Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) share similar maintenance requirements for their combustion engine components (e.g., oil changes, spark plugs, transmission), as both include gasoline engines. However, PHEVs may experience slightly reduced long-term costs compared to HEVs due to their larger battery capacity and greater reliance on electric-only driving, which reduces strain on mechanical components over time.
Key differences:
- Battery usage: PHEVs’ larger batteries allow more electric-only miles, decreasing engine wear compared to HEVs, which frequently use their combustion engines.
- Regenerative braking: Both use this feature to reduce brake wear, but PHEVs often employ it more aggressively, potentially extending brake life further.
- Complexity: PHEVs combine dual powertrains (electric motor + combustion engine), which risks higher repair costs, though data suggests they still undercut conventional vehicles’ lifetime costs.
While no direct long-term comparison for PHEVs vs. HEVs is provided, PHEVs generally incur lower lifetime maintenance costs than gasoline vehicles (~$4,600 vs. $9,200 for 200,000 miles). HEVs likely fall between these figures, as they retain gasoline engines but benefit from hybrid efficiency. Actual costs depend on driving habits and model-specific engineering.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-the-maintenance-costs-of-phevs-compare-to-hevs-over-a-long-period/
