’s no question that plug - in loanblend represent a greener , moreEarth - friendly drive experience .
