Would a plug-in hybrid work okay when driven without charging?

I'm looking for a new premium hatchback that I can keep for a few years and do a mixture of short journeys and long motorway trips - about 15,000-18,000 miles per year. I also want a fairly decent performance. Audi has a released the A3 40 TFSIe which might be of interest. The only problem is that I may not be able to charge it on, say, a 600-mile round trip. Do they work ok when driven 'petrol only' and do you still get the same performance? Does it do it any harm if not charged for a while? Many thanks.

Asked on 10 February 2021 by

Answered by Andrew Brady

A lot of company car drivers have plug-in hybrids and never bother plugging them in. You won't do any damage but you might find the fuel economy to be quite poor – PHEVs really need regular charging to get the best from them. I wouldn't dismiss a diesel for your mileage. The extra torque of a diesel engine will mean it feels quite responsive and it'll be much more efficient on long motorway journeys.

Tags: high mileage hybrid or diesel? plug-in hybrid phev hybrids

Similar questions

Would a plug-in hybrid work for me?

I have a Toyota Prius, which is approaching 3 years old and 53,000 miles. In normal circumstances, which I hope we can return to soon, I drive approximately 21,000 miles per annum, including a daily commute...

Should I get a plug-in hybrid?

I don’t do many long journeys and I'm in late 70’s - which would be most suitable for me, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid?

How should I protect the battery in my hybrid during lockdown?

How would one protect the batteries in a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) during a prolonged period off the road, three to six months - for example? Is there a suitable battery protection device such as the ones...