If you’ve looked at new cars in the Milledgeville or McDonough area lately, you’ve probably seen the acronym PHEV. What is PHEV? The letters stand for “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle,” like the Mazda CX-90 PHEV. What is the PHEV meaning, and how do these vehicles differ from a hybrid or an electric vehicle? Five Star Mazda offers some answers that will hopefully help you get the information you need to consider making the fuel-efficient shift to a Mazda PHEV.
The PHEV meaning is best described by the words the acronym stands for: plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. These are vehicles that have hybrid powertrains, meaning they operate with a gasoline-powered engine and an electricity-powered motor. The electric motor is recharged by plugging it into an electric car charger.
How does this differ from the hybrid vehicles you’ve seen on Byron streets in the last 20 years? Those hybrids also have a two-motor powertrain with one fueled by gasoline, but there are differences as illustrated below.
The difference is in how the battery is charged. Most older hybrid vehicles use regenerative braking to charge the electric motor. That means the energy generated when you brake charges the motor. In a Mazda PHEV, the electric motor is recharged when you plug the vehicle into a charging station. This can be a home charger or a public charging station, which are becoming easier to find in the Macon area.
If you drive a traditional hybrid, you will always be using gasoline. A combination of gasoline and electricity powers the vehicle at the same time. Since the electricity is replacing part of the gasoline usage, fuel economy ratings are much better than those in conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
However, the benefit of choosing a PHEV is the ability to switch between the gasoline-powered engine and the electric motor. In most PHEVs, you can drive a short range—usually between 25-35 miles—using only the electric motor. When you’ve used the full charge, your PHEV will automatically switch to the gasoline engine. If your commute or errand-running is fewer miles than a PHEV’s battery range, it’s entirely possible to do the bulk of your driving without gasoline, thanks to overnight charging on a home charging station. Because of their ability to be powered without gasoline, most PHEV drivers see significantly better fuel economy, even compared to conventional hybrids.
If you’re ready to experience the power of electricity and see first-hand how easy it is to make the switch to a PHEV, contact Five Star Mazda to arrange a test drive. Our sales and service teams are well-versed in the PHEV meaning and how to get the most out of your new Mazda hybrid.
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