Mild Hybrid, Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid: What's the Difference?

MHEV. Hybrid. PHEV. Regenerative braking.

If you're looking for your next car, it can sometimes feel as though you need a translation guide before you've even started.

Hybrid vehicles are becoming increasingly common, but not every hybrid works in the same way.

So what's actually the difference — and which might suit you?

What Is a Mild Hybrid?

A Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle, usually shortened to MHEV, combines a conventional engine with a small electric motor and battery.

The important thing to understand is that a mild hybrid cannot drive using electric power alone.

Instead, the electric system assists the petrol engine, helping improve efficiency and providing additional support when required.

You don't plug a mild hybrid in either. Energy recovered through regenerative braking helps recharge its battery as you drive.

Ford models such as the Puma are available with mild-hybrid technology.

A mild hybrid could suit you if:

• You want a familiar petrol-car driving experience

• You don't want to plug your car in

• You make a mixture of town and longer journeys

• You'd like some of the efficiency benefits of electrification without changing your routine significantly

What Is a Full or Self-Charging Hybrid?

A full hybrid goes a step further.

It uses both a combustion engine and electric motor and can travel for short periods using electric power alone, particularly at lower speeds.

The vehicle manages the two power sources automatically and recharges its battery while you're driving, so there is no need to plug it in.

For many drivers, this makes a full hybrid an easy introduction to electrified motoring.

A full hybrid could suit you if:

• You do plenty of town or stop-start driving

• You want electric assistance without installing a charger

• You prefer the car to manage the transition between petrol and electric power automatically

What Is a Plug-In Hybrid?

A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEV, has a larger battery than a conventional hybrid.

That allows it to travel further using electric power alone.

Unlike a mild or self-charging hybrid, however, you'll get the greatest benefit from a PHEV by plugging it in and charging the battery.

Once its electric charge is depleted, the petrol engine means you can continue your journey without needing to stop at a charging point.

The Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid is one example, combining an electric motor and battery with a petrol engine.

A plug-in hybrid could suit you if:

• Many of your everyday journeys are relatively short

• You can regularly charge at home or work

• You want the option of electric-only driving for shorter trips

• You still make longer journeys where having a petrol engine is useful

So, Which Hybrid Is Best?

There's no single answer.

The right car depends much more on how you actually drive than which technology sounds best on paper.

Before deciding, think about:

Your daily mileage
How far do you normally travel on an average day?

Where you drive
Is most of your driving around town, on faster roads or a mixture of both?

Whether you can charge at home
Regular access to charging can make a plug-in hybrid much more practical.

Your longer journeys
If you frequently cover longer distances, think about how each powertrain would fit those journeys too.

How long you intend to keep the car
Your circumstances and driving habits may change, so consider what you're likely to need over the next few years.

Try Before You Decide

Specifications can tell you plenty, but a test drive can tell you things a brochure can't.

Driving position, comfort, visibility, technology and the way a hybrid system feels on the road are all easier to judge once you're behind the wheel.

At County Garage, our used-car stock regularly includes a mix of mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and other electrified vehicles, alongside conventional petrol and diesel options. Our current stock includes examples such as Ford Puma mild hybrids and Ford Kuga plug-in hybrids.

And if you're unsure which direction to go in, our team would rather help you understand the differences than simply point you towards one particular type of car.

Find the Right Car for the Way You Drive

Hybrid technology doesn't need to be complicated.

Start with your journeys, your lifestyle and what you need from your next vehicle — then find the technology that fits around you.

Browse our latest used cars online or visit County Garage in Herne Bay to talk through your options and arrange a test drive.