
The slowest chargers will have a plug-in hybrid fully charged in around 5 hours. Generally speaking, there are four types of charging available: The power output is measured in kilowatts (kW). The time it takes to charge a plug-in hybrid depends on the size of the battery, how much energy has been used and the power output of the charging point. How long does it take to charge a plug-in hybrid car? Where you decide to charge is down to what’s convenient for you in terms of the time you have and what you’re willing to spend. There you will find charging stations of various speeds which serve different types of connectors. You can find these by using a map of charging points for plug-in hybrid and electric cars. There are charging points across the UK at locations ranging from supermarkets and services to National Trust attractions. An increasing number of companies are installing charging facilities for employees, and there are more and more charging points in public car parks. You may find that you’re able to top up a plug-in hybrid car at your destination. Some local authorities are now installing on-street charging for people who do not have off-street parking. Or you can have a charging station installed, which enables faster charging. You can charge a plug-in hybrid car at home if you have off-street parking, by connecting to your domestic power supply much like you would with a mobile phone. This is usually wall-mounted on an exterior wall or garage where your vehicle is parked, and speeds up charging. However, some people with off-street parking decide to have a home charging point installed. The simplest, but slowest, way to charge is to connect the car to a standard 3-pin socket using a special cable called an EVSE.

These cars are sometimes called ‘self-charging hybrids’.Ī plug-in hybrid (also known as PHEV – plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) can do all that too, but it can also be plugged into a mains electricity charging point to charge while it’s parked. The battery is also charged using regenerative braking, which captures waste energy as the car slows down.
Hybrid vehicles battery generator#
In a standard hybrid car, the internal combustion engine drives a generator which recharges the battery as you drive.
