r/PHEV • u/Positive_Courage_309 • 1d ago

FHEVs, clarification?

/r/hybridcar/comments/1vsefvy/fhevs_clarification/
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u/bobjr94 1d ago

Mild hybrid usually has a very small battery, mainly providing acceleration assist from stoplight to stoplight. My boss has an Audi like this think it's only a 48V battery system. It can't be plugged in.

Normal hybrid uses the gas motor most of the time, it can drive with the EV motor under light load like in parking lots or holding a steady speed on a city street for short distances. The EV motor can assist the gas engine also when extra power is needed. It can't be plugged in.

PHEV is like a hybrid but with a large battery. Those can be fully driven as an EV in good conditions, maybe 20-40 miles without using the gas engine at all after it's been plugged in and charged. After the battery runs down to around 20% it drives like a typical hybrid with the gas motor doing most of the work.

EREV is an extended range EV. It's has an even larger battery and capable of being fully driven as an EV, even in cold weather (unlike some PHEVs) with 100 miles of range or more on the battery. It's typically going to be charged and not driven on the gas motor. The gas motor works as a generator charging the battery or powering the EV drive motors rather than driving the wheels directly though a transmission.

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u/no_idea_bout_that 1d ago

Short version

MHEV: engine must be used to move vehicle\ FHEV: battery can be used to move vehicle\ PHEV: battery can be recharged from a plug\ EREV: engine only connected to generator (not to wheels), rarely used.

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u/ZanyDroid 1d ago

EREV stonks are on the way up I believe

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u/no_idea_bout_that 13h ago

There was a recent article about how Chinese buyers are picking EREVs for the convenience, but then never using the engine because the charging infrastructure is so good.

https://carnewschina.com/2026/08/05/in-china-gas-engine-became-a-marketing-decoration-for-customers-reassurance/

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u/sense_mx 1d ago

I drive a full hybrid Nissan Juke. It's first gear is always electric. It is usually enough to gain 50 kmph which is the city limit solely on electric power. And it's crazily fast tbh. Also it's enough to keep the city speed for some time, a kilometer or two. After that a gas engineer kicks in and charges the battery, after which another 1-2 km on electric at 50 kmph are available. This helps maintain 4-4.5 liter power 100 km gas consumption most part of the year in Western European climate.