This is what happens to your hybrid car if you never plug it in

This is what happens to a hybrid car or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) if you never plug it in.

These fuel-sipping machines combine gas and electric power to deliver excellent efficiency, and they’re built to adapt no matter how you drive.

Many drivers worry that skipping the plug-in routine might harm the car or shorten its lifespan.

But the reality might come as a surprise.

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What’s optimal for your PHEV?

When the battery in a PHEV runs low, the vehicle seamlessly switches to its gasoline engine, operating just like a regular hybrid.

Today’s advanced power management systems constantly monitor driving conditions to determine when to use electric power, when to engage the engine, and when to blend both for optimal performance.

Regenerative braking also continues to capture energy every time you slow down, keeping the battery topped up even if you never plug it in.

It’s worth noting that a PHEV’s battery pack is much smaller than what you’d find in a fully electric car.

That’s because it’s designed to handle short electric-only trips of about 20 to 50 miles before the gas engine kicks in.

So, what exactly happens if you never charge it?

If you don’t charge your PHEV, you’ll simply miss out on that electric-only range, meaning your fuel economy will take a modest hit.

Essentially, it’ll perform just like a standard hybrid: still efficient, but not as efficient as something like BYD’s 5th-generation PHEVs, which can travel 1,300 miles on a single tank of gas.

A traditional hybrid car works better if you don’t intend to plug in

If you’re not interested in plugging in at all, a traditional hybrid might actually make more sense, as they’re often cheaper to buy and maintain.

Still, whether you drive a hybrid car or a PHEV, there are easy ways to stretch your mileage.

Drive smoothly, take advantage of regenerative braking, and keep your tires properly inflated to reduce energy loss.

Plugged in or not, today’s hybrids are engineered to deliver excellent efficiency.

No wonder cars like the Toyota Prius hybrid is so popular, outselling all but one electric car in the US.

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