What is Plug-in hybrid?
{{update|date=November 2023}} [[File:2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV P 4WD 2.4 5LA-GN0W (20220904).jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Mitsubishi Outlander]] is one of the best selling plug-in hybrid vehicles]] A '''plug-in hybrid car''' is similar to a conventional [[hybrid vehicle]]—both use a gasoline engine as well as an [[electric motor]]. A plug-in hybrid differs primarily in that it can be plugged in to charge the [[batteries]], while a conventional hybrid relies solely on energy generated from braking, coasting or from the [[gasoline]] engine. A plug-in hybrid uses larger battery packs that can be recharged by connecting to common household electricity. Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances—from a few miles to as much as 40 miles—without using any gasoline. Plug-in hybrid cars are also known as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or [[PHEVs]]. Plug-in hybrid cars that use a gas engine exclusively for recharging batteries—rather than directly powering the wheels—are also called [[Extended-Range Electric Vehicles]] or [[E-REVs]]. Fueling a car with electricity is about 5 times cheaper than fueling it with gasoline. That is equivalent to buying gasoline at less than $1 per gallon. It also reduces [[greenhouse]] pollution and helps reduce crude oil imports. Also plug-in hybrids produced substantially lower [[greenhouse gas emissions]] than either conventional gasoline cars or [[unplugged hybrids]]. ==Criticisms== Criticisms of the hybrid include the additional cost, weight, and size of a larger battery pack. But the extra weight of the batteries will be offset somewhat by the reduced weight of the gas engine. It is obvious for most people that [[internal combustion engine]] cars cannot represent the future anymore because of the oil reserves that are estimated to be finished in forty or fifty years. Obviously, plug-in vehicles cannot be considered a short term option because we lack the needed infrastructure and capable batteries for increasing the autonomy that is currently limited. The general opinion was t