How far can you drive a plug-in hybrid in EV mode?

For those unfamiliar with the difference between a hybrid and a PHEV, the answer is simple: both have an ICE and a battery-pack-powered electric motor, but the former has a smaller self-charging battery, while the latter’s larger battery needs to be charged via plugging into an external power source.

The benefit of a larger battery pack that requires plug-in power comes down to one major factor: bigger driving range, allowing you to go further on a single charge when driving in eco-friendly, all-electric EV mode.

And just how far can you drive a PHEV in EV mode?

The battery packs in electric vehicles are rated in kWh, and this rating tells you how much electricity can be stored in the battery pack. So the more kWh in a battery pack, the further you can drive in-between charges.

It’s also worth noting that driving range is also affected by the car’s electric motor. If you’re driving, say, a performance vehicle, the powerful motor will be drawing more electricity from the battery pack, which in turn lowers the driving range. A PHEV with a less powerful electric motor will thus require less power from the battery pack, which in turn extends driving range.

Mitsubishi, a company on the cutting edge of PHEV technology, have the acclaimed Outlander among its vehicle line-up (from $55,590, plus on-road costs), a plug-in hybrid with a sizeable all-electric driving range of 84km. That’s thanks to a 20kWh battery pack that powers the vehicle’s twin electric motors (that’s a 45 per cent increase over the outgoing model's 13.8kWh battery pack).

The electric motors offer a combined output of 185kW, and are coupled with a 2.4-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, providing peak power of 98kW.

The Outlander’s 84km driving range represents an impressive 54 per cent increase compared to the 54km of driving range allowed by the last version of the Outlander plug-in hybrid, with Mitsubishi once again setting a plug-in hybrid benchmark.

It seems that 84 must be the Outlander’s magic number, as research has revealed that Outlander owners drive the vehicle in EV mode 84 per cent of the time, meaning the vast majority of their car trips involve zero tailpipe emissions by avoiding using fuel altogether. That’s the kind of statistic only made possible by the Mitsubishi’s perfect combination of performance and efficiency, delivering it the sizeable driving range its owners are taking advantage of.

According to the Real Australian Commute Report 2022, the average Australian commuter travels 33km a day, meaning the Outlander PHEV has more than enough driving range to get you where you’re going without running out of battery charge.

Speaking of charging: the Outlander PHEV’s battery pack can go from zero to 80 per cent capacity in as little as 38 minutes using a public rapid recharging station, although it can also be charged via a home charging device (approximately 6.5 hours), or plugged straight into a traditional wall socket (approximately 9.5 hours).

The Outlander PHEV also utilises regenerative braking, meaning it can add charge to the vehicle by harnessing the kinetic energy that’s generated when the car slows down or comes to a stop.

It’s also worth pointing out that to prolong driving range, Mitsubishi recommends using EV mode while driving at low to medium speeds in urban areas; driving at faster highway speeds will invariably require more from the battery pack and reduce the 84km of range.

If you take into account the Outlander PHEV’s 56-litre petrol tank - an 11-litre increase on the outgoing model - the vehicle’s driving range extends to a whopping 850km, meaning the car is capable of going an incredibly long way on a combined single charge and full tank of fuel.

There are dozens of PHEVs now available on the Australian market, and the Mitsubishi outshines almost all of them in when it comes to the EV driving range on offer, no matter how much its rivals cost.

The cheapest PHEV in Australia is the MG HS Plus EV which delivers a driving range of 63 kilometres, for example, while the most expensive is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale that delivers a driving range of 25 kilometres.

If you’re at pub trivia and for some reason the very specific questions ‘How far can you drive a plug-in hybrid in EV mode?’ comes up, remember: the all-electric driving range is determined by the KWh of the battery pack (the higher the number, the longer the range), and the kW of the electric motor (the lower the number the less power it’ll draw from the battery pack, resulting in, you guessed it, longer range). Simple as.