Hybrid cars are seen as the solution to the ever increasing and fluctuating fuel costs. Most people have heard of hybrid cars, understand broadly the differences of the hybrid car versus the conventional car. But what about the plug-in hybrid? What is the Plugin hybrid and how does the plug in hybrid measure up to it’s more famous sibling the hybrid car?

What Exactly Is A Plug-Hybrid?
Most versions of Plug-in Hybrids have the capability to run solely on batteries. However, they also use fuel, as in a back-up alternative.

The Plug-in Hybrids are similar to hybrid cars in that they tap mainly on the “electric” technology which drives most hybrids. Plug-in Hybrids utilizes a range of alternative power sources, with the main power source being electric, and that need to be recharged on a daily basis.

The key difference is that Plug-in hybrid cars must be recharged externally by connecting a plug to a power source. As well, the plug in hybrid will only tap on the combustion engine as a back up after a certain distance is covered by the electric batteries.

Do Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrid Cars Differ in Performance?
Having understood how the Plug-in Hybrids function gives us a better perspective of how efficient the Plugin hybrids are vis a vis the Hybrid car. Current plug-in hybrids are designed specially for the short distance commuters, which is within a total per day usage of about 20 to 60 miles. Some Plugin hybrids like the concept Chevy Volt are designed to used gas fuel only after certain distance is covered by the plugin batteries eg about 40 miles.

Conversely, the Hybrid Cars are designed to travel both within the city as well as the highway. The Toyota Prius is one of the market leaders achieving top performance in mileage of 45 for highway driving and 48 for urban driving. Now take that for your gasoline guzzlers!

Being Environmentally Friendly with Zero Toxic Fumes Emissions
Hybrid Cars do burn fuel. There are gasoline hybrids which burn gas, biodiesel Hybrid cars which burn biodiesel and then there are the diesel Hybrids which burn diesel. Unless the Hybrid car is a full hybrid with uses electricity or water, it is a fallacy to assume that hybrid cars do not burn fuel.

The Plug-in hybrids conversely, due to it capability of running fully on battery power, do not emit fuel when usage is capped within the short commuting distances. This of course means that the plug-in hybrids are able to ensure zero toxic fumes emissions, polluting much less of our environment and being a truly environmentally friendly car.

In fact, research has shown that some materials used to power plug-in hybrids is renewable, the greenhouse effect could be even greater than expected.

Already the Telsa Roadster sports car is selling and selling well in the European and American Hybrid car scene. GM Chevy Volt promises to be a family sedan debut soon. So isn’t it time to do research on the much talked about Hybrid Cars? Or for that matter, Plug-in Hybrids too?

Check out more good reads at Hybrid Cars and Environmentally Friendly Cars.