Plug-in hybrids are often described as the best of both worlds. They offer a lot of pure electric driving—over 100 miles in some Chinese models—while also providing the safety net of a conventional combustion engine. PHEVs have a lot going for them, and buying one can certainly stave off the range anxiety of a pure EV. But how much should you worry about its battery?
After all, to make the most of such a powertrain, you need to plug it in a lot. All EV batteries lose capacity over time as drivers charge and discharge them over and over again. And because PHEVs have a fraction of a pure EV’s battery capacity, they can go through a lot more charging cycles.
