Charging a hybrid car: types of outlets, price, duration
Content
Hybrid vehicle principle
Unlike diesel locomotives or 100% electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles work with double motor ... They are equipped with:
- Heat engine (diesel, gasoline or biofuel);
- Electric motor with battery.
Hybrid vehicles are equipped with a computer that constantly analyzes the source of power supplied to the drive wheels. Depending on the different phases of movement (start, acceleration, high speeds, braking, stopping, etc.), the technology can control either a heat motor or an electric motor to optimize consumption.
Various charging methods for a hybrid vehicle
If all hybrid vehicles are powered by this twin engine, there are different types of vehicles. Indeed, it is necessary to distinguish between so-called hybrid vehicles and so-called plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Hybrid cars
They are also called non-rechargeable hybrids or HEVs because "
Hybrid electric vehicles
". The reason is simple: these cars are self-charging thanks to internal technology. It is called kinetic energy : The car is automatically recharged with every braking or deceleration due to the rotation of the wheels. This produces energy that is immediately recovered to power the battery.
For this type of hybrid vehicle, users do not have a question of recharging: it happens automatically, without any action.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
They are also called PHEVs, for
"Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle."
As the name suggests, these cars need to be charged in order for the electric battery to work. Disadvantage compared to non-rechargeable hybrids, but also a real advantage. This manual recharge, which simply plugs into an electrical outlet or terminal, provides great autonomy.... While the non-rechargeable hybrid has a range of just a few kilometers with an electric motor, the plug-in hybrid has a range of around 50 kilometers with an electric motor. In addition to this connection charging method, rechargeable hybrid vehicles are recharged by recovering energy during the deceleration and braking phases and by using a heat engine to generate electricity.
Where to charge the hybrid?
To charge and energize your plug-in hybrid vehicle, simply plug it into a charging outlet or dedicated terminal. Owners can choose between different options for connecting the car to the mains:
- At home through a household outlet or a special terminal;
- At a public charging station.
Home charging
Today, 95% of electric and hybrid vehicles are charged at home. Home charging is the most popular charging solution for hybrid car owners. At home, you can use either a reinforced outlet or a dedicated charging station.
In fact, to safely charge your car, it's important to install dedicated charging equipment: plugging into a standard household outlet is not recommended. These outlets are not robust or safe enough, so there is a risk of electrical overheating. Since household outlets are not connected to separate power lines, overheating can damage the entire electrical system in the home. This solution, which however may be attractive as it is economical, is also the slowest due to its low amperage. Provide a range of about 10 km per hour of charging.
Reinforced fork requires little financial investment, but allows you to charge your car more quickly and safely. Reinforced sockets are rated for power from 2,3 kW to 3,7 kW (varies depending on the vehicle). You just need to connect them to the car using the same E-type cord, and recharging will be a little faster: the permissible range is about 20 kilometers per hour of recharging. Since they are equipped with a suitable residual current circuit breaker, there is no risk of overload.
Last decision at home - charging through a special terminal called Wallbox. It is a box attached to the wall and connected to an electrical panel with a circuit. Wallbox power can vary from 3 kW to 22 kW. A medium power (7 kW) terminal can charge approximately 50 kilometers of range per charge hour. This solution requires a lot of financial investment.
Charging at a public charging station
Today the number public charging stations increases in France and Europe, and this trend continues. In 2019, there were about 30 thousand of them in France. They can be found in particular in motorway service areas, car parks, congestion areas or near shopping centers. More and more companies provide charging stations for their employees. An initiative that allows them to charge their car during office hours.
Public charging stations show similar performance to Wallboxes. Charging times are short, but may vary depending on the power of the hybrid vehicle.
Good to Know: Some cars and some apps can identify nearby public charging stations when you are driving.
What charging power should I choose?
The easiest way to find the correct charging power for your vehicle is to refer to the owner's manual provided to you for sale. Please note that the hybrid models currently on the market do not allow more than 7,4 kW. Therefore, if you want to equip yourself with a Wallbox, it is impractical to invest in a very powerful model.
The charging power depends on the selected charging point. In a household socket, the power can reach 2,2 kW, and in a reinforced socket - up to 3,2 kW. With a specific terminal (Wallbox), the power can go up to 22 kW, but that kind of power is useless in the context of a hybrid car.
How much does it cost to charge a hybrid vehicle?
Recharge price a hybrid vehicle depends on several parameters:
- Car model and battery size;
- Price per kWh, in particular for home charging and possibly tariff option (full hour / off-peak hour);
- Loading time.
Therefore, it is difficult to give an exact figure, since each gas station has different parameters. However, it can be said that charging at home costs less (on average 1 to 3 euros with one outlet). At public charging stations, prices are most often set not at a price per kWh, but at a fixed price per connection time. Packages vary considerably by region or country.
Good to know: Some malls or shops offer free charging stations in their car parks to attract customers like Ikéa, Lidl or Auchan.
How long does it take to charge a hybrid vehicle?
Recharge time
The charging time for the hybrid vehicle depends on:
- The type of plug or charging station used;
- Car battery capacity.
To calculate the time fully charged, required for your vehicle, you can simply divide the capacity of the hybrid vehicle in question by the power of the charging point. If we take as an example a model with a power of 9 kWh and a range of 40 to 50 km, then it will take about 4 hours of charging from a household outlet (10A), 3 hours with a reinforced outlet (14A), 2 hours 30 minutes with a specific terminal with a capacity of 3,7 , 1 kW and 20x7,4 with a specific XNUMX kW terminal (source: Zenplug).
There are also online charging time simulators that allow you to estimate the time it takes to refuel your hybrid vehicle. All you have to do is indicate your car model and the type of plug you are using.
Autonomy time
Driving times for plug-in hybrid vehicles vary by model.
Below are the average figures for hybrid cars such as city car and sedan:
| Charging station power | Autonomy of a car with 1 hour of charging for a city car | Autonomy of the car at 1 hour of recharging for a sedan |
| 2,2 кВт | 10 km | 7 km |
| 3,7 кВт | 25 km | 15 km |
| 7,4 кВт | 50 km | 25 km |
Source: ZenPlug
Note: Be careful when talking about battery life. You usually rarely wait for the batteries to run out to charge your vehicle.
In terms of battery life, it depends on the model and use of the vehicle. Note, however, that most battery manufacturers also have a warranty (eg 8 years for Peugeot and Renault).
Can we continue driving if the car is unloaded?
Yes, and that's the power of hybrid cars. If your electrical battery is low, the car's computer is smart enough to pass the torch on to the heat engine. Therefore, an unladen hybrid vehicle is not a problem if your tank is not empty either. While it is recommended that you charge it quickly for optimal use of your vehicle, this will not interfere with your driving.
