How Are Hybrids, EVs, and PHEVs Different?

We’re proud that we’re known as Chevy Silverado dealers, but we’re equally glad area drivers consider us a resource they can count on to answer their automotive questions. If you’re thinking about buying or leasing an electric car from our Chevy dealership, you might wonder how an EV differs from traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Hybrids

If you contact our Wallingford, CT Chevy dealership to ask how the three types of automobiles differ from each other, we’ll start our explanation by telling you that conventional hybrids have been around for decades. A hybrid car has a hybridized powertrain that includes an internal combustions engine, at least one electric motor, and a battery pack.

These vehicles can travel short distances using electricity alone. They can also consume gas at the same time they use electricity, or they can move using just fossil fuel.

PHEVs

When you look through the latest Chevrolet models in our extensive inventory, you’ll see fresh, modern automobiles. PHEVs are like a new twist on hybrids in that they can be charged using an external power source. While PHEVs have regenerative brakes like hybrids, they don’t rely on their brakes exclusively to keep their battery packs charged up the way hybrids do.

In general, PHEVs have larger battery packs than traditional hybrids. For that reason, they can cover more ground using electricity alone before their internal combustion engines kick in.

Electric Cars

Even though hybrids and PHEVs can travel using electricity alone, they’ll eventually consume at least some gas if you drive them far enough. While that’s true, they’re still eco-friendlier than vehicles that only consume fuel.

Being Chevrolet dealers, we can tell you that electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV are the eco-friendliest automobiles on the road today. Since they only consume electricity, EVs don’t have some of the parts that hybrids and PHEVs have, such as combustion engines, gas tanks, and exhaust systems. For the same reason, EVs don’t release harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Many EVs can hundreds of miles between charges. Like PHEVs, you can charge an EV at home using a 120- or 240-volt outlet or an installed charging station. Alternatively, you can visit one of the thousands of public charging stations located across the United States to charge an EV.

Are you ready to get an eco-friendly Chevy EV? Visit Executive Chevrolet to find and finance a Chevrolet electric car that will shrink your carbon footprint today.