Rechargeable hybrid car: a higher dissatisfaction rate than with electricity according to our survey

Several advantages are to be used for a PHEV car (rechargeable hybrid). Its level of power is generally high, since it combines the power of two engines ! This is why most exceed 200 hp for the most “accessible” versions. What ensure nice performance.

Hybrid cars

How to choose a hybrid car

Almost all manufacturers now offer at least one hybrid vehicle in their catalog. This car segment, which associates thermal engine and electric motor, has been on the rise since the launch of the Prius de Toyota in 1997. But beware, all hybrids do not allow to operate in 100 % electric mode.

• 1. What is a hybrid car ?
• 2. What are the different types of hybrids ?
• 3. How much is a hybrid car ?
• 4. What are the financial aid for the purchase of a hybrid car ?
• 5. How a micro-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?
• 6. How a mild-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?
• 7. How a full-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?
• 8. How a rechargeable hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?
• 9. What is the difference between hybrid series, parallel and-series-pural series ?
• 10. What is the autonomy of a hybrid car ?
• 11. How fast can I drive in electric mode with a hybrid ?
• 12. What saving can I achieve with a hybrid ?
• 13. How is a hybrid recharging ?
• 14. How many hybrid cars are sold each year ?
• 15. What are the best -selling hybrid cars in France ?

Tests what to choose

In summary

• A hybrid car associates a heat, petrol or diesel engine with one or more electric motors.
• There are four hybrid engines technologies: micro-hybrids, mild-hybrids (MHEV), full-hybrids (HEV) and rechargeable hybrids (PHEV).
• The additional cost of a hybrid model compared to a thermal model depends on the technology used: generally zero for a micro-hybrid, it can reach several thousand euros for a rechargeable hybrid.
• Hybrid cars, apart from micro-hybrids, are generally not subject to the ecological penalty.
• Some hybrid cars can benefit from purchase aid (conversion bonus, etc.) and a preferential rate or free registration certificate tax.

What is a hybrid car ?

A hybrid car associates a heat engine, whether with petrol or diesel, with at least one electric motor. If the semantics is clear, the commercial appellations of the manufacturers are sometimes less so and can maintain some confusion. Indeed, there are four hybridization solutions and only two allow you to drive – more or less long – in 100 % electric mode. Depending on the use of the car, it is wise to opt for one system rather than another.

What are the different types of hybrids ?

There are 4 families of hybrids, from the simplest to the most sophisticated:

• micro-hybrids;
• Mild-hybrids (light hybrids or MHEV, Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle);
• Full-hybrids (total hybrids or HEV, Hybrid Electric Vehicle);
• Rechargeable hybrids (or PHEV, Hybrid Electric Vehicle plug-in)).

But beware, only the last two allow you to ride – more or less long – in 100 % electric mode.

How much is a hybrid car ?

The purchase price of a hybrid depends on its technology. Today, almost all new vehicles sold are micro-hybrids and integrate the Stop & Start function. There is therefore no additional cost to take advantage of this technology, because it is installed in series.

For other hybrid families, if it is logically the price of rechargeable hybrids which displays a larger price difference compared to a traditional model, It is quite difficult to compare prices. Indeed, cars are generally not offered in a comparable classic thermal version. Some examples :

Peugeot 3008 GT Line Hybrid 225 e-eat8

Peugeot 3008 GT Line Puretech 180 Eat8

Renault Captur Intense e-tech plug-in 160

Renault Captur Intense Classic TCE 140 EDC FAP

What are the financial aid for the purchase of a hybrid car ?

Some aids remain, even if since January 2020 hybrid models have been excluded from the ecological bonus-malus system. The latter is now reserved for vehicles emitting less than 20 g of CO₂/km, which exclusively concerns electric cars or operating in hydrogen.

Ecological penalty

Hybrid vehicles emit less CO₂ And therefore see the amount of their penalus reduced compared to a heat engine version. Knowing that, for 2020, the penalty applies for CO emissions₂ From 110 g/km, you can save several tens or hundreds of euros when buying. Indeed, most of these vehicles are below this critical threshold.

Conversion bonus

The conversion premium is a valid purchase assistance for a new or used hybrid vehicle whose CO emission rate₂ is between 51 and 109 g/km (NEDC approval standard) or 137 g/km (WLTP standard if the dates of first registration and billing are posterior to March 5, 2020). In addition, the cost of acquisition must not exceed € 50,000 and the hybrid must have a minimum autonomy of 50 km in electric mode (in fact, only the rechargeable hybrids are concerned). Finally, the premium is conditioned on the rebuilding of an old vehicle (private vehicle or van whose total authorized load in charge does not exceed 3.5 tonnes) registered before January 2006 if it is equipped with an engine petrol or before 2011 if it has a diesel.

Since August 3, 2020, the amount of the premium has been € 1,500 for households whose reference tax income is less than € 13,489. It can be doubled (€ 3,000) for the most modest households (reference tax income by share below € 6,300) as well as for households living more than 30 km from their workplace or whose annual mileage is greater than 12,000 km.

Exemption from the costs of the registration certificate

The price of the registration certificate depends, among other things, on the number of tax horses, CO emissions₂ and the price of the tax horse in the region in which the holder of the certificate lies. Some regions offer partial (generally 50 %) or total exemption from the regional (Y1) and management tax (Y4) for the purchase of a hybrid vehicle. At best, only the routing fee (Y5) will be paid, or € 2.76.

How a micro-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?

This technology is almost generalized because it is the simplest to implement. It is a question of grafting an alternator-starter (a large alternator of approximately 3 kW, used to recharge the battery and start the engine) which will exclusively ensure the Stop & Start function: the engine is stopped and restarts automatically when the Driver lets go of the brake. The interest of this solution is logically very important in the city, where stops are frequent.

Benefits of a micro-hybrid

• Cost of the negligible installation
• Slightly reduced consumption in town

Disadvantages of a micro-hybrid

• Useful only in town
• Can be unpleasant in the bites (too repetitive stops and starts: it is better to deactivate the system)

How a mild-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?

With a mild-hybrid (light hybrid or mhev, Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle), there is also no wheel drive via an electric motor, this is exclusively the role of the heat engine. Mild-hybrid is an evolution of the STOP & START Simple system with the addition of a more powerful alternator (10 to 30 kW) and an energy recovery system to deceleration which recharges a specific battery (in more of the original one). Thanks to the energy stored in the latter, the Alterno-Démarreur can, during the acceleration phases, assist the thermal engine which will have to provide less effort (therefore which will consume less).

Some cars use a second more powerful electricity network of 24 or 48 V. Converted in 12 V, this current feeds the traditional vehicle network. The advantage is that the battery of this network, less stressed, requires fewer load phases by driving, which allows you to still save fuel (the heat engine will be less stressed). The use of the 48 V also allows the addition, for example, of an electric compressor (Ebooster) which provides overeating before the main turbocharger takes over, the aim being to limit the power of the heat engine while having good performance.

Advantages of a humd-hybrid

• Good consumption reduction
• Approval of use
• Increased heat engine performance

Disadvantages of a humd-hybrid

• No 100 % electric mode

How a full-hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?

Full-hybrid (total hybrid or HEV, Hybrid Electric Vehicle) is the first real hybrid system in the literal sense of the term: the combination of a heat engine and an electric motor which can, each in turn or simultaneously, train the wheels. This more sophisticated level of hybridization of course takes up the features proposed by other systems, namely the stop & start and the energy recovery system in braking. Added to this is a possibility of operating in 100 % electric mode. Its autonomy is however limited to a few kilometers due to a sufficient battery capacity (it is generally between 1 and 3 kWh). Thus, during the first laps, it is the electric motor which officiates, up to a certain speed (about 50 km/h) and only on a very short distance: only a few kilometers. During this energy -consuming phase, no fuel consumption is necessary. However, if the battery load is insufficient, only the departure of the car in electric mode is made, not the driving phase. Likewise, when speed increases, it is the heat engine that takes over. On the road, when there is a short moment of power, during an acceleration for an overtaking or in the coast for example, the two engines work together. Thus helped by the electric motor, the heat engine consumes less.

Benefits of a full-hybrid

• Clear drop in city consumption
• Starting in 100 % electric mode
• Performance gain and approval of use of the heat engine

Disadvantages of a full-hybrid

• Autonomy in limited 100 % electric mode

How a rechargeable hybrid works ? What are its advantages and disadvantages ?

Rechargeable hybrid (or PHEV, Hybrid Electric Vehicle plug-in), this is the ultimate in hybrid, the link between the classic car and the electric. If this is the most successful solution in terms of performance and comfort, it is also the most expensive. His interest ? In addition to the functions identical to those offered by total hybridization, it allows you to drive in 100 % electric mode over a reasonable distance: 50 to 60 km on average. To do this, rechargeable hybrids use more robust batteries (from 7 to 15 kWh) and an electric motor (or even several) more powerful. They are therefore very interesting vehicles for those who use their car on a daily basis over a distance close to the autonomy of the car (to drive as much electric, without using fuel) and which can easily be connected to the sector to recharge The batteries. No stress, the thermal engine takes over as soon as the batteries are emptying, and each kilometer traveled in thermal mode gradually rewinds them to recover a little autonomy in electric mode.

Advantages of a rechargeable hybrid

• Autonomy in interesting 100 % electric mode
• Quite fast recharging in the mains (a few hours)
• 4 × 4 mode possible on certain models

Disadvantages of a rechargeable hybrid

• Purchase price
• Weight
• Sometimes reduced chest volume

What is the difference between hybrid series, parallel and-series-pural series ?

Beyond hybridization technology, there are several architectures for hybrid engines that characterize the position of the motors and the way in which these enter into action. We are talking about a series hybrid, parallel hybrid or a mixture of the two solutions: the hybrid series-Parallele.

Hybrid series

Schematically, the two engines here have mounted one behind the other and it is only the electric motor that drives the wheels. The heat engine then becomes a generator and is only used to produce the current necessary to operate the electric motor and recharge the batteries. The advantage of the series hybrid is to be able to use a smaller combustion engine that works in an optimal diet and torque range, therefore that will consume a minimum. This solution is quite simple to implement. This is the case for BMW i3, Chevrolet Volt or Opel Ampera.

Parallel hybrid

In the case of parallel hybridization, the two engines are able to train the wheels, independently or simultaneously. This solution requires the use of a fairly complex transmission system allowing the distribution of the powers of each engine. We find for example this technology on the Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic IMA or Insight.

Parallel series hybrid

Also called “power derivation”, this type of hybridization is the most complex: it is a combination of the other two modes (series and parallel). The thermal engine is also well used to recharge the batteries (as is the case in the serial hybrid) or during the propulsion by the two motors (parallel hybrid). Due to its complexity, the cost of this solution is quite high. This technology is used by Toyota on the Prius or Renault on its Clio, Captur and Mégane e-tech.

To note. The Hybrid4 system used by the PSA group (Citroën, DS, Opel and Peugeot) consists of a hybrid-pararallel hybrid motorization for the front drive and an additional electric motor installed on the rear axle and dedicated to rear wheels.

What is the autonomy of a hybrid car ?

The autonomy of a hybrid car depends on its technology.

A micro-hybrid and an mild-hybrid have no autonomy in 100 % electric mode. For these two technologies, it is the heat engine, and only it, which drives the wheels. The hybrid function, especially for a mild-hybrid, intervenes only to help the thermal engine by providing an additional power at a given moment, as if to obtain a “turbo effect”.

The first hybrid to offer a driving in 100 % electric mode is the full-hybrid. In this case, the autonomy is only a few kilometers and generally remains much less than 10 km.

It’s’rechargeable hybrid, Equipped, among other things, with a more powerful battery, which offers the largest autonomy in 100 % electric mode. The rechargeable hybrid is then able to travel up to 60 km without the heat engine entering into action. This autonomy is conditioned on traffic conditions and the types of roads. It will be more important in the city (thanks to the deceleration energy recovery system) than on the highway, where energy demand is more important.

How fast can I drive in electric mode with a hybrid ?

The maximum driving speed in 100 % electric mode depends on the hybridization technology and only full-hybrid and rechargeable hybrid cars allow this function. The most efficient for this game is the rechargeable hybrid which can reach a maximum speed about 2 times higher than that of a non-rechargeable hybrid (Full-Hybrid).

The maximum speed in 100 % electric mode for a non-rechargeable hybrid vehicle (Full-Hybrid) is generally between 50 and 70 km/h. And it is only reached during low accelerations.

The rechargeable hybrid easily reaches 130 km/h in 100 % electric mode, until the batteries are exhausted. And if the model has a dedicated key to impose operation in electric mode (EV key, for Electric Vehicle), this can be done even during strong accelerations.

What saving can I achieve with a hybrid ?

The economy carried out with a hybrid vehicle once again depends on the technology used and the types of journeys carried out. If all the solutions make it possible to gain a lot in the city, on the road during long journeys, it is especially the full-hydid and the rechargeable hybrids which will be the most relevant.

Micro-hybrid

A micro-hybrid car is only interesting in town, where it saves up to 10 % fuel. On the road, micro-hybridization has no effect on consumption.

Mild-hybrid

According to the solution used, the Mild-Hybrid function allows a consumption reduction of 15 to 20 % on the European cycle.

Full-hybrid

The gain in consumption is greater in town and can reach up to 40 %. On the other hand, on mixed routes combining city, fast tracks and highway, the economy is around 15 to 20 %.

Rechargeable hybrid

If, in 100 % electric mode, we do not consume fuel, it is possible to reduce the overall consumption of the heat engine to the whole of a mixed journey including the highway to at least 20 %.

How is a hybrid recharging ?

Basically, all families of hybrid cars recharge by driving. Either by the heat engine (via the alternator or the alternator) when the traffic conditions allow it, or by the energy recovery system for deceleration and braking.

The rechargeable hybrids, which have a more powerful battery, can however be recharged in several ways. Like electric cars, they can be plugged into a conventional domestic outlet, a green-up grip, a wall box or even sometimes on one of the fast charging stations on the public domain (attention, the charger integrated into the limit car charging power and there is therefore no great interest in connecting to this type of terminal). Depending on the type of plug and battery capacity, the average charging time is 5 to 7 hours.

How many hybrid cars are sold each year ?

According to the CCFA (Committee of French Automobiles), hybrid cars represented 11.3 % of sales over the first 6 months of 2020 (then 11.8 % over 7 months). A very clear increase volume compared to the same period of 2019, whose sales were only 5 %. It must be said that the manufacturers have expanded their catalog and that a large majority offer at least one hybrid vehicle. From now on, all solutions combined, there are today about a hundred models of this kind, from the city car like the Renault Clio e-tech hybrid or Toyota Yaris hybrid to the sports roads BMW i8 Roadster and Porsche Panamera Turbo S Hybrid passing through the Ford Kuga Phev or Renault Captur e-Tech Hybrid SUV.

Rechargeable hybrid car: a higher dissatisfaction rate than with the electric according to our survey

After having collected the opinion of electric cars users, we asked our readers if they were satisfied with their rechargeable hybrid cars. Almost 28 % is dissatisfied, compared to 19 % for 100 % electric cars.

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We recently published on our site two surveys aimed at collecting the opinion of our readers who have chosen electric (EV) or rechargeable hybrid (PHEV) for their new car. Indeed, we were surprised by the results of a study by the Danish startup Monta, specialized in the management of charging stations. She claimed that more than half of the owners of rechargeable electric and hybrid vehicles regretted their purchase due to the rise in electricity prices.

After analyzing the results of our survey for electric cars customers, the time has come to take an interest in those of the second satisfaction survey that we conducted. This time it concerns rechargeable hybrid cars.

Thus, out of the 603 PHEV cars customers who responded to our survey, only half are fully satisfied with their vehicle (50 %). 23 % say they are partially satisfied and 28 % are dissatisfied. It is certainly less than the 54 % of drivers of electric and rechargeable hybrid cars surveyed who regretted their choice during the study of Monta, but this proportion is far from negligible.

We had noted only 19 % of unsatisfied electric car drivers, while 70 % of users were fully satisfied with their vehicle. The difference is therefore important compared to rechargeable hybrid cars. The latter, equipped with a petrol or diesel engine and at least an electric motor, are however often described as combining the best of both worlds.

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Electric autonomy disappoints

Among the respondents, 54 % regret the too low electricity of their rechargeable hybrid car. Most models currently marketed have a radius of action of approximately 50 to 100 km electric, depending on the WLTP cycle. However, it may be difficult to reach these approval values ​​in real conditions and the older models do not claim such electrical autonomy. Naturally, the petrol or diesel engine is starting more often and the consumption of fuel increases. The latter does not satisfy 24 % of users, who find it too high.

If the rechargeable hybrid cars are more intended to be recharged at home, since recharge is not an absolute necessity, the network of terminals disappoints their users almost as much as those of electric cars. Thus, 29 % of respondents deplore the too high cost of recharge on public terminals (32 % in electric cars users). 22 % are dissatisfied with the refill network in the city (27 % among electric cars owners) and 16 % of the charging network on the highway (21 % among electric car users).

The cost of home recharge is quoted as unsatisfactory by 22 % of rechargeable hybrid car drivers questioned, compared to 18 % in electric car drivers.

Among other sources of dissatisfaction, we note the petrol or diesel too low in 14 % of respondents and the cost of fuel in 9 % of them. 10 % cite other causes of frustration and 7 % are disappointed with driving experience, compared to only 4 % in electric car drivers.

In the end, only 31 % of respondents do not cite any dissatisfaction, compared to 52 % among electric cars customers.

News: electric car surveys: digital players give their opinion
Electric cars: digital survey contradicts the dissatisfaction of owners

Half of electric car drivers really regret their choice ? This is what we wanted to verify in.

Buy a hybrid car in 2022 good or bad idea ?

Halfway between hybrid cars and electric cars, rechargeable hybrid cars try to combine the best of both worlds on a constantly evolving market. Are these plug-in hybrid cars the best solution in 2022 ?

The operation of a rechargeable hybrid car.

A rechargeable hybrid car can circulate with its heat engine alone, its electric motor alone, or the combination of the two engines. This operation will evolve during a course according to the driving style and especially the selected driving mode (EV, hybrid, sport …))

While a full hybrid car will recharge its (small) battery automatically by recovering in particular energy in braking and deceleration, the rechargeable hybrid car requires recharge to reach its maximum autonomy. Regeneration also exists, but will not be sufficient. On the models sold a few years ago, the autonomy announced was limited to around thirty kilometers. Fortunately, she is increasing on the latest news !

Buy a hybrid car, the advantages of the rechargeable hybrid car.

Several advantages are to be used for a PHEV car (rechargeable hybrid). Its level of power is generally high, since it combines the power of two engines ! This is why most exceed 200 hp for the most “accessible” versions. What ensure nice performance.

The battery capacity of hybrid vehicles makes it possible to have an autonomy which is on average on the PHEV 2022 models about fifty kilometers. For daily journeys and by recharging almost every day, you can consider driving in electric the majority of the week.

Unlike an electric car, no problem for autonomy during a large trip. You will then circulate essentially in thermal, and seen can refuel in any fuel station.

For large luxury SUVs, rechargeable hybridization makes it possible to rebatter ecological penalty cards with very reduced CO2 releases (homologation). Which can then compensate for the additional cost of the hybrid system.

The disadvantages of the rechargeable hybrid car.

Chest:

The presence of a substantial battery and these two engines in a car designed at the start for thermal models will have an impact on the volume of the trunk.

Example on the news Peugeot 308 Sedan: the chest volume goes from 412 l to 361 l.

The weight:

By multiplying the technical elements, the hybrid vehicle will be heavier. This will negatively impact consumption in thermal use. The car will also be much more expensive to buy. This additional cost will only be absorbable for an individual.

The price:

For current models, the financial advantages will be more numerous for companies: higher amortization and removal of TVS will appeal to their accountants.

Buy a hybrid car, our conclusion.

In 2022, the rechargeable hybrid car is above all intended for business fleets, and customers of the large luxury SUVs who want to avoid the ecological penalty. For individuals, the additional cost generated will be difficult to amortize.

The manufacturers all go to an electrification of their ranges, but we know the finish line: there will be no rechargeable hybrid. These cars are doomed to disappear in the medium term: they currently meet a need for manufacturers to reduce the level of CO2 releases of their range. An imperative set by the European Commission. By purchasing a rechargeable hybrid car, you pay the CO2 bill with a prohibitive purchase price.

Target fuel savings by opting for such a motorization is therefore not the panacea. If you have ecological fiber, you might as well opt for a real electric model.

Buy a hybrid vehicle, how to properly buy your next car.

If you want advice to buy your next hybrid or thermal and even used electric car, and if you want to get a good deal do not hesitate to fill out a form on our website.

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