EV vs PHEV vs Hybrid : What are the differences?

There are many different electrified vehicle options on the market, and Kia offers every single one in its vast and impressive lineup. If you are unsure if you should buy an EV, a hybrid or a PHEV, this article should help.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles use a combination of electric motors (or motor) and a large capacity battery. They function on electric power alone and you never have to put fuel in the vehicle. You charge it at night or at a charging station. The benefits include not having to ever put fuel in your car, and improved performance thanks to the battery’s instant torque and low centre of gravity.

Kia will be introducing a brand-new electric vehicle to the market next year, the Kia EV6, and the automaker also offers the Kia Soul EV and the Kia Niro EV.

On the other hand, for some owners, an electric vehicle is not practical. If you have to cover long distances on a regular basis and you don’t want to have to stop and charge or map out the location of charging stations on your route, an EV may not be the better option for you.

Many consumers in this situation are turning to plug-in hybrids.

Plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrids have an electric motor and sometimes two electric motors, a battery and a gasoline engine. The battery is not as large as that of a traditional electric vehicle, but it can be used to power the plug-in hybrid vehicle solely on electric power. The range of these vehicles is generally between 25 and 60 km.

You don’t need a charging station with a PHEV, a simple 120-volt outlet will often suffice. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about range as your gas engine can take over as needed.

Kia will be introducing a range of impressive PHEV models in the near future including the 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV and the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV.

Hybrid vehicles

Hybrid vehicles, as explained above, have a battery and an electric motor combined with a gasoline engine. However, the battery is smaller than a plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles traditionally cannot run on electric power alone. Some functions, such as starting the engine, may be electric-only, but when you're driving down the road, there's a combination of electric and gas power.

At least you don't have to plug the vehicle in or worry about battery life and you get great gas mileage all the time.

Electric vehicles and PHEVs can significantly reduce your fuel consumption and ownership costs but hybrids like the upcoming Kia Sorento hybrid or Kia Sportage hybrid also offer great fuel economy. It all depends on what you're looking for. Call us today to find out more!